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TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch vs Zyxel XGS1210-12

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The Zyxel XGS1210-12 scores 6.9/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch at 6.1/10.

The TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch leads on noise and efficiency.

The Zyxel XGS1210-12 leads on port speeds and port count and uplinks.

They score the same on management, poE and firmware and support.

TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch

TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch

6.1/10verdict: good, not the best

The TL-SG105S is for anyone who needs four or five extra wired gigabit ports without any setup. It suits desks, benches and small home networks where traffic does not need segmenting on the switch. It does not suit buyers who need VLANs, PoE or faster-than-gigabit links.

Typically about £13.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Zyxel XGS1210-12

Zyxel XGS1210-12

6.9/10verdict: buy

The Zyxel XGS1210-12 is for homelabbers and small offices that want a quiet, fanless switch with a couple of faster links. It suits someone connecting a server or NAS over 2.5GbE copper or 10G SFP+ while the other devices stay on Gigabit. It is a poor fit if you need PoE or LACP bonding.

Typically about £125 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightTP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop SwitchZyxel XGS1210-12
Port speeds30%6/108/10
Management20%6/106/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/107/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/108/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%5/105/10
Overall6.1/106.9/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop SwitchZyxel XGS1210-12
Ports5× 10/100/1000 Mbps Auto-Negotiation RJ45 ports supporting Auto-MDI/MDIX12 total: 8 x RJ-45 10/100/1000 Mbps, 2 x RJ-45 100/1000/2500 Mbps, 2 x SFP+
Port speeds10/100/1000 Mbps, auto-negotiation, auto-MDI/MDIX8 copper ports 10/100/1000 Mbps; 2 copper ports 100/1000/2.5G; SFP+ cages take 1G or 10G optics
ManagementUnmanagedWeb-managed; port-based VLAN, 802.1p and port-based QoS, IGMP snooping, static link aggregation, port mirroring, management VLAN, HTTP/HTTPS
PoE budgetNoNo PoE
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)not listed2 x SFP+ (1G/10G)
Switching capacity10 Gbit/s switching capacity66 Gbps switching capacity; 49 Mpps forwarding rate
CoolingDurable metal casing, desktop/wall-mounting options, and a fanless designFanless

Strengths and weaknesses

TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch

  • + Fanless design with a 3.1 W maximum power draw
  • + Plug-and-play with no configuration needed
  • + Metal casing with desktop or wall-mount options
  • − Gigabit only, with no SFP or SFP+ uplink listed
  • − Manufacturer page does not list VLAN support
  • − No PoE on any port

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need VLANs to segment traffic on the switch
  • Anyone powering access points or cameras over Ethernet
  • Buyers who want 2.5GbE ports or an SFP uplink
Read the full TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch review ›

Zyxel XGS1210-12

  • + Two SFP+ cages take 1G or 10G optics
  • + Fanless, and owners praise it as quiet and compact
  • + Two 2.5GbE copper ports alongside eight Gigabit ports
  • − Static link aggregation only; no LACP
  • − Owners report heat under heavy load
  • − No PoE

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need LACP link aggregation
  • Anyone who needs PoE for access points or cameras
  • Buyers putting it in a warm, unventilated cupboard under heavy load
Read the full Zyxel XGS1210-12 review ›

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