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TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch vs Zyxel XMG1915-10E

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The Zyxel XMG1915-10E scores 7.4/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch at 6.1/10.

The Zyxel XMG1915-10E leads on port speeds, management and port count and uplinks.

They score the same on noise and efficiency, poE and firmware and support.

The biggest difference is port count and uplinks, where the Zyxel XMG1915-10E scores 8/10 to the TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch's 5/10.

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 XMG1915-10E

Zyxel XMG1915-10E

7.4/10verdict: buy

The Zyxel XMG1915-10E is for people who want 2.5GbE on most ports and 10G uplinks in a quiet, fanless switch. It suits homelabbers and small offices whose devices bring their own power, since it has no PoE. It does not offer copper 10GbE, so buyers who want that need to look at SFP+ modules or other models.

Typically about £189 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 XMG1915-10E
Port speeds30%6/108/10
Management20%6/107/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/108/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/109/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%5/105/10
Overall6.1/107.4/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop SwitchZyxel XMG1915-10E
Ports5× 10/100/1000 Mbps Auto-Negotiation RJ45 ports supporting Auto-MDI/MDIX8 x 100M/1G/2.5G RJ-45 plus 2 x 1G SFP/10G SFP+ (10 total)
Port speeds10/100/1000 Mbps, auto-negotiation, auto-MDI/MDIX100 Mbps, 1 Gbps and 2.5 Gbps on the eight copper ports; SFP+ slots take 1G or 10G
ManagementUnmanagedSmart Managed
PoE budgetNoNone (0 PoE ports)
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)not listed2 x 1G SFP / 10G SFP+
Switching capacity10 Gbit/s switching capacity80 Gbps switching capacity; 59.5 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 XMG1915-10E

  • + Eight 2.5GbE copper ports
  • + Two SFP+ slots take 1G or 10G
  • + Fanless, quiet, low power draw
  • − No PoE ports
  • − No copper 10GbE ports

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need PoE to power access points or cameras
  • Buyers who want copper 10GbE ports rather than SFP+ slots
  • Buyers who need more than ten ports on one switch
Read the full Zyxel XMG1915-10E review ›

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