Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›
all judged against network switches at a similar priceThe Ubiquiti UniFi Flex 2.5G USW-Flex-2.5G-8 scores 6.9/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 at 6.8/10.
The TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 leads on management and poE.
The Ubiquiti UniFi Flex 2.5G USW-Flex-2.5G-8 leads on port count and uplinks and noise and efficiency.
They score the same on port speeds and firmware and support.
The biggest difference is noise and efficiency, where the Ubiquiti UniFi Flex 2.5G USW-Flex-2.5G-8 scores 6/10 to the TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2's 3/10.
The TL-SG3210XHP-M2 is for people building a small rack-based network who need PoE+ and real managed-switch features. It suits setups with 2.5GbE access points or cameras and 10G SFP+ uplinks. It is a poor fit for quiet rooms because it has two fans.
Typically about £340 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
The UniFi Flex 2.5G USW-Flex-2.5G-8 is for people who run a UniFi setup and want eight 2.5G ports in a small switch. It adds a 10G combo uplink, which suits a link back to a faster switch or router. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs PoE output, a CLI or a standalone web interface.
Typically about £150 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
| Criterion | Weight | TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 | Ubiquiti UniFi Flex 2.5G USW-Flex-2.5G-8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port speeds | 30% | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Management | 20% | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Port count and uplinks | 15% | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Noise and efficiency | 15% | 3/10 | 6/10 |
| PoE | 10% | 8/10 | 5/10 |
| Firmware and support | 10% | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Overall | 6.8/10 | 6.9/10 |
| Spec | TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 | Ubiquiti UniFi Flex 2.5G USW-Flex-2.5G-8 |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 8x 2.5GbE RJ45 PoE+ ports, 2x 10G SFP+ slots, plus one RJ45 and one Micro-USB console port (not data ports) | 8 access ports (2.5G/1G/100M/10M) plus one 10G RJ45/SFP+ combo uplink |
| Port speeds | RJ45 ports 100/1000/2500 Mbps; SFP+ slots 10 Gbps | Access ports 2.5G/1G/100M/10M; uplink RJ45 10G/5G/2.5G/1G/100M; SFP+ 10G/1G |
| Management | L2+ managed; web management, Omada app, cloud or hardware/software controllers; 802.1Q VLAN, static routing, ACLs, 802.1X | Spec sheet lists management interface as Ethernet only; managed through the UniFi console, and a reviewer of the PoE variant reports no web UI |
| PoE budget | 240 W total PoE budget; 8 PoE+ ports (802.3af/at); 30 W per port | No PoE output; powered by USB-C 5V DC 3A or PoE+ input |
| Uplinks (SFP/SFP+) | 2x 10 Gbps SFP+ | One 10G SFP+ port (10G/1G) and one 10 GbE RJ45 port, as a combo uplink |
| Switching capacity | 80 Gbps switching capacity; 59.52 Mpps forwarding rate; 16K MAC table | 60 Gbps switching capacity, 30 Gbps non-blocking throughput, 45 Mpps forwarding rate |
| Cooling | Two fans (Fan Quantity: 2), not fanless | not listed |
Skip it if:
Skip it if: