Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›
all judged against network switches at a similar priceThe Zyxel XGS1210-12 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 Zyxel XGS1210-12 leads on noise and efficiency.
They score the same on port speeds, port count and uplinks and firmware and support.
The biggest difference is noise and efficiency, where the Zyxel XGS1210-12 scores 8/10 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 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
| Criterion | Weight | TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 | Zyxel XGS1210-12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port speeds | 30% | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Management | 20% | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Port count and uplinks | 15% | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Noise and efficiency | 15% | 3/10 | 8/10 |
| 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 | Zyxel XGS1210-12 |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 8x 2.5GbE RJ45 PoE+ ports, 2x 10G SFP+ slots, plus one RJ45 and one Micro-USB console port (not data ports) | 12 total: 8 x RJ-45 10/100/1000 Mbps, 2 x RJ-45 100/1000/2500 Mbps, 2 x SFP+ |
| Port speeds | RJ45 ports 100/1000/2500 Mbps; SFP+ slots 10 Gbps | 8 copper ports 10/100/1000 Mbps; 2 copper ports 100/1000/2.5G; SFP+ cages take 1G or 10G optics |
| Management | L2+ managed; web management, Omada app, cloud or hardware/software controllers; 802.1Q VLAN, static routing, ACLs, 802.1X | Web-managed; port-based VLAN, 802.1p and port-based QoS, IGMP snooping, static link aggregation, port mirroring, management VLAN, HTTP/HTTPS |
| PoE budget | 240 W total PoE budget; 8 PoE+ ports (802.3af/at); 30 W per port | No PoE |
| Uplinks (SFP/SFP+) | 2x 10 Gbps SFP+ | 2 x SFP+ (1G/10G) |
| Switching capacity | 80 Gbps switching capacity; 59.52 Mpps forwarding rate; 16K MAC table | 66 Gbps switching capacity; 49 Mpps forwarding rate |
| Cooling | Two fans (Fan Quantity: 2), not fanless | Fanless |
Skip it if:
Skip it if: