A small unmanaged switch adds local Ethernet connections. Before choosing one, draw the devices and the connection back to the router or existing network. Then check link modes, the physical installation and the exact hardware revision offered by the seller.
Count the connection back to the network
A five-port switch does not leave five free device ports when one is used as an uplink. Include computers, a NAS, access points and any connection to another switch. An eight-port model can leave more room for additions, but it does not automatically create a faster path for an individual device. Avoid introducing unintended loops while extending an unmanaged network.
Trace the speed limit end to end
A 2.5GbE switch can negotiate a faster local link only when the attached network interface and cable path support it. A computer limited to Gigabit Ethernet remains limited on that connection. Storage and applications can limit file transfers further. Local switch speed does not upgrade the internet service, router port or every downstream device.
Read aggregate ratings in their own units
A manufacturer may quote aggregate switching capacity that counts multiple simultaneous directions. That number is not one port speed. TP-Link publishes 25 Gb/s for the selected five-port model and 40 Gb/s for its eight-port V2. The accessible NETGEAR tables did not establish equivalent aggregate figures, so those comparison cells remain unknown instead of being calculated from port counts.
Keep power tied to the revision
Model names can survive hardware revisions. The TRENDnet choice here is TEG-S350 V2, and the eight-port TP-Link choice explicitly uses V2. Older power figures, adapter ratings, dimensions or warranties are not automatically applicable. The maximum consumption printed in a table is also different from the capacity of its external adapter and from the power used in a typical home workload.
Confirm the regional supply before connecting the switch. Do not infer PoE input or output merely from an Ethernet connector. These selections are a basic unmanaged-switch comparison, not a source of power-system compatibility guarantees.
Finish the installation plan
Fanless metal designs still need the manufacturer clearances and operating conditions. Desktop and wall-mount options differ from a supplied mounting kit and from hardware suitable for a particular wall. Check whether patch cables and other accessories are supplied instead of borrowing contents from a product photo. Use a managed or routing product when the task specifically requires a configurable isolation policy; this category does not promise one.
No throughput, cabling, acoustic or energy test was performed by CompareFoundry. The comparison preserves source conditions so you can choose a shortlist and verify the exact installation, rather than mistaking specification maxima for measured outcomes.
Common questions
Does the uplink use one of the listed ports?
Yes. Count that connection when planning how many endpoints fit.
Are these measured energy-efficiency rankings?
No. The table contains manufacturer maximum-consumption figures with their revision scope, not a controlled workload comparison.
Sources & further reading
- TL-SG105-M2 US specificationsChecked 2026-10-11
The current US page gives five ports, 25 Gb/s switching capacity and 12.11 W maximum consumption. Confirm the delivered hardware revision rather than applying another region or revision table.
- TL-SG108-M2 US V2 specificationsChecked 2026-10-11
The inspected page explicitly identifies V2, eight ports and 8.45 W maximum consumption. Older dimensions, MAC tables and energy figures are not combined with V2.
- MS305 US unmanaged switch specificationsChecked 2026-10-11
Five ports, fanless enclosure and 9.24 W maximum consumption are documented. Aggregate switching capacity and the exact adapter rating were not established in the accessible table.
- MS308 US unmanaged switch specificationsChecked 2026-10-11
Eight ports, fanless enclosure and 7.98 W maximum consumption are documented. These are manufacturer limits, not a controlled comparative energy test.
- TEG-S350 V2 specifications and packageChecked 2026-10-11
V2, not the discontinued earlier TEG-S350. The V2 source specifies 25 Gb/s switching, 12 V / 1 A adapter and 9.5 W maximum consumption. Prior-revision warranty and power claims are not transferred.
See our methodology for source labels and limitations. Product evidence dates are shown beside the corresponding specifications.
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