Netgear GS305EP 5-Port PoE+
#3 in Under 100 WFull review
A smart managed 5-port PoE switch with a 63 W budget at $54.99. Suits a small network that wants VLANs without a full managed switch.
Amazon $74.99$74.99
The Netgear GS305EP 5-Port PoE+ is the better poe switch overall, rated 2.8 to 2.8. The Netgear GS305EP 5-Port PoE+ leads on management, value and extras. The Zyxel XMG-105HP 2.5G PoE++ wins on ports & speeds. The Netgear GS305EP 5-Port PoE+ costs $25 less ($74.99 vs $99.99).
Prices were last checked November 9, 2026. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon or the retailer's site at the time of purchase apply. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Zyxel XMG-105HP 2.5G PoE++
#4 in Under 100 WFull review
A unmanaged 6-port PoE switch with a 70 W budget at $99.99. Suits a plug-and-play camera or access point setup.
Amazon $99.99$99.99
Which should you buy?
- Choose the Netgear GS305EP 5-Port PoE+ for management (smart managed vs unmanaged), value ($1.19 per PoE watt ($74.99, 63 W) vs $1.43 per PoE watt ($99.99, 70 W)) and extras (fanless, per-port PoE control vs fanless).
- Choose the Zyxel XMG-105HP 2.5G PoE++ for ports & speeds (4 PoE ports at 2.5G, up to 60 W per port, 1 x 10G SFP+ vs 4 PoE ports at GbE).
Scores side by side
Each factor is scored 0-100 against the same fixed reference points for every under 100 W poe switch; a clear win is highlighted. How we rank explains each one.
| Factor weight | Netgear GS305EP 5-Port PoE+ | Zyxel XMG-105HP 2.5G PoE++ |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 2.8/5 | 2.8/5 |
| Value 28% | 50 $1.19 per PoE watt ($74.99, 63 W) | 41 $1.43 per PoE watt ($99.99, 70 W) |
| PoE budget 20% | 11 63 W total PoE budget | 16 70 W total PoE budget |
| Ports & speeds 17% | 0 4 PoE ports at GbE | 56 4 PoE ports at 2.5G, up to 60 W per port, 1 x 10G SFP+ |
| Management 18% | 50 smart managed | 0 unmanaged |
| Extras 7% | 45 fanless, per-port PoE control | 25 fanless |
| Warranty 10% | 100 5-year warranty | 100 lifetime warranty |
Specifications
| Netgear GS305EP 5-Port PoE+ | Zyxel XMG-105HP 2.5G PoE++ | |
|---|---|---|
| Power over Ethernet | ||
| Total PoE budget | 63 W | 70 W |
| PoE ports | 4 of 5 | 4 of 6 |
| PoE standard | 802.3af/at (PoE+) | 802.3bt (PoE++) |
| Max per port | - | 60 W |
| Per-port PoE control | Yes | - |
| Ports & performance | ||
| Total ports | 5 | 6 |
| PoE port speed | GbE | 2.5 GbE |
| SFP uplinks | None | 1 x 10G SFP+ |
| Switching capacity | - | 45 Gbps |
| Management | ||
| Management level | Smart managed | Unmanaged |
| VLAN | Yes | - |
| QoS | Yes | - |
| Build | ||
| Fanless | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 5 years | Lifetime |