Network Switches: Managed vs Unmanaged, PoE and Ports
An unmanaged switch just adds wired ports, a managed switch adds settings and monitoring, and a PoE switch also powers cameras and access points.
By Andrian ChengContributing writer.
On this page
The short answer
A network switch turns one wired connection into several. You plug it into a port on your router, then plug computers, consoles, TVs and other wired devices into the switch. Three questions decide which one you need:
- Managed or unmanaged: do you need settings, or just more ports?
- PoE or not: should the switch also power devices over the cable?
- How many ports: how many wired devices you have now, plus room to grow.
Of the 666 network switches listed on Wiki Shopping on October 26, 2026, 230 list Power over Ethernet and 155 are listed as managed.
Managed vs unmanaged switch
Cisco sorts switches into three groups:
| Type | What you can set | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Unmanaged | Nothing; plug in and it works | Small home or office networks without special security needs |
| Smart | A limited set of options | Small businesses on a budget that want some control |
| Managed | Everything, with monitoring data | Networks where uptime and security are critical |
A managed switch can prioritize traffic (quality of service), control which devices may connect, monitor traffic and build redundant links between switches. Cisco notes that managed switches cost more and take more know-how to run. For adding ports behind a home router, an unmanaged switch is usually all you need.
What is a PoE switch?
PoE (Power over Ethernet) sends power down the same cable as the data, so a security camera, desk phone or Wi-Fi access point needs only one cable and no outlet nearby. The power levels come from IEEE standards:
| Standard | Power per port at the switch | Power at the device |
|---|---|---|
| 802.3af (PoE) | 15.4 W | 12.95 W |
| 802.3at (PoE+) | 30 W | 25.5 W |
| 802.3bt Type 3 | 60 W | 51 W |
| 802.3bt Type 4 | 90 W | 71.3 W |
Check two numbers. First, the PoE standard of each port must cover the device. Second, the switch's total PoE budget must cover all powered devices together. On Wiki Shopping, PoE budgets range from 65 W to 400 W.
How many ports do you need?
Count the wired devices you will plug in, add one port for the cable to your router, then add a few spare. Port counts on Wiki Shopping:
| Ports | Switches |
|---|---|
| 5 | 106 |
| 8 | 107 |
| 16 | 16 |
| 24 | 104 |
| 48 | 32 |
A small 5 or 8 port switch fits on a desk or in a TV cabinet; 24 and 48 port models are larger and are often made to mount in a rack.
Speed
Most switches on Wiki Shopping run at 1 Gbps per port (309 switches); 79 list 2.5 Gbps and 51 list 10 Gbps. A faster switch only helps if your devices, router and cables support that speed too.
How we count
Counts are the Wiki Shopping filter pages for network switches, read from our database on October 26, 2026. A switch counts when its store listing states the feature, port count or speed. The counts change as listings are added or removed.
Shop by spec
Network Switches
Spec score 7.5
5 Ports, 1 Speed, 32W
+Five ports for a small network setup
+Power over Ethernet support for connected devices
+Fanless design runs silently
−Only 5 ports for larger networks
$34.99-33%List: $51.99
as of 11/04/2026 03:06 PST - DetailsProduct details
$34.99as of 11/04/2026 03:06 PST - Details
View on AmazonSpec score7.5
Pros
+Five ports for a small network setup
+Power over Ethernet support for connected devices
+Fanless design runs silently
+Gigabit speed per port
Cons−Only 5 ports for larger networks
Compared with this page+PoE: only 220 of 615 here have one
−32W poe budget: 143 of the 145 here have a higher poe budget
−5 ports: 300 of the 458 here have more ports
How pros and cons are picked (About: Disclaimer)Other stores (1)
Best BuyVisit store
About this product
- DEVICE INTERFACE: 4 x Gigabit PoE+ ports; 1 x Gigabit port; LED indicators
- LIFETIME PROTECTION -We stand by the quality of our products. The TPE-TG52 5-Port Gigabit PoE+ Switch is secured with Lifetime Manufacturer Protection from TRENDnet. (U.S. and Canada Only)
- NDAA + TAA COMPLIANT: With our NDAA and TAA compliant network switches, you can plan and install networking solutions that Government customers demand today (U.S. and Canada Only)
- RELIABLE TECH SUPPORT: Our team of advisors, support and tech experts are English speaking, and available for all your needs during normal business hours. We take pride in being there for our customers.
- POE+ POWER BUDGET & SWITCH CAPACITY: 32 W PoE power budget supports up to 4 power over Ethernet devices and the 5-port gigabit PoE+ network switch provides 10Gbps switching capacity to support edge network installations
- COMPACT FANLESS DESIGN: With a compact and lightweight rugged metal housing design, this desktop switch is well-suited for desktop installations. Its fanless design is ideal for quiet environments that require silent operation
- DATA TRANSFER RATE: Ethernet: 10 Mbps (half duplex), 20 Mbps (full duplex), Fast Ethernet: 100 Mbps (half duplex), 200 Mbps (full duplex), Gigabit: 2000 Mbps (full duplex)
- OPERATING TEMPERATURE: This 5-port gigabit PoE+ network switch is rated with an operating temperature range of 0° – 40° C (32° – 104° F)
- IEEE and DSCP: IEEE 802.1p QoS and DSCP pass-through support
Spec score 8.0
16 Ports, 1 Speed, SFP, 231W
+16 ports with 15 PoE+ ports at 231W total
+1 x 1G SFP port for fiber or uplink connections
+Managed switch with easy smart management
$199.99-32%List: $294.99
as of 11/04/2026 03:06 PST - DetailsProduct details
$199.99as of 11/04/2026 03:06 PST - Details
View on AmazonSpec score8.0
Pros
+16 ports with 15 PoE+ ports at 231W total
+1 x 1G SFP port for fiber or uplink connections
+Managed switch with easy smart management
+Gigabit speed on all ports
Compared with this page+Managed: only 150 of 615 here have one
+PoE: only 220 of 615 here have one
+16 ports: 289 of the 458 here have fewer ports
+231W poe budget: 87 of the 145 here have a lower poe budget
How pros and cons are picked (About: Disclaimer)Other stores (5)
LenovoVisit store
NETGEARVisit store
QuillVisit store
ReverbVisit store
StaplesVisit store
About this product
- GIGABIT ETHERNET PORTS: Features 15 x 1.0Gbps Ethernet ports for high-speed connectivity. Auto-negotiating ports detect the optimal speed for connected devices and work with existing Cat5e or Cat6 Ethernet cables.
- POWER-OVER-ETHERNET (PoE): Includes 15 PoE+ ports with 231W total power budget, plus uninterrupted PoE and per-port PoE controls for managed power delivery.
- SFP CONNECTIVITY: Includes 1 x 1G SFP port for fiber optic connections and network expansion
- EASY SMART MANAGED NETWORK SWITCH: Intuitive software interface offers Easy Smart Managed Essentials capabilities to configure VLANs, prioritize traffic with QoS, monitor ports, and manage network security for small businesses.
- FLEXIBLE MOUNTING OPTIONS: Compact metal design supports desktop or wall-mount placement for versatile installation.
Spec score 7.1
5 Ports, 2.5 Speed
+2.5 Gbps ports for faster wired connections than standard gigabit
+Fanless design runs without fan noise
+Mounts on a desk or wall
−Only 5 ports for a small number of devices
−Unmanaged, so no VLAN or traffic control options
$99.99-26%List: $134.99
as of 11/04/2026 03:06 PST - DetailsProduct details
$99.99as of 11/04/2026 03:06 PST - Details
View on AmazonSpec score7.1
Pros
+2.5 Gbps ports for faster wired connections than standard gigabit
+Fanless design runs without fan noise
+Mounts on a desk or wall
Cons−Only 5 ports for a small number of devices
−Unmanaged, so no VLAN or traffic control options
Compared with this page+2.5 speed: only 55 of 448 here have a higher speed
−5 ports: 300 of the 458 here have more ports
How pros and cons are picked (About: Disclaimer)Other stores (6)
LenovoVisit store
NETGEARVisit store
B&H PhotoVisit store
CDWVisit store
StaplesVisit store
ZoroVisit store
About this product
- 2.5-GIGABIT ETHERNET PORTS: Features 5 x 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig Ethernet ports for high-speed connectivity. Auto-negotiating ports detect the optimal speed for connected devices and work with existing Cat5e or Cat6 Ethernet cables.
- PLUG-AND-PLAY UNMANAGED NETWORK SWITCH: Simple plug-and-play setup with no software to install or configuration required.
- FLEXIBLE MOUNTING OPTIONS: Compact metal design supports desktop or wall-mount placement for versatile installation.
- SILENT & ENERGY-EFFICIENT OPERATION: Fanless design ensures silent performance, while IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet reduces power consumption without compromising high-speed network performance.
- REGIONAL COMPATIBILITY: Made for use in U.S. & CA only
Spec score 7.6
5 Ports, 10 Speed
+Five 10G ports for fast multi-gig connections
+Unmanaged, so it works plug and play
+Fanless design runs silently
−Unmanaged, so no VLAN or traffic controls
$229.99-23%List: $299.99
as of 11/04/2026 03:06 PST - DetailsProduct details
$229.99as of 11/04/2026 03:06 PST - Details
View on AmazonSpec score7.6
Pros
+Five 10G ports for fast multi-gig connections
+Unmanaged, so it works plug and play
+Fanless design runs silently
+Desktop or wall mount options
Cons−Unmanaged, so no VLAN or traffic controls
Compared with this page+10 speed: only 6 of 448 here have a higher speed
+10G port: only 159 of 615 here have one
−5 ports: 300 of the 458 here have more ports
How pros and cons are picked (About: Disclaimer)About this product
- 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝟏𝟎𝐆𝐛𝐩𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 5× 10-Gigabit ports unlock the highest performance with 10G/multi-gig bandwidth and provide up to 100 Gbps of switching capacity.
- 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨-𝐍𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Auto-negotiation intelligently senses the link speeds and adjusts between 5-speeds (100Mb/1G/2.5G/5G/10G) for compatibility and optimal performance for all your devices, including 2.5G/5G/10G WiFi 6 AP, 10G NAS, 10G PCIe Adapter/NIC, 10G Server, gaming computer, 8K video, and more.
- 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭: IEEE 802.3X flow control provides reliable data transfer and a fanless design ensures quiet operation.
- 𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲: Easy setup with no software installation or configuration needed.
- 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞: Durable metal casing and desktop/wall-mounting design are well-suited for different environments.
- 𝟑 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐲: Backed by our industry-leading 3-year warranty and free technical support from 6am to 6pm PST Monday to Fridays, you can work with confidence.