Zyxel XMG-108HP Unmanaged 2.5G Ethernet (100/1000/2500) Power over Ethernet (PoE)

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

For the money, the Zyxel XMG-108HP is a sensible little unmanaged upgrade if you’ve got a few Ethernet drops that need faster speeds and some devices that want PoE without messing about. Unmanaged means plug-and-play—great for offices, small warehouses, or any “just make it work” scenario like APs, CCTV encoders, phones, or a couple of cameras. Zyxel also tends to be more reliable on the boring basics (port behaviour, stability) than some no-name alternatives, so you’re less likely to get random gremlins that only show up a month later.

That said, it’s not the right buy if you need control—no VLANs, no traffic management, no managed features. Also, “PoE for everything” is where these switches can run into practical limits: if your connected devices are power-hungry, double-check compatibility and expected draw rather than assuming it’ll cope with every setup. At ~£112 ex-VAT, it’s good value for a small number of 2.5G PoE devices, but if you’re likely to expand, or you want more network flexibility later, you may be better off spending a bit more on a managed switch now rather than replacing it sooner.