Do you know why ethernet switches are considered as one of the essential equipment of an office or a company? Because there is hardly any other network solution that can ensure a stable flow of data and a faster bandwidth allocation between all the devices that users use in the office or the company.
Now, there are many different versions of ethernet switches. The versions mainly differ because of the ports that they have. As we are talking about a full-fledge office or a company, you would require the best 16 port gigabit switch for ensuring a stable network performance across multiple connected devices.
And if you were looking for a source that would introduce all of the worthy models to you, then it is your lucky day because you just stumbled upon the perfect one.
List Of Products
1. TP-Link 16 Port Gigabit PoE Switch 8 PoE Port
2. NETGEAR 16-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch
3. Linksys SE3016 16-Port Gigabit Switch
4. TRENDnet 16-Port Unmanaged Desktop Metal Switch
5. NETGEAR 16-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch
6. D-Link Fast Ethernet Switch
Comparison Table
| IMAGE | NAME & Details | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | TP-Link 16 Port Gigabit PoE Switch |
| Check The Price |
| NETGEAR 16-Port Gigabit Ethernet GS316 |
| Check The Price |
| Linksys SE3016 16-Port Gigabit Switch |
| Check The Price |
| TRENDnet 16-Port TEG-S16DG |
| Check The Price |
| NETGEAR 16-Port Gigabit Ethernet GS116NA |
| Check The Price |
| D-Link Fast Ethernet Switch DGS-1016D |
| Check The Price |
| TP-Link 16 Port Gigabit Ethernet Network TL-SG116 |
| Check The Price |
| Real HD 16 Port |
| Check The Price |
Best 16 Port Gigabit Switch Reviews
There are enormous options for 16 port ethernet switches in the market. But all of them aren’t worth the money that you would spend on them. To ensure that you do not get an underperforming one for yourself, we went through all of the popular ones and compiled a list with only the recommendation worthy ones.
The list is as follows:
1. TP-Link 16 Port Gigabit PoE Switch 8 PoE Port
In the case of network solutions, TP-Link has been dominating the market with their reliable products. And this one that we are going to look at is probably the best 16 port gigabit switch that is out there.
First of all, the unit features the plug-and-play configuration that most of the users prefer. The one with that configuration does not require any sort of software setup, nor will you need to fiddle around the configuration settings to make it operate. It will be good to go right out of the box.
However, it does offer the option for customizability. It comes with a web-based interface. That interface will enable you to manage and configure the network and the bandwidth that is flowing through all of the connected devices.
Other than that, it also has plenty of VLAN options. Those features will allow you to improve the security of the network. You can also enhance data privacy using the traffic segmentation option that it has.
Also, it offers advanced features that will allow you to prioritize the traffic and ensure a high quality of voice and video data transmission. That is possible because of the port-based IEEE 802.1p, IGMP Snooping, traffic monitoring, and rate-limiting chips that it has built-in.
Lastly, eight of the total ports support PoE. For that reason, it can provide up to 30 watts of power through each of the ports. The total amount of power that it can provide is 110 watts.
Highlighted Features:
- Features plug-and-play configuration.
- Bundles along with an Easy Smart management software.
- Has 8 PoE ports with 30 watts of a budget for each of them.
- Offers many VLAN options.
- Ensures high-quality audio and video transmission.
2. NETGEAR 16-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS316)
Any sort of noise can be a bit annoying in the work environments of office and home. And in that case, the noise that cooling fans of devices make can distract workers and reduce productivity significantly. Well, NETGEAR factored that issue when they were manufacturing this ethernet switch.
As we mentioned above, the unit has a fanless design. For that reason, it can operate while being totally silent. The design makes this one ideal for all the noise-sensitive work environments. And the metal body will be able to cool down all of the heat that the chips are going to produce during operation.
On that note, the chips are highly efficient too. It packs the IEEE 802.3az, which is remarkably power-efficient.
The ports that it sports are exceptionally durable too. They are rigorously tested for durability, performance, and reliability. You can expect them to offer you high-quality service for an extended amount of time.
Apart from that, the device is extremely durable. There are two different mounting options. You can set up directly to a desktop server, and for the wall mounts that it has on the bottom, you can mount it on a wall too.
Other than that, you will not have to go through that much of a hassle after mounting it too. It carries the plug-and-play configuration that will allow it to operate right out of the box. You will not have to do any setup, neither will you have to fiddle around with any settings for making it work.
Highlighted Features:
- Two different mounting options.
- Has a fanless design for silent operation.
- Packs energy-efficient chips.
- All of the ports are incredibly durable and reliable.
- Sports a plug-and-play configuration.
3. Linksys SE3016 16 Port Gigabit Switch Review
When it comes to network solutions, Linksys has been one of the go-to options for most of the people out there. And a perfect unit that can portray how reliable their products are would be this one.
First of all, features the auto-sensing ports, like most of the high-end switches that are out in the market. These ports will adjust the bandwidth according to the workload of the connected device.
They can switch between 10, 100 and 1000 Mbps. You will not have to worry about not getting an adequate amount of bandwidth for transferring important large files.
Apart from that, all of the port supports the MDI/MDIX cable detection mechanism. And with the power saver mode, it will consume less amount of power by not providing power to the unused ports. All of the ports are faster and more reliable than the standard ethernet ports that most units utilize.
Other than that, it boasts the full-duplex IEEE 802.3x controller. Alongside that, it also boasts the half-duplex backpressure control. Both of them combined can lower the chances of port-based congestion occurring. They can also enhance the broadcast rate substantially.
On that note, this sports the QoS controller that will ensure that video and audio tasks are prioritized the most. You can expect to have a redefined streaming experience with this.
It also features a fanless design that will enable the device to work by making zero noise. The metal body of it can control all of the heat of the chips that are inside will produce.
Highlighted Features:
- Features both the full-duplex and half-duplex backpressure controller.
- All of the ports support the MDIX/MDI cable detection mechanism.
- Has a built-in power saver mode.
- Fanless design for quieter operation.
- Sports an auto-sensing mechanism for efficient bandwidth distribution.
4. TRENDnet 16-Port Unmanaged Gigabit GREENnet Desktop Metal Switch
Even though there are a plethora of 16 port switches out there, not all of them will be as power-efficient as what TRENDnet is offering here.
To begin with, it integrates GREEnet technology. The technology will allow it to lower the power consumption to about 70 percent. It will limit the power that is provided to the ports during low link utilization periods. Also, the control chips that have built-in are exceptionally energy efficient as well.
Apart from that, the unit is quite versatile too. You can not only mount it directly to your desktop server, but by getting a rack mount, you will also be able to mount it with the server racks.
And you will not have to go through any tedious process after mounting it. It sports the plug-and-play configuration that will make the setup process feel effortless.
Other than that, the device features a fanless design. The design enables it to operate by making absolutely no noise at all. And you will not have to worry about the produced heat as well because the metal body will be able to dissipate and control that efficiently.
The ports that the device advertises are all high-quality RJ45 ports. These can provide a high-speed data transfer rate across all the connected devices. The switching capacity of the unit is 32 Gbps, which means you will surely get a smooth flow of data. So, you will not have to worry about any traffic bottlenecks.
Highlighted Features:
- Integrates the GREENnet technology for lower power consumption.
- Has multiple mounting options.
- Features the plug-and-play configuration.
- Sports a fanless design.
- Ensures a stable and smooth flow of data.
5. NETGEAR 16-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS116NA)
Among all of the gigabit ethernet switch models that are available, the ones that can be installed on the wall and the desktop are the most versatile ones. A perfect example of that would be this one that NETGEAR is offering.
As we mentioned above, the unit is exceptionally versatile. You will not only be able to set it up directly to a desktop server, but for the wall mounts that it has on the bottom, you can set it up on a wall too. The footprint is relatively small and compact, which will make the installation process much easier for you.
For the plug-and-play configuration that it boasts, you will not have to go through that much of hassle after mounting it too. It will not require any software setup, neither will it need any fiddling around in any web-based interface. That means it will start operating optimally right after plugging all of the ethernet cables to it.
Apart from that, the device features a fanless design. For that reason, it will be able to operate by making no noise at all. This design makes it ideal for all noise-sensitive work environments.
Other than that, the ports that it sports are all rigorously tested. They all have passed with flying colors and checked all the marks in the case of durability and reliability. And the chips that are inside will optimize power usage. You can expect it to operate by consuming a comparatively lower amount of power.
Highlighted Features:
- Exceptionally Versatile.
- Has a fanless design for silent operation.
- All the ports are extremely durable and reliable.
- Features a plug-and-play configuration.
- Packs energy-efficient chips.
6. D-Link Fast Ethernet Switch DGS-1016D
While there might be plenty of high-performance network switches out there, not all of them will be power-efficient. Well, D-Link factored that in and integrated their own technology for this device that we are going to talk about.
Let us talk about the feature that makes it stand out the most. It comes with the D-Link Green technology. That innovative technology will allow it to conserve a significant amount of energy. In comparison, it will require a lower amount of power to operate.
Other than that, all of the ports that it boasts have the MDI/MDIX port detection mechanism. For that, the device will not provide power to the ports that do not have input. Also, it can efficiently distribute power by monitoring the workload of the connected devices.
Besides that, the unit features the IEEE 802.3x controller. That will allow you to control the overall flow of data among all the connected devices. However, if you do not like to go through all the intricate process, you can manually disable the controller.
The device is exceptionally versatile too. It can be mounted directly on a desktop server, or you can mount it on a server rack. And the plug-and-play configuration will ensure that the setup process is straightforward.
It also sports a fanless design that will allow it to operate by making zero noise. The metal housing will control all the heat that the chips are going to make. And the heat that they are going to produce during operation will be minimal as well.
Highlighted Features:
- Features Green technology that ensures lower power consumption.
- Comes with power-efficient chips.
- All the ports support MDI/MDIX.
- Boasts a plug-and-play configuration.
- Offers versatile installation options.
7. TP-Link 16 Port Gigabit Ethernet Network Switch
In your search for the best gigabit switch 16-port, you are going to stumble upon a plethora of units that are going to be from different manufacturers. However, you will hardly find a few that will have integrated advanced software features like this one.
Unlike some of the units that are out there, this one comes with a traffic prioritization feature. That will enable you to prioritize the video and the audio data transmission. All of that is possible because of the port-based 802.1p QoS chip and the IGMP Snooping feature that the device packs.
Other than that, it also features the IEEE 802.3X controller. For that reason, the data transfer that is going to occur in between the ports will be stable, and there will hardly be any loss of data. Also, flow control will be able to allocate data efficiently.
The installation process is pretty simple too. It has the plug-and-play configuration that will let it operate optimally right out of the box. You will not have to go through any software process.
All of the ports also have the auto-negotiation mechanism, just like some of the high-end switches that are out there. For that reason, the bandwidth will be efficiently distributed among devices. The ports also support the auto MDI/MDIX for ensuring lower consumption of power.
Other than that, the unit sports a fanless design. For that reason, it can operate by making virtually no noise at all. The sturdy metal housing that it comes along will take care of all the cooling.
Highlighted Features:
- Offers advanced software features for traffic prioritization.
- Sports a fanless design.
- Has a reliable IEEE 802.3x controller.
- Comes with a plug-and-play configuration.
- All of the ports support auto-negotiation and auto MDI/MDIX.
8. Real HD 16 Port Plug and Play PoE+ Switch
We are going to finish off our 16 port gigabit switch reviews with this unit that Real HD is offering. If you were in the lookout for something that has PoE support, then you should definitely put this one into your consideration list.
First of all, all of the ports of the device have PoE support. Each of the ports can provide about 30 watts of power through an ethernet cable. The total power that it can supply is 250 watts.
There are two dedicated Gigabit Uplink ports too. They are 10 and 100 Mbps each. Those two will make the network setups feel like taking a brisk walk in the park. And as it comes with the IEEE 802.3af network protocol chip, you will not have to worry about facing traffic fluctuation in those ports.
The unit features the plug-and-play configuration, just like most of the other devices that are in the market. That configuration will make the installation process feel effortless to carry out. You will not have to fiddle around with any configuration file or settings to get it working.
It also boasts a built-in power adapter, which makes it ideal for home and office networks. And the sturdy metal case that it comes with will be able to take care of the generated heat easily.
Lastly, it has a PoE power and link activity switch that will allow you to monitor the power distributed to each of the ports. And because of the automatic detection mechanism, you will not have to worry about damaging non-PoE equipment.
Highlighted Features:
- All of the ports have PoE capability and can supply 30 watts of power.
- Comes with high-performance IEEE 802.3af network protocol chip.
- Sports a sturdy metal case that can keep the temperature under control.
- Has automatic PoE detection.
- Features plug-and-play configuration.
Best 16 Port Switch Buying Guide
You might already have a general idea about what you can expect from a decent switch after going through the review section. But if you want to get the most out of the money that you are going to spend on one, you will have to keep these factors in mind:
Build Quality
The first thing that you will have to consider to get the best 16 port gigabit switch is the build quality. As we are talking about 16 ports here, you are most likely going to use it for commercial purposes. In that case, what you would want to get is the one that has durable and reliable ports.
Other than the ports, you would also want to consider the housing too. With all of the chips and the controller that these are going to have, the heat that they are going to produce will require an efficient cooling solution.
And as these do not usually have a fan, the housing will have to do all the cooling. Keeping that in mind, we would recommend you to opt for the ones that have a metal housing.
Auto-sensing Ports
If you want to have a stable bandwidth allocated to all the connected devices, you would like to opt for the ones that have auto-sensing ports. Those will be able to distribute the available bandwidth across all the devices efficiently. And you will not have to worry about network and traffic bottlenecks either.
Power-efficiency
Even though network switches do not consume that much power, but as we are talking about 16 ports, power is a significant factor here. Keeping that in mind, we would recommend you to opt for the devices that have power-efficient chips built-in. Those will not consume that much amount of power.
Other than that, we would also suggest you to shoot for the ones that have Green technology built-in. Whether it is proprietary or not, the Green technology will ensure that the power is not being supplied to the unused ports. By doing so, it will be able to lower down the consumed power substantially.
Managed or Unmanaged
There are two options for the setup process. One of them is the managed one, which will require you to go through installation software for getting the device started. And the other one is unmanaged that will need no setup software or anything of that sort.
In that regard, if you do not want something that will work right out of the box, you would want to go with the Unmanaged ones. On the other hand, if you want more control over the data transfers, you should opt for the managed ones.
Mounting Options
The last thing that you will have to consider is the mounting options that the unit is offering. In that case, the more, the better. Some of the units can be mounted on a wall and to a desktop server or a rack. Those are the most versatile ones and the ones that you would want to shoot for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a router as a switch?
Even though you can repurpose a router for offering the same functionality as a switch, they do have some differences between them. The thing that makes them stand out the most is the network chips and the bandwidth allocation chips that a switch has. Those are not available in routers.
What will happen if I connect a router with a switch?
By connecting a router with a switch, you will provide an internet connection to all of the devices connected to a switch. Also, you can make a local area network between all of the devices.
Are Hubs and Switches the same thing?
Hubs and switches do the same thing, which is to split the ethernet connections. However, the switches are better at distributing the bandwidth as they have advanced chips in them.
Can I connect one switch to another switch?
Yes, it is possible to connect one switch to another one. The process is called daisy-chaining. However, the process is not that power-efficient. It would be better to opt for something that has more ports.
Will the internet speed get reduced if I connect it to a switch?
Most of them will be able to offer a 1000 Mbps transfer rate for all of the ports. So, if your internet speed is faster than that, the switch will technically lower the internet speed among connected devices.
Final Words
We hope that we were able to narrow down the overall options to a certain extent that it is now more comfortable for you to choose the best 16 port gigabit switch for your office and other workspaces.
With that being said, we would like to conclude here by wishing you good luck and hoping that you can get a high-speed data transfer rate among all of the devices that you have in your workspace.
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