With the burgeoning need for connectivity in this fast-paced world, having the proper devices at home or in the work scenario is paramount. Even if your router is Wi-Fi-capable, connectivity can still be limited. You can solve that issue with an Ethernet switch. We rounded the best 16-port Ethernet switches, so you can choose which works best for your connectivity demands.
Best Overall
NETGEAR GS316 Unmanaged Switch
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers are very impressed with the Netgear 16-port Gigabit Switch because it is easy to install and use. They highly recommend it for home and small office use.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We love that it’s sleek but powerful enough to support multiple devices. Plus it’s on the economical side without compromising on the quality so it’s a big selling point for us.
Who Will Use This Most
With its capacity to support multiple connections, it is one of the best options for home use and for small offices that need connectivity without worrying about the cost.
Best for High-Speed Streaming
TP-Link TL-SG116
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers of TP-Link 16-Port Ethernet Switch are satisfied with their purchase as it performs well for its intended use.
Why It Stands Out to Us
We love the port-based access control to protect the users from malicious attacks and unauthorized use.
Who Will Use This Most
Heavy-stream users will love the IGMP snooping where they can control which ports receive the data to free up the other ports for better streaming options.
Affordable Smart-Managed Switch
NETGEAR GS116E
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
It works perfectly well when mounted directly to an LED Smart TV and it installs without any issues. It’s also a great space saver which is a plus for many buyers.
Why It Stands Out to Us
We love how it can play videos of different formats without any issue. A great improvement from the previous buy.
Who Will Use This Most
The NETGEAR GS116E Ethernet Switch is one of the best choices for small businesses needing smart management of their network.
Best Budget 16-Port Ethernet Switch
TP-Link TL-SF1016D
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This Ethernet switch is easy to use and works faster than most Ethernet switches within the same price range.
Why It Stands Out to Us
We love that it works excellently but still cheap enough to not leave a hole in your pocket.
Who Will Use This Most
It works great for small homes with medium-speed internet access.
High Speed, Energy-Saving Setup
D-Link DGS-1016C Unmanaged Switch
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Users of D-Link Ethernet Switch (DGS-1016C) love how easy it is to install with no distracting blinking lights. It works with just about any device in the house, too.
Why It Stands Out to Us
We love its intelligent power optimization that uses electricity only in the active ports.
Who Will Use This Most
Best for homes and small business use. It effectively eliminates the need for the high-cost of a network technician when installing this switch.
QoS-Optimized Ethernet Switch
Linksys LGS116 Unmanaged Switch
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers love the reliability of the Linksys Business LGS116 16-Port Desktop Gigabit Ethernet Switch. Throughput tested at 90GB/s for single port tested.
Why It Stands Out to Us
Budget Ethernet switch that does the job of a more expensive option. This one is a real contender.
Who Will Use This Most
If you need fast throughput and reliability in your network switch, this would be a perfect choice for you.
Best for Mid-Speed Home Internet Connections
Linksys LGS116P
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers love the quiet operation and LED indicators on the device make it easy to monitor the working ports.
Why It Stands Out to Us
The easy installation of this Ethernet switch makes everything a breeze. It also works very well.
Who Will Use This Most
Those who love video streaming a lot will appreciate this Ethernet switch because of its QoS application.
Best Dedicated PoE Ports
Aumox 16-Port with 8-Port PoE
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Customers love that it is space-efficient but comes with the same number of ports for a decent price.
Why It Stands Out to Us
The VLAN mode switch of the Aumox is the selling point for us. It effectively limits the network traffic, especially when using priority streaming sites.
Who Will Use This Most
Those who love multiple-use devices will adore this Ethernet switch. It is perfect for home use, small businesses, schools, security cameras, and more.
Runner-Up for Best Dedicated PoE Ports
NETGEAR JGS516PE
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers appreciate the easy management interface and PoE at half the price of other switches.
Why It Stands Out to Us
We love the fast transfer rate at a price lower than most smart managed switches.
Who Will Use This Most
If you want to expand your home network without issues, this Ethernet switch will work best for you. At 85 watts, it’s also a real power-saver.
High-Speed Internet at No Extra Cost
D-Link DGS-1016D
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Works perfectly and excellently are the most common feedback from buyers.
Why It Stands Out to Us
We love the auto MDI/MDI X for all ports that eliminate confusion and auto-corrects improper cabling for better communication within the network.
Who Will Use This Most
The D-Link DGS-1016D Ethernet switch is compatible with fast internet servers. This works best for homes and business owners that need more connectivity with their local network.
What is an Ethernet switch used for?
An Ethernet switch lets you connect to several devices within a wired network with the help of Ethernet cables. Here are the uses of an Ethernet switch:
- It allows multiple connections to an internet modem.
- It manages traffic within the network for seamless work.
- It allows you to control and manage usage and access within the network.
- It makes communication within the network easier and faster since the switch provides a full wire speed between the receiver and the sender devices.
Can you use an Ethernet switch without a router?
An Ethernet switch works even without a router but if you want to use a single IP address for all networked devices, a router helps a lot.
To know if the devices have the same IP address, check out the first three groups of numbers such as 103.123.43.xxx. If these numbers are the same for all devices, you share the same IP address.
What is the difference between an Ethernet splitter, an Ethernet switch, and an Ethernet hub?
An Ethernet splitter is a small gadget that allows you to make one cable act as two cables. It helps you save on the length of cable to use from the modem to the devices. However, it does not mean you can connect more devices to it. For example, you connect your modem to your device using two LAN ports, add a splitter, connect a single cable then add a splitter on the other end to connect to the devices you want to connect. The downside of this is the limited speed (100mpbs per connection) and you do not save on your Ethernet port.
An Ethernet switch allows you to add ports without affecting the speed of the network. One device can communicate directly to the other without having to go through a high-traffic network.
An Ethernet hub, on the other hand, is a thing of the past. Because the message has to go through a high-traffic network, the result is distorted and communication is slow. The number of devices working at the same time predicts the performance of the network. The more devices working, the slower the network is.
What does 10/100/1000 mean on a switch?
The 10/100/1000 mark on your Ethernet switch means it is a high-end switch because it can detect device speed from 10Mbps, 100Mbps, or 1Gbps.
What is the difference between managed and unmanaged switches?
An unmanaged switch is easier to use even for an untrained person since it’s just plug-and-play. A managed switch, on the other hand, allows you to control priority channels for better performance. In terms of security, managed switches have deeper security layers so only an authorized technician has access privileges so it’s not easily tampered with.
An unmanaged switch is also a lot cheaper compared to a managed switch, Depending on the features, accessibility, and security controls, a managed switch can reach up to $2,800 per port.
However, for home use and small businesses where a retainer technician can help, unmanaged switches are the best option. For large businesses that need an extra layer of security to protect their data and other related concerns, a managed switch gives you the peace of mind.
To protect yourself when using an unmanaged switch, here are a few tips to prevent hacking.
Conclusion
Ethernet switches help establish wired connections within a network without slowing the overall internet speed. Unlike distance-dependent Wi-Fi connection, wired internet that use Ethernet ports allow faster communication within the network for better work output.
Go on and check out the winner of the best 16-port Ethernet switches, the NETGEAR GS316, and enjoy fast internet connection at an affordable price.
