Most people don’t realize Ubiquiti now ships several switches with native 2.5GbE ports and higher PoE budgets, not just basic gigabit models. If you’re planning a dense office, multi‑AP deployment, or a compact branch, you’ll want gear that balances throughput, power, and uplink flexibility. I’ll outline five top choices for 2026 and what makes each right for different roles-so you can pick the right fit.
| UbiQuiti USW-PRO-MAX-24-POE |
| Best for SMBs | Port Count: 24 RJ-45 ports (plus 2 SFP+) | PoE Support: PoE supported | Uplink/SFP Slots: 2 SFP+ installed | CHECK LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Ubiquiti – USW-Ultra |
| Compact Powerhouse | Port Count: 8 GbE ports | PoE Support: PoE (PoE+, PoE++ input/output design) | Uplink/SFP Slots: (no explicit SFP listed) – high‑speed uplink capability implied (GbE) | CHECK LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Ubiquiti USW-Pro-Max-48-PoE |
| Ultimate Performance | Port Count: 48 ports (16 x 2.5 GbE + 32 x GbE; plus 4 x 10G SFP+) | PoE Support: PoE+ and PoE++ (total 720W) | Uplink/SFP Slots: 4 x 10G SFP+ ports | CHECK LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Ubiquiti Switch Lite 16 PoE |
| Easy Deployment | Port Count: 16 ports | PoE Support: PoE+ support | Uplink/SFP Slots: (not specified) – supports high‑performance uplinks (up to 10x faster) | CHECK LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| TP-Link TL-SG1428PE 24-Port Gigabit PoE+ Switch |
| Value-Focused Alternative | Port Count: 24 RJ-45 ports (plus 2 non‑PoE RJ45 and 2 SFP) | PoE Support: PoE+ (802.3at/af), up to 30W per port | Uplink/SFP Slots: 2 SFP slots | CHECK LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
More Details on Our Top Picks
UbiQuiti USW-PRO-MAX-24-POE
If you need a high-throughput, PoE-capable switch for a compact rack or small data closet, the UbiQuiti USW-PRO-MAX-24-POE is built for that role-24 RJ‑45 ports at 2.5G plus two SFP+ uplinks give you multi-gig performance, while rack‑mount support and 112 Gbit/s switching capacity keep your aggregation and power-over-Ethernet needs covered. You’ll get L3 basic switching, 48 Gbit/s throughput, and PoE on a 28 V platform with AC/DC power. It’s compact (7.87 x 5.91 x 5.91), weighs 5.7 kg, tolerates up to 60°C, and includes dual SFP+ for uplinks.
- Port Count:24 RJ-45 ports (plus 2 SFP+)
- PoE Support:PoE supported
- Uplink/SFP Slots:2 SFP+ installed
- Management Level:Layer 3 Basic switching (managed)
- Power / Voltage:28 Volts (AC/DC; PoE capable)
- Operating Temperature (Upper):60 °C
- Additional Feature:2.5G port speeds
- Additional Feature:2 SFP+ modules
- Additional Feature:Rack mounting supported
Ubiquiti – USW-Ultra
The USW‑Ultra is ideal for small businesses or prosumers who need a compact, high‑power PoE solution-its single GbE PoE++ input supplies up to 42W while seven GbE PoE+ ports deliver robust power and throughput for cameras, access points, or VoIP phones. You’ll get an 8‑port Layer 2 GbE PoE switch with a 48 Gbps switching capacity in a tiny 3.94 x 1.97 x 0.5 inch chassis. It runs on 12V DC, tolerates up to 60°C, and supports versatile mounting. Released February 28, 2024, the USW‑Ultra ships with manufacturer warranty details; it’s not discontinued.
- Port Count:8 GbE ports
- PoE Support:PoE (PoE+, PoE++ input/output design)
- Uplink/SFP Slots:(no explicit SFP listed) – high‑speed uplink capability implied (GbE)
- Management Level:Layer 2 managed (GbE PoE switch)
- Power / Voltage:12 Volts DC (PoE input/output design)
- Operating Temperature (Upper):60 °C
- Additional Feature:PoE++ input port
- Additional Feature:PoE+ output ports
- Additional Feature:Ultra-compact formfactor
Ubiquiti USW-Pro-Max-48-PoE
For network admins who need dense PoE delivery and multi-gig access, the USW‑Pro‑Max‑48‑PoE stands out: it packs sixteen 2.5 GbE and thirty‑two GbE ports plus four 10G SFP+ uplinks, offers mixed PoE+ and PoE++ on specific ports with a 720W budget, and includes Etherlighting for quick visual port status and DC power‑backup readiness. You’ll get eight 2.5 GbE ports capable of PoE+ and eight at PoE++, plus twenty‑four GbE PoE+ and eight GbE PoE++ ports. It’s a Layer‑3 managed switch supported by UniFi Network 8.0.24+, giving you granular control and clear port illumination.
- Port Count:48 ports (16 x 2.5 GbE + 32 x GbE; plus 4 x 10G SFP+)
- PoE Support:PoE+ and PoE++ (total 720W)
- Uplink/SFP Slots:4 x 10G SFP+ ports
- Management Level:Layer 3 managed (Etherlighting, UniFi Network management)
- Power / Voltage:DC power backup ready; 720W PoE budget (supports high PoE power)
- Operating Temperature (Upper):(not explicitly listed) – enterprise-grade, implied outdoor/robust operation (manage with UniFi Network)
- Additional Feature:720W total PoE
- Additional Feature:2.5GbE + 10G mix
- Additional Feature:Etherlighting port indicators
Ubiquiti Switch Lite 16 PoE
Choose the Switch Lite 16 PoE when you need a compact, wall-mountable 16-port switch that delivers PoE+ on a dedicated port for powering cameras or access points where outlets aren’t available. You get 16 reliable twisted-pair ports, a PoE+ port supplying up to 25.5 W over a single cable, and high-performance uplinks that run up to ten times faster than standard Ethernet server links. Layer 2 features include IGMP snooping, port mirroring, and Spanning Tree for stable traffic handling. Management tools simplify setup and ongoing configuration, and the wall-mount form factor keeps installations neat and organized.
- Port Count:16 ports
- PoE Support:PoE+ support
- Uplink/SFP Slots:(not specified) – supports high‑performance uplinks (up to 10x faster)
- Management Level:Layer 2 features and management (managed/configurable)
- Power / Voltage:(not explicitly listed) – PoE+ power delivered per port (25.5W)
- Operating Temperature (Upper):(not explicitly listed) – designed for reliable operation (typical commercial spec)
- Additional Feature:Wall-mountable design
- Additional Feature:IGMP snooping support
- Additional Feature:Port mirroring feature
TP-Link TL-SG1428PE 24-Port Gigabit PoE+ Switch
If you need a compact switch that powers lots of devices without fuss, the TP‑Link TL‑SG1428PE delivers 24 PoE+ Gigabit ports (up to 30W each) with a 250W budget plus dual SFP uplinks, so you can keep IP cameras, VoIP phones, and APs running while linking into fiber backbones. You get two additional Gigabit non‑PoE ports, Easy Smart web management, and plug‑and‑play deployment for fast setup. VLAN, QoS, IGMP, and LAG let you segment and prioritize traffic. PoE Auto Recovery reduces manual reboots. It’s a dense, cost‑effective choice for small‑to‑medium deployments, backed by a three‑year warranty.
- Port Count:24 RJ-45 ports (plus 2 non‑PoE RJ45 and 2 SFP)
- PoE Support:PoE+ (802.3at/af), up to 30W per port
- Uplink/SFP Slots:2 SFP slots
- Management Level:Easy Smart managed (web‑based management)
- Power / Voltage:Total PoE budget 250W; standard AC power (specified PoE limits)
- Operating Temperature (Upper):(not explicitly listed) – commercial SMB switch (standard operating range)
- Additional Feature:PoE Auto Recovery
- Additional Feature:250W PoE budget
- Additional Feature:3-year warranty
Factors to Consider When Choosing Ubiquiti Networks Switches
When picking a Ubiquiti switch, you’ll want to match port count and types to your devices and future growth. Consider PoE budget, throughput needs, and the management features you need for visibility and control. Also check physical size and cooling to guarantee proper fit and reliability in your rack or closet.
Port Count And Types
Start by tallying every device you’ll connect-endpoints, uplinks, and room for growth-so you can size ports appropriately; common setups use 24 or 48 access ports plus several uplinks. Choose a mix of port speeds (1GbE, 2.5GbE, 10GbE/SFP+) so servers and aggregation links don’t become bottlenecks. Include 2–4 SFP/SFP+ fiber uplinks for distance, redundancy, and link aggregation. Count PoE-capable ports and match PoE/PoE+/PoE++ classes to APs, cameras, and phones to avoid later power shortfalls. Plan for spare capacity or modular chassis to add access ports or higher-speed uplinks without replacing the switch. This approach keeps your network resilient, scalable, and ready for higher bandwidth needs.
Power Over Ethernet
Because PoE determines both device functionality and deployment flexibility, you should verify a switch’s total PoE budget, supported standards (802.3af/at/bt), and per-port allocation before buying. Make sure the total wattage covers the sum of connected devices’ maximum draws plus headroom for peaks and future expansion. Check which standards the switch supports-af (~15.4W), at (~30W), or bt (60–100W)-since that dictates per-port capability. Confirm per-port allocation and the number of ports that can supply full power simultaneously so cameras and APs won’t be starved. Look for PoE priority and scheduling features to keep critical devices powered during contention or planned windows. Finally, consider redundancy: sufficient internal supply, external injectors, or DC backup options to sustain PoE through failures.
Performance And Throughput
PoE planning only gets you so far-if the switch can’t move traffic fast enough, devices will still suffer. You should make sure the switch’s switching capacity (backplane) exceeds your expected concurrent traffic to prevent congestion and packet loss during peaks. Match port speeds (1Gb, 2.5Gb, 10Gb) to device needs and uplink bandwidth so access, aggregation, and core layers don’t bottleneck.
Check total forwarding rate (pps) for VoIP and IoT scenarios since Gbps can mask high-packet-rate limits. Confirm full-duplex line-rate forwarding on all ports simultaneously, not just nominal speeds. Finally, plan headroom: pick a switch with extra throughput and spare uplink capacity to handle growth and feature overhead like VLANs, tunneling, or encryption.
Management And Features
While throughput and power are critical, you’ll also want a switch whose management and feature set matches your operational needs, since that determines how easily you deploy, monitor, and troubleshoot the network. Confirm the management plane-basic Layer 2 CLI/web for VLANs and IGMP snooping or Layer 3 for static and inter‑VLAN routing-so the switch fits your topology. Look for VLAN tagging, QoS, and IGMP snooping to segment traffic, prioritize latency‑sensitive apps, and handle multicast. Verify centralized management (controller/GUI or cloud) and reliable firmware update mechanisms for easier configuration, monitoring, and security patches. Check advanced features like port mirroring, LAG, and Spanning Tree variants for troubleshooting and loop prevention. If using PoE, make certain of per‑port control, scheduling, and clear power budgets.
Physical Size And Cooling
Management and features shape how you operate a switch, but its physical size and cooling determine where you can safely install it and how it will run day to day. Check form factor-rack, desktop, or wall-mount-and physical dimensions to confirm it fits your cabinet or shelf and leaves room for cable management. Verify weight and mounting specs so racks or shelves can support the switch plus cabling. Make sure required front-to-back or side-to-side airflow clearance to meet the manufacturer’s operating temperature and avoid thermal throttling or shutdown. Pick a cooling method-passive heatsinks or internal fans-based on noise tolerance and ambient environment. For high-density or high-power deployments, account for heat dissipation and plan extra ventilation or cooling capacity.
