Cheap 8-port switch or Wi‑Fi 7 router: which one actually fits your network?

Display

There is no display on either product, so this category does not meaningfully apply. In practical buying terms, the closest equivalent is interface and status visibility. The TP-Link TL-SG108S keeps things minimal with basic link/activity LEDs and no app, while the GL.iNet Flint 3 offers a modern router interface with far more configuration options, including wireless settings, VPN controls and network management. Winner: Product B, because it provides a much richer control experience for users who want visibility and tuning.

Performance

This is where the products diverge sharply. The TP-Link TL-SG108S is an 8-port unmanaged Gigabit switch, so every port tops out at 1Gbps and it simply forwards traffic between wired devices. For a NAS, Plex server, desktop PC, printer and smart TV, that is often enough, especially when you just need more Ethernet sockets. The GL.iNet GL-BE9300 is a tri-band Wi‑Fi 7 router with 6GHz support and 5 x 2.5G ports, so it can deliver much higher aggregate throughput, lower latency on capable devices, and better backhaul options for fast internet or local transfers. If you have multi-gig broadband, Wi‑Fi 7 clients, or want faster wired uplinks to a NAS or switch, the Flint 3 is dramatically more capable. Winner: Product B, by a wide margin.

Build quality and design

The TP-Link switch uses a metal case, desktop or wall-mount flexibility, and a fanless design that suits a cupboard, rack shelf or behind-TV installation. It is small, silent and very much built to disappear into the network. The Flint 3 is also aimed at serious home users, with a larger router chassis designed to host multiple antennas and higher-performance radios. It will take up more space and needs more careful placement for best Wi‑Fi coverage. In raw simplicity and physical robustness, the switch is excellent; in hardware ambition and feature density, the router is more advanced. Winner: Product A for sheer simplicity and low-profile practicality, though B is the more sophisticated device.

Battery life

Neither product has a battery, so this category does not apply. If you are thinking about power efficiency instead, the TP-Link explicitly advertises power saving and, as a passive switch, will typically consume very little electricity. The Flint 3 will draw more power because it is doing far more work: routing, Wi‑Fi 7 radios, VPN processing and multi-gig switching. Winner: Product A, because it is the lower-power device and better suited to always-on operation where efficiency matters.

Price and value for money

At £17.99, the TL-SG108S is outstanding value if what you need is simply more wired ports. For home lab users, it is the kind of cheap, reliable box that quietly solves a real problem: connecting a NAS, desktop, TV, console and printer without spending much. The Flint 3 costs £187.99, which is over ten times the price, but it is not trying to do the same job. It replaces or upgrades your router, adds Wi‑Fi 7, 6GHz, 2.5GbE, VPN features and much stronger networking capability overall. If you only need switching, the TP-Link wins on value decisively. If you need a central network upgrade, the GL.iNet can still be good value relative to high-end routers. Winner: Product A for most buyers on pure price-to-need ratio.

Game library/features

Neither product has a game library, so this category does not apply in the literal sense. Interpreting it as feature set, the TL-SG108S is extremely limited: plug it in and it works, with QoS and IGMP snooping for basic traffic handling. The Flint 3 is far richer, with Wi‑Fi 7, tri-band operation, 5 x 2.5G ports, VPN router functionality and features aimed at streaming, gaming and business networking. For feature depth, Product B is the clear winner.

Overall user experience

The TP-Link switch is the easiest product here to own. There is essentially nothing to configure, no firmware complexity to manage, and no wireless performance to optimise. That makes it ideal for someone who wants a reliable wired expansion point for a NAS or home office. The Flint 3 is more powerful but also more demanding: you will need to think about placement, wireless environment, client compatibility and possibly VPN or advanced settings to get the most from it. For users who enjoy tuning their network and want a genuinely capable router, that complexity is worthwhile. For users who just want more LAN ports, it is unnecessary overhead. Winner: Product A for simplicity; Product B for capability.

Overall summary: these products serve different roles, so there is no universal winner. If your problem is "I need more Ethernet ports for wired devices," the TP-Link TL-SG108S is the obvious buy. If your problem is "I need a faster, more modern network core with Wi‑Fi 7, 2.5G ports and VPN support," the GL.iNet Flint 3 is the better choice. For most people comparing these two on value alone, the TP-Link wins because it solves a common problem for very little money. For performance, features and future-proofing, the GL.iNet wins comfortably.