Netgear Networking Buying Guide 2026

Purpose-Built for Professional AV-over-IP

The Netgear M4250 AV Line is the industry’s first switch range designed from the ground up for Pro AV. Pre-configured with IGMP snooping, multicast optimisation and AV-friendly auto-LAG, these switches work out of the box with platforms like Dante, NDI, SDVoE and Crestron NVX.

• Desktop 8-port + 10G: GSM4210PX-100AUS (M4250-8G2XF-PoE+, 8x 1G PoE+ with 2x 10G SFP+ uplinks, 220W budget) — compact desktop form factor for small AV setups and conference rooms.
• Desktop 9-port: GSM4210PD-100AUS (M4250-9G1F-PoE+, 8x 1G PoE+ with 1x SFP, 110W) — entry-level AV switch for single-room deployments.
• 10-port + SFP: GSM4212P-100AJS (M4250-10G2F-PoE+, 8x 1G PoE+ with 2x 1G SFP, 125W) — flexible mid-range AV switch with fibre uplinks.
• 10-port + 10G SFP+: GSM4212PX-100AJS (M4250-10G2XF-PoE+, 8x 1G PoE+ with 2x 10G SFP+, 240W) — higher PoE budget and 10G uplinks for demanding AV deployments.
• 26-port (best seller): GSM4230UP-100AJS (M4250-26G4F-PoE++, 24x 1G PoE++ with 4x SFP, 720W Ultra90) — our most popular AV switch. Full 802.3bt PoE++ for high-power AV endpoints.
• 26-port + 10G: GSM4230PX-100AJS (M4250-26G4XF-PoE+, 24x 1G PoE+ with 4x 10G SFP+, 480W) — 10G fibre uplinks for large AV networks and backbone connections.
• 48-port enterprise: GSM4248UX-100AJS (M4250-40G8XF-PoE++, 40x 1G PoE++ with 8x 10G SFP+, Ultra90) — large-venue AV switch for stadiums, convention centres and multi-zone deployments.

Key AV features: IGMP v2/v3 snooping, multicast filtering, auto-LAG for AV endpoints, 802.3bt PoE++ (up to 90W per port), AV-optimised GUI, Insight cloud management and zero-touch provisioning.

Next-Gen Multi-Gig for Enterprise & AV

The M4350 series takes Netgear’s fully managed switches to the next level with multi-gig (2.5G/10G) ports, L3 stacking and PoE++ support. Ideal for WiFi 7 AP uplinks, multi-gig NAS environments and high-bandwidth AV-over-IP.

• 24-port 2.5G PoE++: M4350-24M4X4V (M4350-24M4X4V, 24x 2.5G PoE++ with 4x 10G SFP+) — multi-gig access layer switch designed for WiFi 7 access points and 2.5GbE endpoints. Full 802.3bt PoE++ support.
• 48-port 1G L3 stackable: GSM4352-100AJS (M4350-48G4XF, 48x 1G with 4x 10G SFP+) — high-density L3 stackable managed switch for enterprise campus and data centre access layer deployments.

Why M4350 over M4250? The M4350 adds multi-gig (2.5G+) port speeds, L3 static/dynamic routing, physical stacking and higher port densities. Choose M4250 for dedicated AV-over-IP; choose M4350 for converged enterprise networks that need both AV and data traffic with multi-gig speeds.

Business-Grade Switching at an Affordable Price

Netgear’s ProSafe Smart Managed (Plus/Smart) switches offer VLANs, QoS, IGMP snooping and port trunking at a fraction of the cost of fully managed switches. Perfect for SMBs that need more than plug-and-play but don’t require L3 routing.

• 24-port smart switch: GS724T-400AJS (GS724T v4, 24x 1G with 2x SFP) — our best-selling Netgear smart managed switch. VLANs, QoS, ACLs and link aggregation in a rackmount form factor. Ideal for office and SMB networks.
• 24-port PoE+ smart: GS724TP-300AUS (GS724TP, 24x 1G PoE+ with 2x SFP, 190W budget) — same smart management as GS724T with 802.3at PoE+ to power APs, IP phones and cameras.
• 24-port high-power PoE+: GS728TPP-300AUS (GS728TPP, 24x 1G PoE+ with 4x SFP, 380W budget) — higher PoE budget and SFP uplinks for deployments that need more power and fibre connectivity.

Plug-and-Play Gigabit Networking

Netgear’s unmanaged switches are built for reliability and simplicity. Metal chassis, fanless operation and lifetime warranty make them a trusted choice for desktops, home offices and small business wiring closets.

• 5-port desktop: GS105AU — compact 5-port gigabit for desks and home offices. Fanless, metal case, lifetime warranty.
• 8-port desktop: GS108AU — our best-selling Netgear unmanaged switch. 8x gigabit in a sturdy metal enclosure.
• 8-port budget: GS308-300AUS (GS308 v3) — affordable 8-port gigabit with plastic housing for cost-sensitive deployments.
• 16-port desktop: GS116AU — 16x gigabit for larger networks. Rackmountable with included brackets.
• 8-port PoE+ unmanaged: GS308PP-100AJS (83W budget) — simple PoE+ for powering APs and cameras without management overhead.
• 8-port PoE+ Plus: GS308EPP-100AUS (123W budget, Plus managed) — basic web management with per-port PoE control and VLANs for a step up from fully unmanaged.
• 24-port PoE+ unmanaged: GS524PP-100AJS (24x 1G PoE+, 300W budget) — high-density unmanaged PoE switch for simple deployments that need lots of PoE ports.

Whole-Home WiFi 7 with Dedicated Backhaul

Netgear’s Orbi mesh systems are engineered for maximum coverage and speed, using a dedicated wireless backhaul channel so your devices get full-speed connections without congestion. The new WiFi 7 models deliver multi-gig speeds throughout your home.

• Orbi 970 3-pack (flagship): RBE973S-100APS (BE27000 quad-band WiFi 7, 930m² coverage) — the ultimate home mesh. 10G dedicated wireless backhaul, 10GbE WAN, 4x 2.5GbE LAN ports per unit. Ideal for multi-gig NBN connections and large homes.
• Orbi 970 2-pack: RBE972S-100APS (BE27000 quad-band WiFi 7, 620m²) — same flagship performance in a 2-unit kit for medium to large homes.
• Orbi WiFi 7 E21000: RBE873-100APS (BE21000 tri-band WiFi 7, 3-pack) — a more affordable WiFi 7 mesh option with tri-band performance. Great value for homes that want WiFi 7 without the premium price of the 970 series.
• Orbi 970 satellite add-on: RBE970-100APS (single satellite) — extend your existing Orbi 970 system with an additional satellite for extra coverage.
• Orbi wall mount: RBKWM-10000S — official wall mount kit for Orbi routers and satellites. Clean, secure installation.
• Orbi WiFi 6 (value): RBK352-100AUS (AX1800, 2-pack) — affordable WiFi 6 mesh for budget-conscious buyers who want reliable whole-home coverage without WiFi 7.

Internet Anywhere with 5G & 4G

Netgear’s Nighthawk mobile routers and modems deliver blazing-fast 5G or reliable 4G LTE connectivity anywhere you need it — remote work sites, events, travel or as a fixed broadband alternative.

• Nighthawk M6 5G: MR6110-111AUS (Sub-6GHz 5G, WiFi 6, 32 devices) — our best-selling 5G mobile hotspot. Compact, battery-powered with all-day use. Ideal for remote workers, tradies and travellers needing fast internet on the go.
• Nighthawk M6 Pro 5G: MR6550-100APS (mmWave + Sub-6GHz 5G, WiFi 6E) — the premium 5G hotspot with mmWave support for maximum download speeds where available, plus WiFi 6E tri-band output.
• 4G LTE Modem: LM1200-100AUS (Cat 4 LTE) — always-on 4G modem for primary or failover broadband. Connects via Ethernet to any existing router. Perfect for rural properties and WAN failover.