Do I need a managed or unmanaged Ethernet switch?

For most homes, reviewers across r/HomeNetworking and verified-purchase reviews agree an unmanaged plug-and-play switch (like the NETGEAR GS308 or TP-Link TL-SG105) is all you need to add ports. A smart/managed switch such as the TP-Link TL-SG108E only matters if you want VLANs, QoS, port monitoring, or link aggregation. Specialist communities repeatedly note that dumb switches won't help you segment or secure a network.