Fortinet FortiSwitch 124G vs Ubiquiti Switch Pro Max 24 PoE: Specs & Price Comparison

Fortinet FortiSwitch 124G

★ 3.4 Value Score

Switching Capacity: 240 Gbps (duplex)
Forwarding Rate: 355 Mpps (64-byte)
Ports (breakdown): 24x 2.5GbE RJ45 (2.5G/1G/100M/10M) + 6x 10G SFP+ uplinks (10G/1G SFP+/SFP)
PoE Budget: None (PoE not supported on the 124G; the 124G-FPOE is the PoE variant with a 780 W budget)
Layer: Layer 2 managed switch (FortiLink-managed by FortiGate; L3 feature support not confirmed for this model)
Stacking support: FortiLink Stacking (Auto Inter-Switch Links) supported; not standalone switch stacking
MAC Address Table: 32K entries
Packet Buffer: 2 MB
Latency: < 1 u00b5s
VLANs: 4,096 (figures vary between sources)
Form Factor: 1RU rack-mountable
Wi-Fi Standard: N/A
Notes: Price range reflects SHI and SHI Direct USD selling prices ($1,255u2013$1,256) up to listed MSRP ($1,705). Specs are from reseller pages and a Fortinet family datasheet; a 128 Gbps capacity figure on one reseller listing for the FPOE model conflicts with 240 Gbps and was not used.

✔ Pros: Multigig 2.5GbE access ports allow Wi-Fi 6/6E APs and other 2.5G endpoints to run above gigabit speeds; 6x 10G SFP+ uplinks provide high-bandwidth aggregation to a FortiGate or core switch; Managed by FortiGate via FortiLink, giving centralized policy, VLAN, and security configuration; FortiLink Stacking (Auto Inter-Switch Links) simplifies multi-switch deployments; 240 Gbps switching capacity and 355 Mpps forwarding support line-rate performance for access layers; Fanless-class access switch design in a compact 1RU form factor; Lower price than the PoE variant when PoE is not needed
✘ Cons: No PoE on the base model, so PoE-dependent devices such as cameras, phones, and APs need the separate FPOE SKU or external injectors; Requires a FortiGate for full management, so it is less useful as a standalone switch; Lacks Layer 3 routing features in most listings, limiting use as a distribution or core switch; Specs are mostly from reseller listings rather than a standalone official Fortinet datasheet, and some figures (such as VLAN count) vary between sources; Price varies by reseller and currency, and support licenses such as FortiCare are priced separately
Est. Price: $1,255 - $1,705

Ubiquiti Switch Pro Max 24 PoE

★ 4.1 Value Score

Switching Capacity: 112 Gbps
Non-Blocking Throughput: 56 Gbps
Forwarding Rate: 83.3 Mpps
Ports: 24 total: 8x 2.5GbE PoE++, 8x 1GbE PoE++, 8x 1GbE PoE+, plus 2x 10G SFP+ uplinks
PoE Budget: 400W total (max 60W per port)
Layer: L3
Stacking support: Not confirmed; no physical stacking documented in sources reviewed
MAC Address Table Size: 32,000 entries
Packet Buffer Size: 2 MB
Form Factor: 1U rack-mountable, 442 x 325 x 44 mm, 5.1 kg without brackets
Management: UniFi Network 8.0.24+
Operating Temperature: -5 to 40u00b0C (23 to 104u00b0F)
Certifications: CE, FCC, IC (one listing states NDAA compliant)

✔ Pros: Layer 3 switching in a 24-port 1U chassis; 8x 2.5GbE PoE++ ports for multi-gig wireless and workstation uplinks; 400W total PoE budget with up to 60W per port; 2x 10G SFP+ uplinks; 112 Gbps switching capacity and 56 Gbps non-blocking throughput; managed centrally through UniFi Network; list price of $799 USD from Ubiquiti's US store is competitive for L3 PoE++ hardware
✘ Cons: 400W total PoE budget is limited if many high-power PoE++ devices are connected at once; No physical stacking documented, so scaling beyond one unit needs separate management; Port breakdown is described inconsistently across retailer listings, so the official Ubiquiti datasheet should be checked; Reseller prices vary widely (about $799 to $951 USD, plus higher regional prices); Independent hands-on reviews with measured performance were not found; Requires UniFi Network 8.0.24 or later for management
Est. Price: $799 - $951

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