This paper presents two distinct configurations of a GaN-based digital transceiver (TRx) to evaluate their performance and integration efficiency. The first configuration, features a novel low-noise amplifier with integrated switching capability (LNAiS) and a digital class-E power amplifier (PA) on a single compact chip. The LNAiS eliminates the need for an external antenna switch, reducing module complexity and chip size while maintaining high performance. It achieves a gain of 12.7 dB and a noise figure of 3 dB at 4.7 GHz in Rx mode and provides over 20 dB isolation in Tx mode across 4.7–7.4 GHz. The digital PA demonstrates flexibility and efficiency, achieving 46% and 23% efficiencies for 20 MHz LTE and OFDM signals, respectively, and 22% for a 240 MHz OFDM signal with 10 dB PAPR. The second configuration integrates the same concept of digital PA with a standard LNA and an SPDT switch (LNAsS), achieving a gain of 24.8 dB and a noise figure of 2.65 dB at 4.2 GHz. This work highlights the trade-offs between these two architectures and demonstrates that the LNAiS-based approach drives the development of greener, more flexible, compact,lower-complexity, and cost-effective transceivers for 5G networks.