{ "category": { "slug": "nas-devices", "name": "NAS Devices", "description": "Network-attached storage enclosures for home and small office, diskless or populated; bare internal NAS hard drives, external SSDs, external hard drives, routers and cloud storage plans are separate." }, "url": "https://stierproducts.com/categories/nas-devices", "markdown": "https://stierproducts.com/categories/nas-devices.md", "updated": "2026-09-23T22:54:42.566Z", "productsRanked": 22, "citedSources": 136, "citedSourceKinds": { "editorial": 93, "video": 38, "community": 5 }, "summary": "On the stierproducts nas devices board, Synology DiskStation DS225+ ranks #1 in S tier, ahead of TerraMaster F4-424 Pro (#2, S tier) and Asustor Drivestor 4 Gen2 (AS1204T) (#3, A tier). The board ranks 22 nas devices from S (best) to F (avoid), last researched 23 Sept 2026, drawing on 136 cited reviews, videos and discussions. Placed in the bottom tiers as ones to avoid: UniFi UNAS 2, Asustor Drivestor 2 Gen2 (AS1202T), Synology DiskStation DS423+, and 8 others.", "method": { "summary": "Each category is researched in four independent runs, one per lens (expert consensus, value, reliability, community pulse). Every run ranks a board of candidates that deliberately includes products buyers cross-shop but should avoid. Placements score on a ranked ladder (LP), and tiers are derived from LP, so no tier is ever assigned by hand.", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/methodology" }, "limitations": [ "We do not test products ourselves. Every placement is consolidated from published reviews, owner reports and community discussion, so a board is only as good as the sources behind it.", "LP is points on this category ladder. It is comparable within a category and never across categories.", "A board is a snapshot with a research date. Anything released or changed after that date is not in it yet.", "Evidence is uneven across this board: products carry between 1 and 25 cited sources. The count for each is in the table above." ], "dataset": { "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.22062813", "url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22062813", "scope": "every board at once, one dated snapshot per release", "excludes": [ "price", "currency", "image" ] }, "license": { "name": "CC BY 4.0", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "terms": "https://stierproducts.com/license", "covers": [ "text", "rankings", "tiers", "lp", "verdicts", "pros", "cons" ], "excludes": [ "images" ], "imageRights": "Product photographs are not covered: they belong to their respective owners and are reproduced to illustrate the product being reviewed. Do not redistribute them under this licence." }, "tierMeanings": { "S": "Exceptional. Finishes top run after run; capped at 3 slots per category.", "A": "Excellent. Strongly recommended, beaten only by the very best.", "B": "Good. A solid choice with real caveats worth knowing.", "C": "Fair. Acceptable in the right situation, outclassed at its price.", "D": "Weak. Hard to recommend when better options cost similar money.", "F": "Avoid. The evidence points you elsewhere." }, "products": [ { "rank": 1, "tier": "S", "lp": 1108, "name": "Synology DiskStation DS225+", "brand": "Synology", "slug": "synology-diskstation-ds225", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/synology-diskstation-ds225", "verdict": "Wirecutter's current top pick and the best-supported firmware platform in the class. The safest device to own for a decade.", "pros": [ "Longest-supported DSM operating system", "Strong warranty and support reputation", "Built to run quietly for a decade", "Conservative hardware design ensures reliability", "Best software experience with flagship DSM features" ], "cons": [ "Synology's recent push toward validated drives may limit drive choice", "Higher overall price relative to comparable hardware", "You pay a real premium for the DSM software", "Hardware is beatable on specs for the money", "Only carries two bays" ], "citations": 25, "distinctOutlets": 22, "thinlySourced": false, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/synology-diskstation-ds225.webp" }, { "rank": 2, "tier": "S", "lp": 1033, "name": "TerraMaster F4-424 Pro", "brand": "TerraMaster", "slug": "terramaster-f4-424-pro", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/terramaster-f4-424-pro", "verdict": "TechRadar's top choice for most users: \"the TerraMaster F4-424 Pro is our top choice for most users. During tests, we found this model delivered fast, secure file transfer.\" Four bays, modern Intel-class silicon and 2.5 GbE give it hardware headroom that the budget Synology boxes lack, and TechRadar's testing verdict is emphatic. It sits below the Synology plus boxes here because TerraMaster's TOS firmware and support track record is shorter and less proven over the long haul.", "pros": [ "Fast, secure file-transfer performance", "Four bays with modern Intel-class silicon", "2.5 GbE connectivity provides future-proof bandwidth", "Hardware headroom exceeds budget Synology models", "Near-flagship performance without flagship price" ], "cons": [ "TOS firmware and support track record shorter than Synology's", "TerraMaster's TOS software ecosystem is less battle-tested than Synology's", "TerraMaster's warranty and support reputation is thinner than Synology's", "TOS software is weaker than Synology's DSM", "TerraMaster's own TOS software is the weak point rather than the hardware, per long-term owners" ], "citations": 13, "distinctOutlets": 10, "thinlySourced": false, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/terramaster-f4-424-pro.webp" }, { "rank": 3, "tier": "A", "lp": 723, "name": "Asustor Drivestor 4 Gen2 (AS1204T)", "brand": "Asustor", "slug": "asustor-drivestor-4-gen2-as1204t", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/asustor-drivestor-4-gen2-as1204t", "verdict": "The budget four-bay entry in Asustor's current Drivestor Gen2 line. It is included on hardware merit under this lens: Asustor's ADM platform is mature and actively maintained, the Gen2 enclosures are decently built for the entry tier, and Asustor's support reputation avoids both QNAP's security history and Synology's new restrictions. No page in the retrieved evidence names the AS1204T directly, so it carries no citation. It is ranked last among the picks partly for that thinner evidence base.", "pros": [ "Mature ADM platform with active maintenance", "Decently built entry-tier enclosure", "Support reputation avoids QNAP security and Synology restrictions", "Four-bay enclosure at entry-level price", "Described as the best bang-for-buck in its class" ], "cons": [ "Long-term support reputation trails Synology's", "Asustor's long-term support record is less proven than Synology's", "ADM is proven but less polished than Synology's DSM", "Software polish trails Synology's" ], "citations": 4, "distinctOutlets": 3, "thinlySourced": false, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/asustor-drivestor-4-gen2-as1204t.webp" }, { "rank": 4, "tier": "A", "lp": 706, "name": "QNAP TS-233", "brand": "QNAP", "slug": "qnap-ts-233", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/qnap-ts-233", "verdict": "PCMag's top two-bay pick for most people: \"the QNAP TS-233 (for a two-bay\" solution), and Medium's 2026 budget guide names it \"Best Compact.\" r/HomeNAS also recommends it alongside the DS224+ for beginners. It makes the board because two bays means RAID 1 redundancy is on the table, which matters enormously over years. It ranks near the bottom of the picks because the ARM-class processor and minimal memory limit how long it stays pleasant to own, and it carries QNAP's software reputation.", "pros": [ "Recommended as budget two-bay pick", "Supports RAID 1 for redundancy", "Top two-bay pick for most people", "Compact and beginner-friendly design", "Named Best Compact in Medium's budget NAS test" ], "cons": [ "ARM-class processor and minimal memory limit long-term performance", "Software reputation less favorable than Synology's", "QNAP's software is poor to the point that a Synology with half the specs runs faster", "ARM box with minimal memory is where those software weaknesses hurt most over years", "Modest Arm hardware and 1GB of memory cap how well it will age" ], "citations": 6, "distinctOutlets": 5, "thinlySourced": false, "flaggedToAvoid": { "runs": 1, "ofRuns": 12 }, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/qnap-ts-233.webp" }, { "rank": 5, "tier": "B", "lp": 574, "name": "UGREEN NASync DH2300", "brand": "UGREEN", "slug": "ugreen-nasync-dh2300", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/ugreen-nasync-dh2300", "verdict": "Ranks second as the specialist outlet’s number-one cheap NAS, delivering modern hardware at the lowest market tier.", "pros": [ "Ranked number one among cheap NAS devices", "Modern hardware delivered at the lowest market tier", "Ranked the number one cheap NAS of the year in value awards", "Beats UniFi and Beelink entries on value" ], "cons": [ "Only a 1 GbE LAN port", "Two bays limit storage and expansion" ], "citations": 25, "distinctOutlets": 24, "thinlySourced": false, "flaggedToAvoid": { "runs": 1, "ofRuns": 3 }, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/ugreen-nasync-dh2300.webp" }, { "rank": 6, "tier": "B", "lp": 505, "name": "Asustor Nimbustor 2 Gen2 (AS5402T)", "brand": "Asustor", "slug": "asustor-nimbustor-2-gen2-as5402t", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/asustor-nimbustor-2-gen2-as5402t", "verdict": "Android Central includes the AS5402T in its 2026 best home NAS lineup. Asustor's ADM is a mature, frequently updated platform, the Nimbustor Gen2 hardware is well built with upgrade-friendly internals, and Asustor has avoided both QNAP's security incidents and Synology's drive-lock-in controversy. A genuinely strong long-term owner that more buyers should shortlist.", "pros": [ "Mature, frequently updated ADM platform", "Well-built hardware with upgrade-friendly internals", "Avoids QNAP security incidents and Synology drive-lock-in", "Punchy hardware for the money", "Performance-oriented budget tier" ], "cons": [ "Charges a slight premium over rivals" ], "citations": 1, "distinctOutlets": 1, "thinlySourced": true, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/asustor-nimbustor-2-gen2-as5402t.webp" }, { "rank": 7, "tier": "C", "lp": 478, "name": "UniFi UNAS Pro", "brand": "UniFi", "slug": "unifi-unas-pro", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/unifi-unas-pro", "verdict": "A real specialist endorsement from NASCompares, but consensus is narrower because it only makes sense inside the UniFi ecosystem.", "pros": [ "Included in NASCompares' budget-tier buying guide as a genuine option", "Sits in a specific part of the market above conventional desktop NAS", "Strong choice for buyers already in the UniFi ecosystem", "All-metal Pro chassis built for continuous duty", "UniFi OS platform with a long firmware-support track record" ], "cons": [ "Thinner app ecosystem than Synology's DSM", "Narrower appeal and ecosystem lock-in", "A first-generation NAS platform", "Ecosystem lock-in to UniFi's software", "Rack-first shape limits mainstream home reach" ], "citations": 3, "distinctOutlets": 2, "thinlySourced": false, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/unifi-unas-pro.webp" }, { "rank": 8, "tier": "C", "lp": 470, "name": "QNAP TS-216G", "brand": "QNAP", "slug": "qnap-ts-216g", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/qnap-ts-216g", "verdict": "Uncited by the retrieved pages, ranked on its position as QNAP's current entry two-bay with modern 2.5GbE networking, in the bracket the community consistently recommends QNAP for. A defensible budget pick, but it carries no retrieved expert verdict, so it sits below every endorsed model.", "pros": [ "QNAP's current entry two-bay with modern 2.5GbE networking", "Sits in the bracket where community coverage consistently recommends QNAP", "PCMag scores it 4.0 out of 5, Excellent, calling it an excellent two-bay NAS with multi-gig connectivity", "Pairs two SATA bays with a 2.5GbE port, a 2GHz quad-core Arm CPU and 4GB of memory, with solid SMB throughput", "LDLC customer reviews rate it 10 out of 10 across three reviews, praising easy installation" ], "cons": [ "Its 4GB of memory is not upgradeable" ], "citations": 4, "distinctOutlets": 4, "thinlySourced": false, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/qnap-ts-216g.webp" }, { "rank": 9, "tier": "C", "lp": 423, "name": "Synology DiskStation DS925+", "brand": "Synology", "slug": "synology-diskstation-ds925", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/synology-diskstation-ds925", "verdict": "Macworld lists it as \"versatile and expandable\" in its 2026 NAS picks for Mac, and it is the top of Synology's mainstream plus line. Under this lens it is the strongest long-horizon hardware Synology sells to homes and small offices: better build, better networking, and the same class-leading firmware longevity. It ranks below the DS225+ only because it is more machine than most home buyers need, not because it is a worse owner.", "pros": [ "Versatile and expandable design", "Class-leading firmware longevity", "The expandable step-up pick once you outgrow two bays", "The current Synology 4-bay Macworld singles out", "Premium pick for long-term relevance" ], "cons": [ "More machine than most home buyers need", "High cost for its performance level", "Lock-in tax from flagship pricing", "Premium justified largely by its price rather than the hardware", "QNAP ships better hardware while Synology charges for its software advantage" ], "citations": 2, "distinctOutlets": 2, "thinlySourced": false, "flaggedToAvoid": { "runs": 5, "ofRuns": 12 }, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/synology-diskstation-ds925.webp" }, { "rank": 10, "tier": "C", "lp": 419, "name": "UGREEN NASync DH4300 Plus", "brand": "UGREEN", "slug": "ugreen-nasync-dh4300-plus", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/ugreen-nasync-dh4300-plus", "verdict": "Ranks eighth as a four-bay newcomer praised for hardware value and selected as the pick for most people.", "pros": [ "Picked for most people by WIRED", "New-entrant offering strong hardware value in four-bay space", "2.5 GbE connectivity", "Six-month long-term review shows strong reliability", "Easy to use for file storage, backups, and media streaming" ], "cons": [ "Limited app catalog", "No M.2 slots", "Four-bay price asks more of the value case than cheaper units" ], "citations": 10, "distinctOutlets": 9, "thinlySourced": false, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/ugreen-nasync-dh4300-plus.webp" }, { "rank": 11, "tier": "C", "lp": 395, "name": "UGREEN DXP4800 Plus", "brand": "UGREEN", "slug": "ugreen-dxp4800-plus", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/ugreen-dxp4800-plus", "verdict": "The category's loudest marketing push on the thinnest longevity record, with soldered memory and an unproven update commitment. Buy the DS225+ or TS-464 instead.", "pros": [ "Heavily marketed newcomer with strong hardware appeal", "The product Reddit cross-shopping threads push hardest against Synology", "Strong hardware for the money", "The go-to vendor for hardware value in small-business comparisons", "Hardware genuinely excellent" ], "cons": [ "Only two years of firmware history, not a longevity record", "Soldered, non-upgradable memory shared with the industry shift NASCompares documents", "Unproven update commitment", "Younger, less mature software ecosystem than established rivals", "Strong specs but unproven software ecosystem" ], "citations": 4, "distinctOutlets": 4, "thinlySourced": false, "flaggedToAvoid": { "runs": 3, "ofRuns": 6 }, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/ugreen-dxp4800-plus.webp" }, { "rank": 12, "tier": "D", "lp": 360, "name": "UniFi UNAS 2", "brand": "UniFi", "slug": "unifi-unas-2", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/unifi-unas-2", "verdict": "Ranks sixth thanks to its integrated software that eases setup and its recognition on multiple value-of-the-year lists.", "pros": [ "Integrated software reduces setup friction", "Recognized on multiple value-of-the-year lists", "Second in the best cheap NAS of the year awards", "Refreshingly simple to use", "Excellent integration for UniFi households" ], "cons": [ "Reports of SMB and network drops", "Highly unreliable performance", "Restarts do not resolve issues", "Ecosystem integration is merely adequate outside UniFi setups" ], "citations": 4, "distinctOutlets": 4, "thinlySourced": false, "flaggedToAvoid": { "runs": 1, "ofRuns": 3 }, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/unifi-unas-2.webp" }, { "rank": 13, "tier": "D", "lp": 347, "name": "Asustor Drivestor 2 Gen2 (AS1202T)", "brand": "Asustor", "slug": "asustor-drivestor-2-gen2-as1202t", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/asustor-drivestor-2-gen2-as1202t", "verdict": "Ranks fifth as the most affordable credible two-bay from Asustor, extending the value formula of its larger sibling.", "pros": [ "Two-bay sibling of the AS1204T, which Medium named best overall in budget testing", "Same current-generation Drivestor Gen2 platform one bay down", "Clean interface with a solid feature set", "Gets the home NAS job done", "Carries an iCreate award for network Time Machine backups" ], "cons": [ "A basic enclosure" ], "citations": 10, "distinctOutlets": 5, "thinlySourced": false, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/asustor-drivestor-2-gen2-as1202t.webp" }, { "rank": 14, "tier": "D", "lp": 254, "name": "Synology DiskStation DS423+", "brand": "Synology", "slug": "synology-diskstation-ds423", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/synology-diskstation-ds423", "verdict": "An aging 4-bay Plus caught between the brand backlash How-To Geek documents and Macworld's redirection to the DS925+, with TechRadar's F4-424 Pro outclassing it on hardware. Buy the F4-424 Pro or DS925+.", "pros": [ "Four bays of growth room in the Plus body", "DSM software longevity and Synology build quality", "Sits in the tier mainstream guides crown as headliners" ], "cons": [ "Previous-generation 4-bay Plus that buyers still cross-shop", "Caught in the backlash against Synology's mid-range hardware value", "Current guides route 4-bay money to the DS925+ or the F4-424 Pro instead", "Outclassed by newer Synology and TerraMaster models", "Expert sentiment has moved away from Synology" ], "citations": 4, "distinctOutlets": 4, "thinlySourced": false, "flaggedToAvoid": { "runs": 3, "ofRuns": 4 }, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/synology-diskstation-ds423.webp" }, { "rank": 15, "tier": "D", "lp": 245, "name": "TerraMaster F2-223", "brand": "TerraMaster", "slug": "terramaster-f2-223", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/terramaster-f2-223", "verdict": "Medium's 2026 budget guide names it \"Best for Performance\" in the entry tier. Two bays, a capable Intel-class CPU and TerraMaster's improving TOS software make it a reasonable long-term owner, but the platform is aging and TerraMaster's firmware longevity and support reputation still trail Synology and Asustor, so it ranks ninth.", "pros": [ "Two bays with capable Intel-class CPU", "Good performance for entry-tier price", "Improving TOS software provides reasonable reliability" ], "cons": [ "Platform aging and shorter firmware longevity", "Aging platform, previous-generation 2-bay", "Outperformed by newer TerraMaster F4-424 Pro" ], "citations": 2, "distinctOutlets": 2, "thinlySourced": false, "flaggedToAvoid": { "runs": 1, "ofRuns": 2 }, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/terramaster-f2-223.webp" }, { "rank": 16, "tier": "D", "lp": 244, "name": "Synology BeeStation", "brand": "Synology", "slug": "synology-beestation", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/synology-beestation", "verdict": "PCMag's top single-drive pick (\"the Synology BeeStation (for a single-drive solution with a prepopulated hard drive)\") and Android Central reviews the BeeStation 4TB, so beginners cross-shop it constantly. Under this lens it is a dead end: one drive means one failure loses everything, there is no second bay to add redundancy later, and it runs Synology's locked-down consumer appliance software rather than DSM, so it cannot grow with you. It is the most trap-like product in the category precisely because the marketing and the roundups push it hardest at first-time buyers. Buy the DS223j or DS224+ instead and get real redundancy.", "pros": [ "PCMag's top pick for most people", "Comes with a prepopulated hard drive for zero setup decisions", "True beginner-friendly simplicity", "Single-drive solution with prepopulated hard drive", "Synology software longevity applies" ], "cons": [ "No redundancy", "Higher cost relative to storage capacity", "Limited to a single drive", "Single non-redundant drive offers poor storage value", "Less flexible than a two-bay NAS" ], "citations": 6, "distinctOutlets": 6, "thinlySourced": false, "flaggedToAvoid": { "runs": 4, "ofRuns": 12 }, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/synology-beestation.webp" }, { "rank": 17, "tier": "D", "lp": 231, "name": "Synology DiskStation DS224+", "brand": "Synology", "slug": "synology-diskstation-ds224", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/synology-diskstation-ds224", "verdict": "Still a mainstream recommendation: r/HomeNAS advice for 2025/2026 buyers points newcomers at \"entry-level 2-bay NAS units like the Synology DS224+ or QNAP TS-233 - they're compact, beginner-friendly.\" It is the previous generation of Wirecutter's pick and has since been superseded by the DS225+, which is the only reason it ranks sixth rather than first. Everything about its ownership experience - DSM updates, support, build - is proven over years.", "pros": [ "Proven ownership experience with DSM updates and support", "Compact and beginner-friendly form factor", "Better hardware than the DS223j", "Mature firmware with huge install base", "Synology support reputation intact" ], "cons": [ "Superseded by DS225+, making it less top-ranked", "Older CPU, less RAM and no 2.5 GbE compared to DS225+", "Superseded model offers better specs for little extra cost", "Superseded by its direct successor, the DS225+", "Older platform with the same software as the newer model" ], "citations": 3, "distinctOutlets": 3, "thinlySourced": false, "flaggedToAvoid": { "runs": 5, "ofRuns": 9 }, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/synology-diskstation-ds224.webp" }, { "rank": 18, "tier": "D", "lp": 227, "name": "UnifyDrive UT2", "brand": "UnifyDrive", "slug": "unifydrive-ut2", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/unifydrive-ut2", "verdict": "TechRadar's actively recommended alternative in its current guide. Newer to the consensus than the leaders, but the specialist outlet explicitly steers readers to it.", "pros": [ "TechRadar flags it right after its top pick as worth checking out", "A genuine new-generation option the specialist outlet actively steers readers toward", "Flagged by TechRadar as worth checking out", "Integrated battery shields drives from power events" ], "cons": [ "Owner review documents two dead brand-new SSDs and data loss", "Notebookcheck's hands-on coverage stops short of a storage-reliability endorsement", "Brand is too new for a proven longevity record" ], "citations": 1, "distinctOutlets": 1, "thinlySourced": true, "flaggedToAvoid": { "runs": 1, "ofRuns": 3 }, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/unifydrive-ut2.webp" }, { "rank": 19, "tier": "F", "lp": 175, "name": "QNAP TS-464", "brand": "QNAP", "slug": "qnap-ts-464", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/qnap-ts-464", "verdict": "QNAP's own positioning is a \"compact 4-bay NAS with superior performance,\" supporting up to 72 TB storage and 4 TB M.2 SSD caching, and the hardware genuinely is the most expandable in this class with PCIe and multi-gigabit networking. It ranks mid-board because QNAP's software and security history is the weak link: community consensus is that \"QNAP has better hardware, but their software is horrible to the point that a synology with half the specs runs faster.\" Buy it for the hardware, and stay on top of firmware.", "pros": [ "Compact 4-bay design with up to 72 TB capacity", "PCIe slots enable SSD caching for performance boost", "Multi-gigabit networking provides fast connectivity", "Highly expandable hardware", "Strong hardware with PCIe expansion and 2.5 GbE" ], "cons": [ "Software and security reputation considered weak", "Requires active firmware management", "Aging design, newer rivals have narrowed the value gap", "Marketing still leans on awards from 2023", "No longer picked by Wirecutter's current guide" ], "citations": 3, "distinctOutlets": 2, "thinlySourced": false, "flaggedToAvoid": { "runs": 5, "ofRuns": 10 }, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/qnap-ts-464.webp" }, { "rank": 20, "tier": "F", "lp": 169, "name": "Synology DiskStation DS223", "brand": "Synology", "slug": "synology-diskstation-ds223", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/synology-diskstation-ds223", "verdict": "The worst value on the board: more money than the DS223j for almost nothing, in a brand whose mid-range case XDA and How-To Geek both argue has collapsed. Save with the DS223j or stretch to the DS225+.", "pros": [ "DSM software quality", "Good drive compatibility", "Solid 8/10 ownership rating", "Called the Toyota Camry of NAS devices: reliable and easy", "Stronger CPU than the j-model earns its keep for media and light server duty" ], "cons": [ "Costs more than the DS223j for hardware that barely improves on it", "Lacks the Plus-tier software headroom that justifies the DS225+", "Sits in a brand whose mid-range value case has collapsed", "Modest hardware, limited upgradeability", "Weaker processor than the DS224+ in the same slot" ], "citations": 1, "distinctOutlets": 1, "thinlySourced": true, "flaggedToAvoid": { "runs": 2, "ofRuns": 5 }, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/synology-diskstation-ds223.webp" }, { "rank": 21, "tier": "F", "lp": 89, "name": "Synology DS223j", "brand": "Synology", "slug": "synology-ds223j", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/synology-ds223j", "verdict": "The cheapest Synology, and it shows: slow UI, poor multi-connection handling, and weak hardware under a good operating system. Buy the DS225+ or the Drivestor 4 Gen2 instead.", "pros": [ "Runs Synology's well-regarded DSM software with a strong update cadence", "Rated 8 out of 10 by Vivid Repairs for software quality and security update cadence", "Breadth of DSM features", "Good enough for basic backup duty per community users", "Btrfs support now added over its predecessor" ], "cons": [ "Extremely slow UI reported by users", "Does not handle simultaneous connections well", "Limited to ext4", "Constant disk activity reported even when nothing is active", "Hardware is weak; the review score is credited almost entirely to software, not hardware" ], "citations": 3, "distinctOutlets": 3, "thinlySourced": false, "flaggedToAvoid": { "runs": 2, "ofRuns": 7 }, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/synology-ds223j.webp" }, { "rank": 22, "tier": "F", "lp": 58, "name": "Synology DiskStation DS223j", "brand": "Synology", "slug": "synology-diskstation-ds223j", "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/synology-diskstation-ds223j", "verdict": "Medium calls it \"Best for Beginners\" and Android Central reviews it, so it is the default cheap-Synology suggestion everywhere. It should not be bought: one gigabyte of non-upgradeable memory makes DSM 7 sluggish the day you install it and worse every year after, and it is the kind of box owners replace rather than keep. The DS224+ or DS225+ is the Synology experience this lens actually endorses.", "pros": [ "Named Best for Beginners in Medium's budget NAS test", "Wins on software ease", "The cheapest Synology the current coverage still recommends", "Included among best home NAS picks" ], "cons": [ "Only 1 GB RAM insufficient for 2026 NAS duties", "Outclassed by cheaper alternatives", "Extremely slow user interface", "Poor handling of simultaneous connections", "Overall poor ownership experience" ], "citations": 2, "distinctOutlets": 2, "thinlySourced": false, "flaggedToAvoid": { "runs": 3, "ofRuns": 5 }, "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/synology-diskstation-ds223j.webp" } ] }