Synology vs UGREEN NAS – Which One Deserves Your Money and Your Data?

In the evolving world of network-attached storage (NAS), users in 2025 are faced with a broader range of choices than ever before. Among the most discussed options in both professional and enthusiast communities are Synology and UGREEN. Synology has been a mainstay in the industry for over two decades, known for its reliable software, long-term support, and deeply integrated ecosystem. UGREEN, by contrast, is a relative newcomer to the NAS market in the West, but has quickly established itself as a serious contender by offering competitive hardware and pricing. Originally known for consumer tech peripherals, UGREEN has leveraged its manufacturing experience and market agility to carve out space in an area traditionally dominated by established NAS brands.

This comparison aims to provide a clear, unbiased overview of both brands, structured across several key categories: hardware capabilities, storage flexibility, software ecosystem, security infrastructure, pricing strategy, and overall value proposition. While some buyers may lean toward a brand due to legacy, others are driven by performance-per-dollar, or openness to customization. It’s important to understand that neither brand is objectively “better” in all respects. Instead, each appeals to different user priorities. What follows is a breakdown of how Synology and UGREEN compare across the board, giving potential buyers the tools they need to make a decision that aligns with their use case, technical comfort level, and long-term plans.

Synology vs UGREEN NAS Hardware Compared 

Synology’s hardware lineup spans everything from small 1-bay entry-level NAS units to rackmount enterprise-class systems with dual controllers. With approximately 15–25 models available at any given time, the variety on offer is extensive. This allows users to choose systems that align closely with their needs—whether that’s for simple backups, media streaming, virtualization, or business-critical data management. However, despite the breadth of its portfolio, Synology’s consumer and SMB offerings are frequently criticized for underpowered processors and limited upgrade paths. Many of their mid-tier models still rely on AMD Embedded or lower-end Intel chips, and memory configurations are often modest compared to similarly priced alternatives. PCIe expansion, 10GbE networking, and true Flash storage support are typically reserved for only the highest-tier devices.

UGREEN, on the other hand, has entered the NAS space with a clear emphasis on hardware strength. Their NASync series—although more limited in model variety—delivers high-performance components out of the box. Even in models priced around $1,100 to $1,200 USD, UGREEN includes features like Intel i5 processors, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, dual 10GbE ports, USB4, SD card slots, and Thunderbolt connectivity. Most of specifications are generally only found in Synology’s XS or SA series, which can cost double or triple the price. In terms of build quality, UGREEN’s enclosures also lean toward a more robust, enterprise-like design with better thermal management and port selection. While they may not yet offer the same portfolio depth or high-end rackmount solutions, the raw hardware value they deliver—especially for power users and media professionals—is difficult to overlook.

Synology DSM vs UGREEN UGOS NAS Software & Services

Storage features and flexibility represent one of the most contested areas between the two brands. Synology has developed a very feature-rich storage management system over the years, offering support for RAID configurations, Btrfs and EXT4 file systems, fast RAID rebuilds, advanced iSCSI LUN management, and deep integration with backup and synchronization tools.

File Services	SMB/NFS/AFP/WebDAV	Supported	Supported (AFP not confirmed)	Core protocols available
	iSCSI Support	Native iSCSI manager	Not currently supported	Important for VM/block-level storage
RAID & Storage	RAID 0/1/5/6/10, SHR	SHR and traditional RAID	Traditional RAID 0/1/5/6/10	No SHR support in UGREEN
	Snapshots	Btrfs-based with GUI versioning	Btrfs-based snapshots	Comparable snapshot system
	Deduplication	Btrfs-based	Planned, not available yet	UGREEN roadmap feature
	Encryption	Volume/folder/drive-level + WORM	No integrated encryption	Major security difference
	SSD Caching	GUI-managed	CLI-managed only (UI planned)	Limited interface currently

Their platform also supports drive pooling, storage tiering (in some models), and robust snapshot capabilities. Expansion options are a strong point too, with a range of proprietary expansion units that allow users to scale storage well beyond the original NAS chassis. These are bolstered by robust utilities in DSM that help manage redundancy, performance, and data recovery, all while maintaining consistency across the ecosystem.

However, Synology’s 2025 policy shift around hard drive compatibility introduces a significant caveat. Newer devices now strictly require Synology-branded drives for both HDD and SSD roles, including caching and storage pools. This effectively locks users into the Synology ecosystem and limits the ability to use commonly available alternatives from WD, Seagate, Samsung, and others. Availability issues in some regions further complicate this approach.

UGREEN, conversely, supports a far more open system—allowing users to populate their NAS devices with nearly any 2.5″, 3.5″, or NVMe drive on the market. With support for drives up to 24TB and Gen 4 NVMe speeds reaching 6,000–7,000 MB/s, UGREEN offers unmatched flexibility in storage media. However, their systems currently lack support for iSCSI and official expansion units, which could be a limitation for more advanced storage scenarios.

Software Comparison

Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) is widely regarded as one of the most refined and mature NAS operating systems in the market. Backed by over two decades of development, DSM offers a wide range of first-party apps covering backup, multimedia, productivity, collaboration, and virtualization.

Tools like Synology Drive, Active Backup for Business, and Synology Photos provide enterprise-grade capabilities in a consumer-friendly package. The platform also integrates with cloud services like Office 365 and Google Workspace, and includes support for SANs, VMs, containers, and cloud sync. Importantly, most of these apps are license-free, representing significant value over time. The application center in DSM is extensive, and Synology’s desktop and mobile client tools are similarly well-developed.

Category	Feature	Synology	UGREEN NASync (DXP Series)	Notes
Core OS	OS	DSM (DiskStation Manager)	UGOS	Synology has a mature, polished UI
	Mobile Apps	Multiple DS apps across iOS/Android	One core management app + FireTV/Google Home apps	Broader app suite on Synology
Virtualization & Containers	Virtual Machines	Virtual Machine Manager	Dedicated VM app	Both platforms now offer VMs
	Docker Support	GUI + Docker CLI	Portainer + Docker CLI	Equal container support
	GPU Passthrough	Not available	Not supported	Neither platform offers this
AI & Surveillance	AI Services	Facial/people detection on DVA NAS	Advanced AI model recognition (Photo AI)	UGREEN offers more AI model types
	Surveillance Suite	Surveillance Station (native)	No native system (use Frigate, MotionEye via Docker)	Docker-based alternative
Media & Streaming	Plex Media Server	Native app support	Docker-only installation	Equal in function
	Jellyfin	Docker/homebrew only	Native app available	More flexible on UGREEN
	Video App	Video Station is EOL	Native video player app	UGREEN actively supports this
Backup & Sync	Backup Solutions	Hyper Backup, Active Backup Suite	Rsync, SMB, Cloud Backup, USB	GUI edge to Synology
	Cloud Sync	Native Cloud Sync app	Planned, rclone CLI workaround only	Still in development
Remote Access	DDNS + Tunnel	QuickConnect	UGREEN-hosted tunnel system	Functional equivalents
App Ecosystem	App Center	Extensive with many native packages	Real app center, but much smaller	Synology has a broader catalog
	Package Manager	synopkg	APT + Docker

UGREEN’s UGOS, by contrast, is still in its early stages—at least in the Western market—but has made notable progress. Built on a Linux-based open-source foundation, UGOS offers a modern UI and essential features like RAID management, Docker support, virtualization, remote access, and media streaming. The system is responsive and user-friendly, with most core NAS functions well-covered.

UGREEN’s App Center is less populated but growing, and the brand has made particular strides in AI-driven features—particularly in its photo application, which allows customizable object and face recognition with trainable AI modules. While still lacking some advanced enterprise features like Synology’s iSCSI or SAN support, UGOS is impressive for a brand with only a few years of development. Notably, UGREEN also supports the installation of third-party operating systems like TrueNAS or OpenMediaVault, appealing to users who want full control over their NAS.

Synology vs UGREEN NAS – Security 

When it comes to security, Synology’s long-standing reputation and infrastructure give it a distinct advantage. Over the years, the company has invested heavily in platform hardening, threat detection, and vulnerability response. The built-in Security Advisor not only scans for malware and viruses but also detects weak passwords, outdated software, open ports, and potentially exploitable system configurations. Synology participates in vulnerability disclosure programs, works with penetration testers, and maintains a public-facing security advisory database. They’ve even implemented a bounty system to reward ethical hackers for reporting vulnerabilities. These layers of proactive defense have earned Synology its reputation as one of the most secure NAS platforms in the world.

UGREEN has not experienced any public security incidents as of 2025, but its shorter time in the market means less historical data on its resilience. Their systems now include two-factor authentication and basic malware scanning, but currently lack the more comprehensive vulnerability detection tools that Synology provides. The security advisor in UGOS focuses primarily on active threats like viruses rather than system-level hardening.

That said, UGREEN has been responsive to user feedback and appears committed to improving its security infrastructure. For experienced users who follow best practices and secure their networks effectively, this may not be a deal-breaker. However, for enterprise users or those deploying systems in high-risk environments, Synology’s mature security ecosystem provides more peace of mind.

Remote Access	DDNS + Tunnel	QuickConnect	UGREEN-hosted tunnel system	Functional equivalents
Security & Access	Security Advisor	Ransomware, audit, malware, system hardening	Basic malware scanning only	Synology offers deeper protections
	VPN Server	Native UI for OpenVPN, L2TP, PPTP	Docker-based VPNs (WireGuard, OpenVPN)	Manual setup on UGREEN
	SSL Certificates	Let’s Encrypt + GUI	Let’s Encrypt via Web UI	Parity here
	2FA Support	App-based 2FA	TOTP/Web 2FA	Both support 2FA login

Synology vs UGREEN NAS – Pricing and Value 

Pricing is one of the most decisive factors favoring UGREEN in 2025. The brand offers high-performance hardware at price points that undercut Synology by a substantial margin. An 8-bay UGREEN NAS with an Intel i5 CPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM, dual 10GbE, and Thunderbolt can be purchased for roughly $1,200-1300 (store depending). A Synology unit with similar specs would require jumping to the DS1823xs+ or even the SA series—devices that retail between $1,800 and $3,000 depending on configuration and region. This gap in price-performance makes UGREEN especially appealing to users who want modern hardware for tasks like 4K video editing, large-scale backups, or AI analytics but can’t justify enterprise-level spending.

Synology’s pricing strategy is rooted more in its software and long-term value. While the upfront cost may be higher, the investment is offset by an integrated ecosystem, professional-grade applications, and superior long-term support. For some buyers, particularly businesses and advanced home users who need software stability and vendor accountability, the price premium is justified. However, for price-sensitive consumers, hobbyists, or those comfortable managing their own systems, UGREEN’s value proposition is hard to beat. It’s also worth noting that UGREEN’s openness to third-party operating systems can further extend the device’s utility without adding cost, whereas Synology systems are heavily locked into their proprietary software environment. Here is a comparison of the Synology DS1823xs+ and the UGREEN DXP8800 PLUS NAS. Around $449 difference, but also the general level of the hardware inside and externally is technically higher on the UGREEN system. That said, the Synology system software does a huge amount with it’s software, keeping things super efficient. So, now let’s discuss storage and the respective software that both of these platforms offer to house and protect your data.

Synology vs UGREEN NAS – Verdict & Conclusion

Choosing between Synology and UGREEN in 2025 ultimately comes down to what matters most to the user. Synology is the more mature and refined platform, with a rock-solid software ecosystem, strong security credentials, and long-standing industry credibility. It is ideal for users who want a fully integrated solution with minimal tinkering, extensive app support, and professional-grade backup, synchronization, and collaboration tools. However, the brand’s increasing restrictions on drive compatibility, slower hardware updates, and higher prices may discourage users seeking flexibility or better raw performance.

UGREEN, while newer and still building out its software platform, delivers excellent hardware value and impressive flexibility for the price. It supports a wide range of third-party drives, offers strong virtualization and AI capabilities, and even allows OS replacement—making it highly appealing to power users and technologists. While it may not yet match Synology in software maturity or enterprise security, it is evolving rapidly and clearly resonates with a growing segment of the NAS market. For buyers focused on hardware, performance, and freedom of customization, UGREEN may be the better choice today. For those seeking long-term support, stable software, and enterprise-grade functionality, Synology still sets the benchmark across the rest of the NAS industry in terms of providing an all covering solution, though there is no denying that buyers are getting a little more cost aware. Synology clearly has it’s eyes on bigger prizes right now, and perhaps this is a growing gap in the market that UGREEN is eying up – knife and fork in hand!

NAS Solutions	NAS Solutions
+ Better Software (In almost every respect!) + Much Better Global Support Presence + More More business desirable + Larger Range of solutions – Compatibility restrictions on HDD and Upgrades More and more – Underwhelming hardware (comparatively)	+ Better Hardware for Price + Flexibility to Install 3rd Party OS’ + Excellent Mobile Application + Wide accessory compatibility – Software still has beta elements – The company has a much shorter NAS Market Experience
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Cet article a été réalisé en collaboration avec Synology

Spécialiste du stockage, reconnu pour ses NAS, Synology est aussi expert dans la gestion et la protection des données. Un savoir-faire que la société met à disposition des particuliers et des entreprises désireuses de sécuriser leurs données les plus sensibles.

Cet article a été réalisé en collaboration avec Synology

Il s’agit d’un contenu créé par des rédacteurs indépendants au sein de l’entité Humanoid xp. L’équipe éditoriale de Numerama n’a pas participé à sa création. Nous nous engageons auprès de nos lecteurs pour que ces contenus soient intéressants, qualitatifs et correspondent à leurs intérêts.

En savoir plus

Cet article a été réalisé en collaboration avec Synology

Spécialiste du stockage, reconnu pour ses NAS, Synology est aussi expert dans la gestion et la protection des données. Un savoir-faire que la société met à disposition des particuliers et des entreprises désireuses de sécuriser leurs données les plus sensibles.

Cet article a été réalisé en collaboration avec Synology

Il s’agit d’un contenu créé par des rédacteurs indépendants au sein de l’entité Humanoid xp. L’équipe éditoriale de Numerama n’a pas participé à sa création. Nous nous engageons auprès de nos lecteurs pour que ces contenus soient intéressants, qualitatifs et correspondent à leurs intérêts.

En savoir plus

[Deal du jour] Besoin de plus d'espace de stockage ? Les disques durs sont souvent préférés aux serveurs NAS, alors que ces derniers sont une bonne alternative, surtout en promotion.

Synology vient d’annoncer l’arrivée prochaine d’un nouveau modèle de NAS : le DS925+. C’est le premier modèle de la nouvelle génération DSx25. Au programme : un processeur AMD Ryzen V1500B, 4 Go de RAM DDR4 ECC, et surtout deux ports réseau 2,5 Gb/s. Mais ce n’est pas tout…

Synology DS925+

Alors qu’il est attendu un peu plus tard en France, Synology vient de mettre en ligne la page produit du DS925+ en anglais. Il s’agit d’un NAS 4 baies, capable de recevoir une unité d’expansion de 5 baies supplémentaires, pour un total de 9 emplacements.

Ce nouveau boitier réseau repose sur un processeur Quad Core AMD Ryzen V1500B cadencé à 2,2 GHz, épaulé par 4 Go de RAM en DDR4 ECC (extensible jusqu’à 32 Go). C’est le même CPU que celui utilisé dans les modèles DS1621+ et DS1821+. Pour rappel, ce dernier ne dispose pas de GPU intégré (iGPU).

Disque dur & SSD

Le Synology DS925+ propose 4 emplacements pour disques 3,5 pouces (compatibles SSD 2,5 pouces) et 2 emplacements pour SSD NVMe, accessibles par le dessous de l’appareil. Il s’agit également du premier modèle  à restreindre officiellement la compatibilité aux disques durs et SSD Synology. Pour le moment, aucun autre disque n’est certifié comme compatible pour ce NAS.

Connectique

Côté connectique, le DS925+ est équipé de :

• 2 ports USB 3.0 Type-A (dont 1 à l’avant) ;
• 1 port USB 3.0 Type-C ;
• 2 ports réseau 2,5 Gb/s.

C’est tout… et c’est suffisant pour beaucoup.

On notera que Synology répond enfin à une demande récurrente des utilisateurs : la présence du Multi-Gig en standard. En revanche, contrairement au DS923+, le port PCIe a disparu. Ce dernier permettait de recevoir une carte 10 Gb/s.

DSM 8.0 ?

Le NAS sera livré avec DSM 7.2.2. Le fabricant ne fait aucune mention de la prochaine version de son système.

Prix et disponibilité

Le prix officiel du DS925+ n’a pas encore été communiqué par Synology. Toutefois, plusieurs fuites circulent déjà (avec 551£ au UK). La disponibilité semble imminente, une question de jours

Pour plus d’informations sur ce nouveau NAS, rendez-vous sur la fiche produit officielle du DS925+…

source

Réputé pour ses Mini-PC fiables et performants, Beelink élargit son champ d’action avec une toute nouvelle gamme de solutions de stockage réseau : la série ME. L’entreprise chinoise fait son entrée sur le marché des NAS, avec une ambition claire : proposer une alternative compacte, silencieuse et performante aux solutions traditionnelles. Le premier modèle, baptisé Beelink ME mini, sera disponible très prochainement…

Beelink ME mini

Le Beelink ME mini est un boitier avec des dimensions réduites (99 × 99,2 × 98,3 mm) et un poids plume de 730 g. Malgré sa petite taille, il offre une capacité de stockage importante (jusqu’à 24 To) grâce à ses 6 emplacements M.2 SSD NVMe. Le NAS sera décliné en trois coloris sobres et élégants : blanc perle, bleu paon et gris nuit.

À noter qu’une version pré-configurée avec des SSD Crucial sera également proposée.

Architecture

Le Beelink ME mini  est construit autour d’un processeur Quad Core Intel N200 capable d’atteindre 3,70 GHz, épaulé par 12 Go de RAM en DDR5. Une configuration suffisamment musclée pour répondre aux usages typiques d’un NAS moderne, mais aussi pour d’autres fonctions plus complexes, comme le transcodage, exécuter des machines virtuelles, etc.

Connectique

Du côté de la connectique, nous avons :

• 2 ports USB 3.0 Type-A dont 1 à l’avant ;
• 1 port USB 3.0 Type-C à l’avant ;
• 2 ports Ethernet 2,5 Gbps ;
• 1 sortie HDMI ;
• Wi-Fi 6 et Bluetooth 5.2.

Mini PC ou NAS, pourquoi choisir ?

Cloud personnel

Faire du matériel c’est une chose, mais offrir un système complet, performant et ergonomique… c’est plus compliqué. Beelink fait le choix de proposer Windows par défaut sur ses machines. Le fabricant indique « Le système d’exploitation Windows comprend un service de stockage NAS intégré, qui prend en charge la connexion directe entre les téléphones mobiles et les PC au sein du réseau local, facilitant ainsi l’échange et la sauvegarde des données entre les téléphones mobiles et les PC. Polyvalent dans ses fonctionnalités, le ME mini peut être à la fois un mini PC et votre espace de stockage en nuage personnel ».

Enfin, Beelink prévoit également 2 modèles supplémentaires : ME Pro et ME MAX pour des besoins plus avancés.

En synthèse

L’arrivée de Beelink sur le marché du NAS est une bonne nouvelle. Le secteur, dominé par quelques acteurs historiques, avait bien besoin d’un vent de fraîcheur. Si la promesse matérielle est au rendez-vous, reste à voir si l’expérience logicielle sera à la hauteur. Affaire à suivre…

Le Beelink ME mini est déjà disponible en Chine en très faible quantité. Il devrait arriver prochainement sur le marché européen, on espère pour un prix autour des 400€ l’unité.

source

Synology DS925+ NAS Officially Launches in Eastern Markets – Full Specs and Features Confirmed

Following early retailer listings and semi-official leaks earlier this year, the Synology DS925+ NAS has now been formally launched in Eastern markets, including Taiwan, Japan, and China. With full documentation and product pages now publicly available, we finally have confirmation of the system’s complete hardware and software capabilities, as well as early indications of pricing and the compatibility of Hard Drives and SSDs (something of a hot button topic of late). As expected, this system builds on the DS923+’s foundation but introduces key changes that shift its performance profile and position within the Synology portfolio once again!

At the heart of the DS925+ is the AMD Ryzen V1500B, a quad-core, eight-thread processor previously used in larger business-class NAS models like the DS1621+, DS1821+, and DS2422+. Its integration into a 4-bay unit marks the first time this CPU has appeared in Synology’s enthusiast/prosumer tier, bringing greater virtualization, multi-user performance, and multitasking efficiency to this class. With a base frequency of 2.2 GHz and TDP of 16W, the V1500B is a lower-power but more scalable chip compared to the dual-core R1600 in the DS923+, which has a higher clock but fewer threads. This change benefits users focused on Docker, VMs, or simultaneous file operations.

Confirmed in the datasheet is the DS925+’s dual 2.5GbE network ports, supporting Link Aggregation (LAG) and SMB Multichannel, allowing up to 5GbE aggregate throughput—a significant improvement over the DS923+’s 2x 1GbE configuration. Expansion also sees a shift: the DS925+ uses the new DX525 expansion unit, connected via USB-C (6Gbps), replacing the legacy eSATA-based DX517. Internally, the system includes four hot-swappable drive bays (3.5″/2.5″ SATA HDD/SSD), and two M.2 2280 NVMe Gen 3 slots for SSD caching or storage pools (when using Synology’s SNV series drives).

Memory support includes 4GB of DDR4 ECC by default, expandable up to 32GB via two SODIMM slots, and the system supports 200TB volumes (with 32GB RAM) and up to 32 internal volumes. Storage management features are as expected from DSM 7.2+, including Snapshot Replication, Hyper Backup, Active Backup for Business, and Hybrid Share. While the system does not support 10GbE upgrades (removal of mini PCIe slot), Synology appears to be emphasizing strong native network performance and reduced complexity over modular upgrades.

Physically, the chassis weighs 2.26kg, has two 92mm fans, and offers 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, alongside one USB-C expansion port. It operates within a 0°C to 40°C range, supports high altitudes up to 5,000m, and includes all standard Synology DSM security tools: firewalls, encrypted folders, SFTP, HTTPS with custom ciphers, and Adaptive MFA. As a data platform, the DS925+ supports 500,000 hosted files in Synology Drive, up to 80 Office users, and 150 Synology Chat users. On the virtualization side, it supports VMware, Hyper-V, Citrix, OpenStack, and allows for up to 8 virtual DSMs or VM instances (license-dependent). Surveillance support includes two default camera licenses, and scalable support for up to 40 IP cameras at 1200FPS (H.265), with full integration into Surveillance Station and optional C2 cloud backup.

Synology DS925+ Pricing and Availability

Following the official launch of the Synology DS925+ NAS in Eastern markets—including Taiwan, China, and Japan—we now have more concrete pricing details. In China, the base unit without drives is priced at ¥4,999, which converts to approximately £500 before tax. Pre-configured options are also being sold, featuring combinations of Synology’s own-branded hard drives in 4TB, 8TB, 16TB, and even 64TB arrays. For example, a DS925+ with 2 x 8TB Synology drives (16TB total) is listed at ¥8,469 (~£845 pre-tax), while a fully populated 64TB configuration with 4 x 16TB drives is priced at ¥14,919 (~£1,490 pre-tax). In the UK and other Western markets, the DS925+ is expected to launch in early May, with Amazon UK listings already live very briefly last week before it was taken offline, showing the base unit at £550 including VAT. Here’s a rough estimate pricing table for the Synology DS925+ configurations, converted from Chinese Yuan (CNY) to both US Dollars (USD) and British Pounds (GBP) using the exchange rates as of April 22, 2025 (remember this does not precisely calculate tax across nations and their currencies, so these are for rough guidance only):

• 1 Yuan= 0.1371 USD

• 1 Yuan = 0.1025 GBP​

Note: Prices are approximate and based on exchange rates as of April 22, 2025. Actual prices may vary due to fluctuations in exchange rates and regional pricing policies with regard to inclusive tax at checkout.

The accompanying DX525 5-bay USB-C expansion chassis—which replaces the legacy DX517 and uses a similar metal casing—is priced at £439. These prices align with Synology’s long-standing strategy of maintaining consistent MSRP targets for its 2-, 4-, and 5-bay Prosumer-tier NAS units year-over-year, even when internal hardware evolves.

Synology DS925+ NAS HDD Compatibility in 2025

One of the biggest shifts accompanying the DS925+ release is Synology’s newly enforced drive compatibility policy on 2025 and newer NAS systems. Starting with this model, only drives listed on the official Product Compatibility List (PCL) will be supported during initial installation. At launch, this list consists exclusively of Synology-branded HDDs and SSDs, though Synology has confirmed that it plans to expand the third-party validation program moving forward. This move represents a broader shift by Synology toward an appliance-like ecosystem, citing increased reliability, faster support diagnostics, and significantly reduced system anomalies when validated media is used. According to the company, using listed drives can reduce storage-related issues by up to 40%, while severe disk anomalies on newer systems have reportedly decreased by as much as 88% under the new policy. Even though the DS925+ NAS has not been globally launched, in the regions it HAS been launched (China, Australia and Jopan, at the time of writing) it has opened up access to the DS925+ hard drive compatibility pages. Here is what you will find:

Practically speaking, this doesn’t mean you can’t install third-party drives (e.g. Seagate or WD), but using unlisted drives may limit your access to certain features—such as volume creation, deduplication, disk health analytics, automatic firmware updates, and even eligibility for Synology technical support. Fortunately, drive migrations from older Synology systems are supported, and older Plus series models (up to and including 2024) remain unaffected.

Still, new users and businesses investing in DS925+ hardware should factor these limitations into their decision, especially if they plan on using existing non-Synology drives. We are still awaiting FULL confirmation on the extent of the utility of 3rd party HDDs in realword use however. For example – can you even initialize a Synology DS925+ NAS with unverified Synology Hard Drives? There have been claims online that you cannot – but until this is fully verified, I/we will need to hold off full judgement!

Final Thoughts

The Synology DS925+ marks a meaningful update to the company’s 4-bay Plus series—bringing improvements in multi-core processing, networking, and system efficiency. The shift to a more capable 4-core, 8-thread AMD V1500B CPU, combined with 2.5GbE networking and modernized expansion via USB-C, ensures this model is better suited to the needs of virtualized, multi-user, and SMB environments. Yet, some users will see the removal of the PCIe slot for 10GbE upgrades as a notable loss, especially compared with the DS923+ which retains this feature.

That said, the DS925+ does benefit from many refinements learned across the Synology portfolio, and its arrival coincides with a broader strategy shift—one that tightens integration between hardware and software while prioritizing platform consistency. This NAS is clearly aimed at power users and businesses ready to invest in Synology’s controlled ecosystem, and for those who are fine with that trade-off, it offers a lot of value. However, prospective buyers who are still committed to third-party drives or planning future high-speed networking upgrades may want to carefully weigh their long-term priorities before making a decision.

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Want to follow specific category? Also Read...Synology vs UGREEN NAS (in 202Synology vs UGREEN in 2025 - WWeek 17 Tech Roundup – LenovSynology DS925+ NAS Released (Aoostar WTR Max POWERHOUSE NASWeek 16 Tech Roundup – SynolSynology 2025 NAS Hard Drive aSynology 2025 NAS Hard Drive aSynology DS925+ vs DS923+ – Synology DS925+ NAS Leaked (AG Subscribe You can also follow specific search terms:

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

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If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

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Dès 2025, les NAS Synology des séries Plus ne seront compatibles qu’avec des disques durs Synology et des disques certifiés par la marque.

The post NAS Synology : les modèles Plus de 2025 n’accepteront plus n’importe quel disque dur ! first appeared on IT-Connect.

Si vous aviez prévu d’acheter un nouveau NAS de la marque Synology cette année, vous allez peut-être déchanter car ces derniers viennent d’annoncer une mauvaise nouvelle. Hé oui, restriction des pools de stockage, perte de la déduplication, de l’analyse de la durée de vie et même plus de mises à jour du firmware… Ouiiiin. Hé non, ce ne sont pas les symptômes d’un RAID qui se dégrade, mais bien les fonctionnalités que l’entreprise va désactiver si vous n’utilisez pas leurs disques durs “propriétaires” ou marques tierces “autorisées par eux” dans leurs prochains NAS série Plus.

Vous vous demandez si vous pouvez faire fonctionner ChatGPT, ou plus largement un LLM, sur votre NAS Synology ? La réponse est oui ! Mieux encore, cette installation ne prend que quelques minutes grâce à Docker. Dans cet article, je vous propose un guide simple et accessible, avec quelques conseils adaptés à votre NAS. Cependant, avant de commencer, il est important de garder à l’esprit que certaines limitations matérielles peuvent impacter les performances. Rentrons dans le vif du sujet…

ChatGPT et NAS Synology

Faire tourner un Large Language Model (LLM) comme ChatGPT localement sur un NAS Synology, c’est possible. Vous le savez, mais il est important de le rappeler, ces modèles sont gourmands en ressources, notamment pour un NAS Synology. Heureusement, il existe une multitude de LLM, chacun présentant des niveaux de performance et des besoins en ressources variables.

Ollama + Open WebUI = La solution simplifiée

Ollama est un outil open source et gratuit, qui permet de faire tourner des IA localement, que ce soit sur un ordinateur ou un NAS. Il sera alors possible de lui déléguer des tâches variées : rédaction, traduction, génération de code, réponse à des questions, etc.

Associé à Open WebUI, une interface web claire et ergonomique, vous pouvez interagir avec ces modèles directement depuis votre navigateur. L’interface permet de :

• Gérer les discussions et l’historique ;
• Changer de modèle facilement ;
• Organiser vos conversations ;
• Personnaliser l’expérience utilisateur.

C’est un peu comme avoir votre propre assistant IA privé, entièrement sous votre contrôle.

Installation pas à pas

Pour vous faciliter la tâche, j’ai préparé un fichier Docker Compose compatible avec la plupart des NAS Synology.

Prérequis

• Installez Container Manager depuis le Centre de paquets Synology ;
• Créez un dossier Ollama dans votre répertoire docker à la racine de votre NAS à l’aide de File Station ;
• À l’intérieur, créez un sous-dossier data.

Voici le contenu du fichier Docker Compose à placer dans le dossier Ollama :

version: "3.9"
services:
  ollama:
    image: ollama/ollama:latest
    container_name: ollama
    volumes:
      - ./data:/root/.ollama:rw
    ports:
      - "11434:11434"
    restart: unless-stopped

  webui:
    image: ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:latest
    container_name: ollama-webui
    environment:
      OLLAMA_BASE_URL: http://192.168.1.100:11434 # A remplacer par l'IP de votre NAS
      DISABLE_AUTH: "true"
    ports:
      - "8271:8080" # A changer si besoin
    depends_on:
      - ollama
    restart: unless-stopped

Comme vous pouvez le constater, le projet contient 2 conteneurs :

• Ollama : Moteur principal, chargé de faire tourner les IA localement ;
• WebUI : Interface graphique, accessible depuis un navigateur via le port 8271 .

Installation

1. Placer le fichier compose.yaml dans le dossier Ollama
2. Ouvrez Container Manager et naviguez vers le menu de gauche « Projets« 
3. Cliquez sur le bouton Créer, puis remplissez les champs requis et suivez les instructions (voir capture ci-dessous)
   
4. Appuyez sur Suivant, puis encore Suivant et enfin Effectué
5. Attendez quelques minutes que les conteneurs soient prêts.

C’est fini !

Utilisation

Une fois l’installation terminée, ouvrez un navigateur et accédez à l’interface via l’une des adresses suivantes :

• http://NomDuNAS:8271/
• http://AdresseIP:8271/

Ajout, suppression de LLM

Pour gérer les modèles (télécharger, supprimer), cliquez sur votre profil en haut à droite, puis sélectionnez Paramètres, vous arrivez sur cet écran.

Là, vous choisissez Paramètres d’administration, une nouvelle page s’ouvre :

Vous sélectionnerez Modèles dans le menu de gauche, et enfin vous cliquerez sur l’icône à gauche symbolisant le téléchargement. Cette nouvelle fenêtre permettra de télécharger et supprimer des LLM sur votre NAS.

Quel LLM avec son NAS ?

Si le NAS ne dispose que de 8 Go de RAM ou moins, je vous recommande :

• Phi-2 (2,7B) : Modèle léger, rapide, idéal pour les NAS peu puissants avec 6 Go de RAM minimum
• LlaMa3.1 (8B) : Plus complet, il nécessite plus de ressources et un NAS avec 16 Go de RAM ou plus
• Mistral (7B) : Également très performant, il nécessitera au moins 16 Go de RAM

Vous pouvez consulter la bibliothèque complète ici : ollama.com/library. Il est bien sûr possible d’installer d’autres modèles sur le NAS (Gemma3, DeepSeek, Qwen, StarCoder, etc.) et de basculer de l’un à l’autre selon vos besoins. Tous ces modèles fonctionnent tous localement, sans communication externe (désactivable/activable depuis l’interface Web).

À noter que BitNet de Microsoft, très prometteur pour les NAS sur le papier, n’est pas encore compatible avec Ollama au moment où sont écrites ces lignes.

Pour aller plus loin

Enfin, sachez qu’il est possible d’utiliser des clés API (voir ci-dessous) pour accéder à d’autres LLM hébergés à distance et compatibles avec OpenAI API (comme ChatGPT, DeepSeek, xAI Grok, OpenRouter, LiteLLM, etc.).

Certains fabricants de NAS (autre que Synology) prennent en charge nativement les TPU Coral (au format M.2 ou USB) ou les cartes graphiques Nvidia, spécialement conçus pour décharger le processeur du NAS et accélérer les réponses.

En synthèse

Faire tourner des modèles d’IA localement sur un NAS Synology, c’est possible. Docker permet de simplifier l’installation, et la combinaison Ollama + Open WebUI offre une interface fluide, intuitive, et surtout, tout se passe en local. Cependant, gardez en tête que les NAS, même performants, ne sont pas conçus pour des charges lourdes en calcul. Pour des modèles plus exigeants, un serveur dédié ou une machine avec GPU restera une meilleure option.

The Aoostar WTR Max is Coming Soon – And it’s kinda INSANE…

Aoostar had formally unveiled the WTR Max, its latest high-performance NAS mini-server platform, around about a month ago, and it has fast become one of the most requested NAS solutions from followers of this website and YouTube channel in a long time! Powered by AMD’s enterprise-grade Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS processor that is built on the Zen 4 architecture with 8 cores and 16 threads, this chip also features integrated Radeon 780M graphics on the RDNA 3 platform, making it suitable not just for data handling but also lightweight graphical tasks or GPU-assisted acceleration – i.e the whole package! The unit is designed for demanding home server enthusiasts, content creators, and small office environments that require a mix of compute power and dense local storage, all within a compact chassis. Arriving with a kind of bonkers $699 price tag – it really is making some incredibly bold promises in terms of hardware delivery. A review of the Aoostar WTR Max will be arriving on NASCompares very soon, but I reached out to Aoostar for more information on the further development of the WTR Max system, further information on it’s construction, and just generally, I want to establish just how real and close to everyone’s expectations this comparatively insane solution is.

While Aoostar remains a relatively niche manufacturer outside of East Asia, it has built a modest presence among hardware hobbyists and small-scale NAS users, largely due to its compact form factors and unconventional designs that prioritize modularity and high-performance components. The brand’s earlier products, including the WTR Pro, featured more modest hardware profiles, typically centered around lower-power Intel CPUs and 4-bay SATA setups. The WTR Max represents a departure from this strategy, introducing AMD’s Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS — a processor commonly found in business-class laptops and mini workstations — as well as a new thermal design and significantly expanded storage and connectivity. Its release follows an initial product demonstration during the 2025 AMD Greater China Channel Conference, where only limited technical details were disclosed at the time. This gradual unveiling process appears to be part of Aoostar’s typical product release cadence, which often begins with controlled regional availability before expanding to international buyers.

Aoostar WTR Max – Storage and Connectivity

The Aoostar WTR Max distinguishes itself within the compact NAS segment by offering support for up to eleven individual storage devices, a specification uncommon at this scale. The chassis accommodates six SATA drives in standard 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch formats, each housed in accessible tray bays. These are SATA 3.0 interfaces, allowing conventional hard drives or SSDs to be integrated into long-term storage arrays. The inclusion of six separate drive trays also allows for a variety of configurations, from simple JBOD to RAID levels supported by the operating system or third-party NAS software. These six bays are located along the front of the unit, accessible without disassembling the chassis, a practical choice for users who require regular drive replacement or expansion.

In addition to the SATA bays, the system includes five M.2 NVMe SSD slots, all using the 2280 form factor and PCIe 4.0 interface. Of these, two operate on a PCIe 4.0 x1 lane, while the remaining three operate at PCIe 4.0 x2, offering significantly higher transfer speeds. This hybrid layout allows users to designate drives for caching, high-speed scratch disk usage, or application hosting while reserving SATA drives for archival and bulk storage. The M.2 slots are mounted adjacent to the SATA bay area within the case, and their presence is likely facilitated by an onboard U.2/U.3 interface bridge or dedicated backplane. Notably, these M.2 bays support NVMe drives but do not occupy the OCuLink port, allowing for full utilization of external PCIe expansion if required. The overall layout provides flexibility in designing a multi-tiered storage structure, combining high-speed and high-capacity media without the need for external enclosures.

Beyond the physical drive support, the WTR Max is also notable for its inclusion of ECC (Error Correcting Code) memory compatibility, enabled by the use of AMD’s Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS processor. This addition aligns the device more closely with enterprise-grade NAS systems, where data integrity is critical during prolonged write operations or in scenarios involving large-volume transactions. The mainboard features two DDR5 SODIMM slots, supporting up to 128GB of dual-channel memory. ECC support is particularly relevant when using ZFS-based operating systems or software RAID configurations, as it reduces the risk of silent data corruption.

This combination of ECC memory, high-speed NVMe slots, and traditional SATA bays offers users multiple options for creating performance-optimized or redundancy-focused storage pools, depending on the operating system deployed. For example, a user might allocate two NVMe drives for read/write caching and use the remaining M.2 and SATA bays for separate data pools or mirror setups. The inclusion of an OCuLink interface—PCIe 4.0 x4—further extends potential storage configurations by enabling high-speed external expansion without occupying an internal NVMe slot. While hot-swapping is not supported via the OCuLink port, it still provides a route to attach external enclosures or additional PCIe-based storage arrays with minimal performance loss. Together, these features suggest that Aoostar is targeting users who require both flexibility and scale in local storage without moving into rackmount hardware territory.

The Aoostar WTR Max is equipped with a comprehensive selection of I/O interfaces aimed at users requiring diverse networking and peripheral options. On the networking front, the device features two Intel X710 10 Gigabit SFP+ ports, offering high-throughput connectivity suitable for local file servers, media editing environments, or clustered storage systems. These are complemented by two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing simultaneous multi-network operation or network redundancy through bonding. This quad-port setup provides a level of network flexibility that is typically found in enterprise-grade hardware, but here it is integrated directly into the compact mini-server chassis.

Beyond networking, the WTR Max includes a range of USB ports designed to accommodate both legacy and high-speed devices. There are two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports and one USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, suitable for connecting peripherals like UPS systems, external drives, or KVM hardware. A USB4 port is also present, delivering support for data transfer, video output, and external GPU enclosures through a single cable. Additionally, a dedicated Type-C port and an SD card reader are mounted on the front panel, providing accessible options for external media ingestion. This combination of ports allows the unit to support a wide array of roles, from media archiving to virtualization or container workloads where device passthrough is required. In addition to conventional USB and Ethernet connectivity, the Aoostar WTR Max integrates several specialized ports intended for more advanced or niche use cases. Chief among these is the inclusion of an OCuLink port, which operates over PCIe 4.0 x4 lanes and enables external expansion without drawing from the system’s internal NVMe capacity. While it lacks hot-swap support, the OCuLink interface is capable of sustaining high-speed connections to external PCIe devices such as GPU enclosures or drive arrays, making it a useful option for users looking to extend the system’s capabilities without relying on standard USB protocols.

For video output, the WTR Max offers three simultaneous display options. These include one HDMI 2.1 port, capable of supporting 4K output at up to 240Hz, and video-capable USB-C and USB4 ports. This allows the unit to operate as a compact workstation in addition to its server functions, particularly useful in environments where headless operation is not desirable. A 3.5mm audio jack is also present, rounding out the set of standard desktop-level ports. Altogether, the variety and bandwidth of the available connections suggest a deliberate design approach aimed at accommodating multiple workloads—from headless server use to hybrid computing scenarios where local interaction and peripheral expansion are equally important.

Aoostar WTR Max – Design, Construction and Cooling

The chassis of the Aoostar WTR Max is constructed from anodized aluminum alloy, offering durability while maintaining a relatively compact and thermally efficient enclosure. The design reflects a utilitarian approach, with a front-loading layout for the six SATA bays and clear segmentation between airflow paths and drive compartments. Its compact footprint is intended to fit into home or small office environments without occupying significant space, while still allowing room for the eleven supported storage devices and multiple high-speed I/O interfaces. The system is designed with internal accessibility in mind, and most key components—including M.2 slots and memory—are positioned to be upgradeable without full disassembly.

A notable feature of the unit is its integrated diagnostic display. This small, embedded screen is controlled via Aoostar’s proprietary NAS screen management software and can be customized to show real-time information such as CPU temperature, RAM usage, storage activity, and fan status.

The display can be toggled off when not needed and includes several visual themes, including neutral system stats, graphic-based cyberpunk designs, and simplified icon views. While purely aesthetic in some modes, the screen provides functional monitoring capabilities that are uncommon in compact NAS units, offering basic telemetry without requiring an external monitor or remote access session.

Aoostar WTR Max – Summary, Price and Availability

The Aoostar WTR Max is an upgraded successor to the WTR Pro, designed to meet growing demand for high-throughput storage and processing in compact NAS units. It replaces Intel’s entry-level N-series chips with the Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS, supports ECC memory, and offers compatibility with PCIe 4.0 SSDs and six hot-swappable SATA drives—expanding total drive support to eleven. Priced at $699 for the barebone version, the WTR Max is currently in pre-order, with the first batch already sold out ahead of its expected May 10th shipping date. Aoostar has instituted a 5% fee for pre-order cancellations and has yet to announce broader availability or long-term pricing. The system uses the Glacier Pro 1.0 cooling solution, which includes a vapor chamber, four internal fans, and bottom-to-top airflow routing, aimed at ensuring consistent performance during sustained workloads.

With a modular layout, broad port selection, and support for external PCIe expansion via OCuLink, the WTR Max is targeted at advanced users comfortable configuring their own NAS environments. Its lack of proprietary software means users must deploy third-party operating systems, but this also opens the door for highly customized setups including containers, VMs, or ZFS-based storage arrays. Dual 10GbE SFP+ and dual 2.5GbE LAN ports offer robust networking options, while the system’s eleven-drive capacity and Ryzen APU make it suitable for media-heavy workloads and real-time data operations. Though not a plug-and-play solution, its hardware flexibility and enterprise-class features position it as a viable alternative to locked-down NAS appliances for technically proficient users. A full review will follow after retail availability begins, covering performance, thermals, and compatibility in depth.

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Is This The Beginning of the End of PLEX – Is It Jellyfin Time?

After more than a decade of keeping its Lifetime Plex Pass at $119.99, Plex has officially announced a significant price increase—raising the cost to $249.99 starting April 29, 2025. This announcement, delivered through a press release on March 19, also outlined several additional changes to Plex’s pricing structure and feature availability. While price increases are common in the subscription space, this is Plex’s first major change of its kind in over ten years. It affects not just future subscribers, but the entire conversation around personal media platforms and the value Plex provides in 2025. As someone who has tested and covered Plex across various NAS platforms over the years, I think it’s important to break this all down clearly—and fairly.

Note – at the time of writing, April 5th, the old prices from Plex Pass are still available and a Lifetime Plex Pass purchased now will be no different than one purchased after April 29th 2025)

The TL;DR – Plex Just Raised Prices and Paywalled Remote Streaming

Plex is doubling the price of its Lifetime Pass from $119.99 to $249.99 starting April 29, 2025—its first increase in over a decade. At the same time, remote streaming will no longer be free, now requiring either a Plex Pass or a new $1.99/month Remote Watch Pass. While Plex has removed mobile app unlock fees and teased new features like a Common Sense Media integration, users are frustrated that core features are being moved behind paywalls. Open-source alternatives like Jellyfin are gaining traction, though they lack Plex’s polish and easy remote access. Emby sits awkwardly between the two, offering both paid and free tiers but without a clear value advantage. If you’re a regular Plex user, now is likely the last chance to grab the Lifetime Pass at its original price—after that, the equation changes.

Why is PLEX Increasing Prices and Changing their Software Services?

Plex has positioned this move as a necessary step toward long-term sustainability and innovation, citing rising infrastructure and development costs. Alongside the new Lifetime price, the monthly subscription will increase to $6.99 (up from $4.99), and the annual plan will rise to $69.99 (from $39.99). That’s a considerable leap across the board. If you’re currently on the fence about investing in a Lifetime Pass, the window is closing quickly. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—if Plex is part of your day-to-day setup, especially with multiple users or remote access needs, now is the most sensible time to act. Once the new pricing kicks in, the Lifetime tier may lose its appeal for newer users, especially when compared to other one-time license models in the tech space.

More controversial than the price hike, though, is the newly introduced limitation on remote streaming. As of late April, remote access will no longer be included in the free version of Plex. This means that if you want to stream media from your home server while away—say on a mobile device or at work—you’ll now need a Plex Pass or a new tier called Remote Watch Pass, which is priced at $1.99/month or $19.99/year. This shift marks a pretty significant change in Plex’s philosophy. Previously, you could set up a NAS, install Plex Media Server, and stream remotely with minimal friction. Now, that experience is essentially paywalled. While the company has clarified that users with an existing Plex Pass won’t be affected, new users and guests who rely on remote access will need to consider this new fee model.

In his own coverage of the news, Alex from the KTZ Systems YouTube channel offered a measured but critical response. He highlighted the underlying tension many feel: “You’re paying Plex to access your own files, on your own hardware, over your own network and internet connection.” It’s a fair point—and while I can understand Plex’s need for sustainable revenue, the optics of charging for what many considered a core, previously-free feature are less than ideal. In our recent joint podcast, Alex and I both agreed that if Lifetime Passes are no longer financially viable, Plex should have either phased them out or significantly increased the cost to signal their rarity. Instead, the $249.99 price tag sits in an odd middle ground—too high to feel like a deal, too low to feel truly premium.

(From official Plex Pages) IMPORTANT NOTE FOR CURRENT PLEX PASS HOLDERS:
For users who have an active Plex Pass subscription, remote playback will continue to be available to you without interruption from any Plex Media Server, after these changes go into effect. When running your own Plex Media Server as a subscriber, other users to whom you have granted access can also stream from the server (whether local or remote), without ANY additional charge—not even a mobile activation fee.

Could PLEX Have Approached Funding and Sustainability Better?

Rather than placing long-standing features behind a paywall, Plex had several other options for becoming more financially sustainable—many of which were discussed across the community in recent weeks:

• Introduce a “Plex 2.0” Premium Tier: Instead of retroactively limiting features, Plex could have rolled out a major version update with enhanced capabilities—such as native audiobook support, advanced download controls, or multi-user analytics—reserved for paying users, while leaving existing features intact for legacy users.

• Cap Lifetime Passes and Shift Focus to Recurring Tiers: Rather than awkwardly doubling the Lifetime price, Plex might have opted to discontinue Lifetime entirely and focus on expanding the value of annual/monthly subscriptions through regular feature rollouts or exclusive integrations, as seen in platforms like Roon or UnRAID.

• Use a “Freemium Scaling” Model: By allowing remote access for a limited number of external users or devices on the free tier (e.g., “first one’s free”), Plex could have maintained goodwill while encouraging heavier users to upgrade organically—similar to how many SaaS platforms incentivize scaling through added value, not restriction.

What Else is Changing in Plex?

To their credit, Plex has removed one of the more annoying barriers from its platform—the mobile app unlock fee. Previously, streaming via the Android or iOS app was limited to one minute unless you paid a small one-time fee or had a Plex Pass. With the rollout of their new mobile client experience, this limitation is going away. Local streaming—meaning within the same network—will now be completely free on mobile. This is undoubtedly a welcome change, especially for users who run everything locally and don’t rely on remote features. However, for those who previously enjoyed full functionality across networks without a subscription, this small improvement may not offset the new restrictions.

Plex also used the announcement to preview some upcoming features for Plex Pass subscribers, including an integration with Common Sense Media aimed at improving parental control tools, a new server management app (separate from Plex Dash), and a long-requested open API for metadata agents and custom integrations. While these additions have genuine value, their timing—bundled with a price increase and feature restrictions—makes it harder for users to assess whether Plex is giving more or simply charging more. Alex pointed out in our podcast that innovation, not restriction, should drive paid feature rollouts. It’s a sentiment I tend to agree with: adding new tools rather than paywalling old ones is the path that generates goodwill and long-term user engagement.

Is Now the time to Ditch PLEX, and Opt for Jellyfin or Emby Media Server?

Naturally, this news has reignited interest in Jellyfin, the most well-known open-source alternative to Plex. Jellyfin remains free, with no subscriptions or data collection, and offers solid core media server functionality. However, as Alex and I discussed in our joint video, Jellyfin comes with its own set of trade-offs. While it nails the fundamentals—smooth playback, broad codec support, and responsive local streaming—it lacks polish in its client apps, and remote access typically requires self-configuration through a VPN or mesh network like Tailscale. For tech-savvy users, that’s a worthwhile trade. But for those who rely on Plex’s seamless, cross-platform access, Jellyfin may still feel like a step backward in convenience.

Emby, once considered a middle ground between Plex and Jellyfin, is rarely mentioned in this conversation anymore—and there are reasons for that. Emby straddles an awkward line between open-source philosophy and commercial aspirations. It still charges for features like hardware transcoding and has moved away from its open development roots. In our podcast, Alex shared his own frustrations with Emby’s shift to closed source shortly after he purchased a Lifetime license. Combined with a smaller user base, inconsistent app support, and limited visibility in NAS ecosystems, Emby struggles to be either the budget-friendly choice or the polished premium one. In short, it’s not that Emby is bad—it’s that it’s not compelling enough to compete meaningfully right now.

Are We Seeing the End of PLEX on the Horizon?

One key issue here isn’t just the new pricing or paywalled features, but how Plex has communicated these changes. As we discussed in the podcast, the rollout feels rushed and reactive, missing an opportunity to reframe this as a strategic step forward—say, through a “Plex Plus” or “Plex Lite” tier with exclusive new tools, or by versioning changes the way other platforms (like UnRAID or even macOS) handle major updates. Instead, moving features behind a paywall post-launch risks alienating loyal users. Plex’s assertion that these changes won’t affect existing Plex Pass holders is reassuring, but it doesn’t help new users discovering Plex for the first time—and realizing that what used to be free is now a subscription service.

Ultimately, I don’t believe Plex is on the brink of collapse—as some dramatic headlines might suggest—but I do think this moment marks a turning point. If you’re a regular Plex user who streams remotely or shares content with others, the Lifetime Pass at $119.99 (until April 29) remains a solid investment. After that, the value calculus shifts dramatically. For new users, the free tier will still work well for local-only setups, and the Remote Watch Pass provides a budget-friendly option. But the days of a completely free, fully featured Plex experience are clearly behind us.

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This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

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If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

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Synology vient de durcir le ton. À partir de 2025, les modèles Plus de la série 25 nécessiteront impérativement l’utilisation de disques durs et de SSD Synology ou certifiés. L’objectif affiché du fabricant : introduire de nouvelles fonctionnalités avec la prochaine version de DSM. Explications…

Disques durs et SSD : vers un écosystème fermé ?

Synology France n’a pas encore communiqué officiellement, mais cela ne saurait tarder. Sur son site allemand, la marque a annoncé : « Après le succès de la série High-Performance (ndlr : XS/XS+), l’entreprise mise désormais davantage sur les supports de stockage maison de Synology pour les modèles de la série Plus qui seront lancés à partir de 2025 ». Jusqu’ici, cette approche était principalement réservée aux gammes professionnelles. Mais Synology semble décidé à l’étendre aux particuliers, malgré les nombreuses critiques exprimées sur les forums et les sites spécialisés.

Le fabricant précise : « cela signifie qu’à partir des modèles de la série Plus qui seront lancés en 2025, seuls les disques durs de Synology et les disques durs tiers certifiés selon les spécifications de Synology seront compatibles et offriront toutes les fonctionnalités et le support ». Contrairement aux modèles XS/XS+ (où seuls les supports Synology sont autorisés), la marque laisse ici une porte ouverte à des disques tiers, à condition qu’ils soient certifiés. Cette notion est nouvelle chez Synology (jusqu’à présent, il parlait simplement de compatibilité). Désormais, les disques devront répondre à un cahier des charges strict. Reste à savoir si Synology certifiera un nombre suffisant de références pour ne pas restreindre excessivement le choix des utilisateurs

À noter : aucune mention n’a été faite concernant les SSD certifiés… cela pose question.

Migration, pas impacté ou partiellement

Si vous décidez de changer de NAS, pour un plus récent, et que vous avez des disques non Synology ou non certifiés, il n’y aura pas d’incidence. Cependant, le(s) volumes seront vus comme migrés. Par contre, tout changement de disque, avec des produits non certifiés, génèrera un message d’avertissement.

Une gamme 2025 peu innovante

Les NAS Synology 2025, déjà en partie dévoilés, ne semblent pas marquer une rupture technologique. Les retours des utilisateurs sur Cachem ou d’autres sites spécialisés pointent dans le même sens : Synology semble s’éloigner des attentes du marché.

La généralisation du Multi-Gig (2,5 Gb/s) est évidemment appréciée… mais elle intervient avec plusieurs années de retard face à la concurrence.

Nouvelles fonctionnalités dans DSM

Dans le communiqué de presse, certaines informations importantes sont égrenées. En effet, Synology met en avant la qualité et la performance, mais il fait également mention de la « déduplication à l’échelle du volume ». C’est une première pour cette catégorie de produit. Pour rappel, la déduplication des données permet de repérer et supprimer les doublons, en ne gardant qu’une seule copie réellement d’un fichier, même s’il est présent plusieurs fois. Cela permet de gagner de l’espace de stockage et d’optimiser les sauvegardes. À noter, Synology nous confirme que la déduplication ne sera possible qu’avec ses SSD.

Synology fait également mention d’analyse du « lifespan » (durée de vie), ce qui sous-entend que le fabricant va rendre plus accessibles les informations sur la durée de vie des disques durs et SDD. Pour rappel, il avait volontairement supprimé la lecture des données SMART avec DSM 7.2.1.

Scrutiny sur NAS Synology, ou comment récupérer les informations SMART

Un pari risqué face à une concurrence en pleine forme

Le virage stratégique de Synology est ambitieux, mais il n’est pas sans risque. De plus en plus d’utilisateurs se tournent vers la concurrence : QNAP, Asustor, TerraMaster ou de nouveaux entrants comme Ugreen et Orico. Sans oublier le DIY (Do It Yourself), qui séduit également de nombreux utilisateurs.

Notre analyse

La nouvelle stratégie de Synology, imposer ses disques ou des modèles certifiés sur les NAS DSx25+, marque un tournant… risqué. L’idée d’optimiser les performances et d’ajouter des fonctions avancées (comme la déduplication) peut se comprendre. Cependant, cela ressemble à une logique de verrouillage de l’écosystème, au détriment de la liberté de choix des utilisateurs. Synology risque de se couper d’une partie de sa communauté fidèle et de renforcer l’attractivité de la concurrence avec des solutions plus ouvertes et souvent mieux positionnées (puissance, prix, évolutivité). Pour éviter que cette décision ne se retourne contre elle, le fabricant de NAS devra jouer la carte de la transparence et fournir rapidement une liste de disques certifiés. Synology devra surtout prouver que ce changement offre un réel bénéfice à l’utilisateur.

En verrouillant son matériel, Synology pourrait bien perdre une part importante de sa base historique.

Synology is closing the gap on third-party hard drive support further in 2025

UPDATE 3 – Synology has now made the DS925+ NAS NAS Product Page live in several of the Eastern regions (China, Australia, Japan – not the Taiwan page yet however). With it, we can now see the official compatibility pages. On the hard drive page there is now only Synology Drive media, and the option to select supported 3rd party HDD choices is removed. For all we know, this will return if/when 3rd party drives from WD and Seagate are verified. But at least for now, it seems the brand is serious about only recommending its own storage media in their 2025 systems at launch:

The full list of drives includes the Synology Plus series of HDDs, the Enterprise class drives and the enterprise class SATA SSDs. However, there are currently no Surveillance class drives listed (WD Purple/Seagate Skyhawk, etc):

In terms of M.2 NVMe SSD support, the brand has also removed any selection of 3rd party SSDs from Samsung, WD, Seagate, etc. I am particularly surprised about this, as their own M.2 drives are good for durability, but performance-wise are much lower than most in the market and whether it is as caching drives or as storage pools, there are definitely a lot of good options in the market. I hope Synology roll out some performance class SSDs to compensate for this very soon.

Original Article:

Over the last few years, Synology have not been exact about being forward in supporting. Back in 2021, we started to see the brand reduce the number of third-party hard drives and SSDs on their systems. This diminishing support has manifested itself in two main ways. The first is that drives that are listed on the official support and compatibility pages have significantly reduced, favouring the utilisation of their own growing range of hard drives and SSD media. The second way this has presented itself drew significant criticism in 2022/2023, when utilising third-party hardware resulted in the system presenting warning messages and even service limitations being suggested. It appears that this is something they are putting into force for their new 2025 series of devices. Numerous websites in Germany have today reported that Synology plans to go full first-party drive priority on all systems released from the 2025 generation and onwards. An official statement from Synology via an official source has not been released, but it appears that the brand is going to go hard on pushing their own drives when using their own systems – at least at launch. So, what are the intended limitations for those who want to use non-Synology branded drives from Seagate and Western Digital? And why would Synology do this with their systems that have been open for over 25 years? Let’s discuss.

UPDATE #2 – There is now an official press release by Synology on this, available from Synology.de:

Synology is increasingly relying on its own ecosystem for upcoming Plus models Germany, Düsseldorf – April 16, 2025 – Following the success of the High-Performance series, the company is now increasingly relying on Synology’s own storage media for the Plus series models, which will be released starting in 2025. Users will thus benefit from higher performance, increased reliability, and more efficient support.  “With our proprietary hard drive solution, we have already seen significant benefits for our customers in a variety of deployment scenarios,” said Chad Chiang, Managing Director of Synology GmbH and Synology UK. “By expanding our integrated ecosystem to the Plus series, we aim to provide all users—from home users to small businesses—with the highest levels of security and performance, while also offering significantly more efficient support.”  For users, this means that starting with the Plus series models released in 2025, only Synology’s own hard drives and third-party hard drives certified according to Synology’s specifications will be compatible and offer the full range of functions and support.

There will be no changes for Plus models released up to and including 2024 (excluding the XS Plus series and rack models). Furthermore, migrating hard drives from existing Synology NAS to a new Plus model will continue to be possible without restrictions.  The use of compatible and unlisted hard drives will be subject to certain restrictions in the future, such as pool creation and support for issues and failures caused by the use of incompatible storage media. Volume-wide deduplication, lifespan analysis, and automatic hard drive firmware updates will only be available for Synology hard drives in the future.  Tight integration of Synology NAS systems and hard drives reduces compatibility issues and increases system reliability and performance. At the same time, firmware updates and security patches can be deployed more efficiently, ensuring a high level of data security and more efficient support for Synology customers.

TL;DR: Synology to Restrict Third-Party Drive Functionality on 2025+ NAS Models

Starting with the 2025 generation of Synology Plus series NAS devices, the company appears to be tightening restrictions on third-party hard drives. While you’ll still be able to use non-Synology drives (like those from Seagate or WD), early reports suggest that certain features may be limited or disabled unless you’re using Synology-branded or Synology-certified drives. According to preliminary reporting (not yet officially confirmed by Synology), using third-party drives may restrict (i.e several news reports indicate this, but no official statement/confirmation yet):

• Creation of storage pools

• Access to health monitoring tools

• Volume-wide deduplication support

• Drive lifespan analysis

• Automatic firmware updates

• Access to official Synology support

Older NAS models (up to and including 2024, excluding XS+ and rackmount units) are not affected. Drive migration from existing systems to new ones should remain possible — but full functionality may require Synology drives.

Source – HERE (or click below)

What are the proposed limitations of using third-party hard drives in the Synology 2025 lineup?

Although the brand themselves, at the time of writing, has not officially stated that devices after the 2025 series will only support their drives, sources highlighted on numerous news outlets have detailed that a number of key storage features and functionality are going to be limited. These include health monitoring tools, deduplication features built into DSM, official support from the brand in some cases, and (most worrying of all if it’s true) storage pool support. I’m still waiting for further clarification if this storage pool support limitation to first-party drives is only referring to the use of M.2 NVMEs in storage pools (something we are already aware of from the 2023 series), or whether people are not going to be able to use third-party hard drives in storage pools moving forward in 2025 series releases. But it would seemingly very much indicate the latter. It’s also worth highlighting that this limitation seems to be a ‘launch’ choice and may also mean that drives are granularly added to the supported pages as the likes of WD and Seagate submit compatibility reports. But the message seems to be that Synology themselves will not be the ones who verify the drive compatibility.

It should also be worth highlighting that users who have purchased devices before the 2025 lineup will not be currently affected by this change and will continue to have broader support of third-party hard drives, although even that has diminished since 2021–2022 as it stands. This does bring into question for some whether this broader policy is something that would be applied in a large-scale DSM update down the road, i.e. DSM 7.3 or DSM 8. For now, until we have an official statement from the brand or access to compatibility lists for the intended new products, we need to reserve our full judgement.

Why would Synology reduce compatibility with the majority of third-party hard drives (Seagate and WD)?

There are plenty of reasons why Synology would consider a move like this, for good and for bad. So in the interest of balance, let’s start positive. What are the good reasons why Synology would endeavour to only support the use of their own storage media in their systems?

• To a much smaller group, it allows them to tailor performance and system deployment expectations a great deal more realistically and could result in improved overall performance for all users, as it allows the development of future solutions to be significantly more targeted.
• If Synology solutions only support Synology drives, it allows the brand to be a great deal more effective at reducing the TCO of the system to buyers, as it will be an all-in-one party solution and even opens the door to the brand rolling out bundled systems that will further reduce the total cost of ownership.

• Export costs in the US — Synology centralising the full component list of their products to the end user can also allow them to better absorb any potential costs efficiently and hopefully pass those cost savings onto the consumer, reducing reservations on purchasing the product in light of potential price hikes.
• Support will be a great deal more specialised if end user deployments have fewer variables to consider, resulting in reduced support resolution times and potentially improved support services as an end result for all users.

Beyond the other potential benefits, they will be considering this proposition to drastically reduce third-party hard drive compatibility and utilisation in the 2025 lineup:

• In a word, profit. Having their own storage hard drives as the main — and potentially only — storage option alongside their systems will allow the brand to make profit vertically across the product deployment. For a long time, the brand was only really monetizing the core system itself, which is really only going to be replaced every 7 to 10 years for most users. Storage media, given the escalating growth rate of people’s data, will require a great deal more regular replacement.

• If Synology storage media is largely the only option to buyers, the brand has a greater degree of control over which products are available. So, for example, currently Synology has fewer different capacity tiers and drive variation tiers compared with other brands (i.e. 24TB drives, surveillance-optimized drives, M.2 NVMEs built for performance, etc.), so in some cases a user may have to opt for a larger capacity or a more enterprise-class drive when they might not need to.

• Eliminates smaller-scale purchases. This is a particularly cynical point of view, I know, but a move like this will almost certainly push value series devices significantly more towards the likes of the BeeStation (which are already pre-populated and fixed with Synology storage media) and away from the Plus series, as a divide begins to appear in terms of the overall total purchase price for many users. Alongside upselling their value series to that buyer tier, it will also move only more serious buyers towards the Plus series and higher from 2025 onwards.

All of the above reasoning towards why Synology would prioritise their own drives over that of third parties are my own points of view, but I do think there’s a ring of truth in some of them.7

What are the potential problems surrounding Synology’s push toward its own storage media over third-party drives?

There are several small issues that are worth highlighting in this broader plan of Synology hard drive prioritisation that we should probably touch on — and hopefully ones that Synology themselves will resolve quickly if this is something they’re going to push hard on. Such as:

• The brand inadvertently revealed earlier this year that they are working on a 6 x 2.5-inch SATA SSD system called the DS-625 Slim. However, the only 2.5-inch SATA SSD media the brand has are way too enterprise — the SAT5200 series — and would be like putting a Ferrari engine into a Ford Focus in terms of the disparity in the hardware being used and the price point!

• Synology has still yet to introduce higher-performing M.2 NVMe storage media, and although several of the new 2025 series of devices arrive with M.2 NVMe support, Synology’s own M.2 SSDs prioritise durability over performance. That is a good thing, but users who are not going to be able to use third-party SSDs for caching or storage pools face being restricted to much lower-performing SSDs in these bays.

• How will the system identify the use of third-party drives, and to what extent are these drives going to be limited? Although lots of details have been revealed in the news reports today, we’re still yet to see a full detailing from Synology themselves on an official platform.
• Surveillance utilisation. Synology has an impressive range of surveillance solutions in the NVR and DVA series, as well as support for Surveillance Station on the majority of their systems, but to date, the brand still does not have surveillance-optimised hard drives in its lineup. Surveillance-optimised hard drive media like WD Purple are designed to have much higher write performance leveraging rather than read, and surveillance drives are generally only accessed for a very small percentage of the time when in use. Will third-party drive limitations extend to these systems as well?

I’m still waiting on an official Synology response on this matter, as there have been early indications (such as the Synology DS925+ Amazon.co.uk link 2 days ago) that indicate some of these systems may be arriving in May 2025 — not that far away! So, until we have full and officially backed confirmation on this, still treat it with a grain of salt. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little disheartened by this move by the brand, as although their software is still absolutely the king of the hill in the world of NAS, further restrictions on their more modest hardware to only use their own range of hard drives — versus that of more widely available, globally distributed, and industry veteran–backed drives — seems a very odd move, and one that I think a lot of home/prosumer/enthusiast/SMB users might take issue with.

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L'IA s'invite sur les NAS Synology : une première intégration, en bêta, a fait son apparition avec MailPlus et Synology AI Console. Voici l'essentiel à savoir.

The post Synology AI Console & MailPlus : les premiers pas de Synology en matière d’IA first appeared on IT-Connect.

Pendant des années, j’ai utilisé des disques durs externes pour sauvegarder mes fichiers. C’était simple et pratique, mais il y avait de nombreuses limites : manque d’accès à distance, partage compliqué et sécurité fragile. C’est alors que j’ai découvert les NAS. Si vous vous demandez quelle solution est faite pour vous, laissez-moi vous expliquer pourquoi un NAS va révolutionner votre gestion des données et offrir bien plus qu’un simple espace de stockage.

Disque dur externe : simple, mais limité

Le disque dur externe est souvent le premier choix pour ceux qui cherchent une solution rapide et économique pour stocker des fichiers. C’est ce que j’ai fait pendant de nombreuses années. Il suffit de le brancher à son ordinateur pour transférer les données, ce qui le rend accessible même aux plus novices d’entre nous.

Cependant, cette simplicité a ses limites :

• Capacité fixe : Une fois le disque plein, il faut en acheter un autre ;
• Pas d’accès à distance : Vous devez connecter physiquement le disque pour accéder aux données ;
• Partage limité : Il est difficile de partager des fichiers avec d’autres utilisateurs simultanément ;
• Retrouver ses données : Sur quel disque sont les fichiers ? Suis-je sûr de travailler sur la dernière version ?
• Sécurité fragile : Les disques externes sont vulnérables aux pannes matérielles, aux pertes ou aux vols.

Pour un usage occasionnel ou pour transporter des fichiers d’un appareil à un autre, le disque dur externe reste une option valable. Mais dès que vos besoins deviennent plus complexes, ses limites se font rapidement sentir.

NAS : bien plus que du stockage

Le NAS est une solution de stockage connectée au réseau. Contrairement au disque dur externe, il ne se limite pas à une simple fonction de sauvegarde. Voici pourquoi il pourrait transformer votre gestion des données au quotidien :

1. Un stockage centralisé et accessible partout

Avec un NAS, tous vos fichiers sont stockés en un seul endroit et accessibles depuis n’importe quel appareil connecté au réseau (ordinateur, téléphone, tablette, TV). Mieux encore, grâce à l’accès à distance, vous pouvez consulter vos données où que vous soyez dans le monde.

2. Une capacité évolutive

Les NAS permettent d’ajouter ou de remplacer des disques durs pour augmenter leur capacité. Vous pouvez également configurer du RAID pour protéger vos données contre les pannes matérielles.

3. Automatisation des sauvegardes

Un NAS peut automatiser la sauvegarde de vos appareils grâce à des logiciels dédiés. Vous n’avez plus besoin de penser à copier manuellement vos fichiers.

4. Des fonctionnalités avancées

Un NAS ne se limite pas au stockage :

• Hébergez votre propre serveur multimédia (avec Plex ou Jellyfin) pour diffuser vos films et votre musique ;
• Installez des applications comme Nextcloud pour remplacer les services Cloud traditionnels ;
• Utilisez-le comme serveur de sauvegarde pour vos photos, vidéos ou documents sensibles.

5. Une sécurité renforcée

Contrairement aux disques externes qui peuvent être facilement perdus ou endommagés, les NAS offrent des options comme le chiffrement des données, la gestion des utilisateurs et des mots de passe robustes. De nombreux modèles incluent même des sauvegardes automatiques vers le Cloud pour une sécurité supplémentaire.

6. Auto-hébergement

Un autre avantage majeur, c’est leur capacité à supporter l’autohébergement d’applications ou de sites web. Avec Docker par exemple, vous pouvez déployer facilement des applications dans des conteneurs isolés. Par exemple, vous pouvez héberger un gestionnaire de mots de passe, un bloqueur de publicités pour tous vos appareils ou même un site Web directement sur votre NAS.

Comparatif des meilleurs NAS du marché

NAS vs disque dur externe : lequel choisir ?

Le choix entre un NAS et un disque dur externe dépend principalement de vos besoins :

Si vous avez simplement besoin d’un espace temporaire ou facile à transporter, un disque dur externe fera l’affaire. En revanche, si vous recherchez une solution durable, sécurisée et polyvalente pour gérer vos données (sauvegardes automatiques, partage familial ou professionnel), le NAS est clairement la meilleure option.

En synthèse

Un NAS représente un investissement initial plus important que celui d’un disque dur externe, mais ses avantages en font une solution incontournable pour ceux qui souhaitent gérer leurs données efficacement. Que vous soyez un particulier souhaitant centraliser ses fichiers multimédias ou une petite entreprise cherchant à sécuriser ses documents sensibles, un NAS répondra à vos besoins avec flexibilité et performance.

The Synology DS925+ NAS is (STILL) Coming..and Soon

It is fast becoming the worst-kept secret in the world of network-attached storage, but Synology’s continued plans to launch refreshes of a number of their popular desktop devices received another public outing this weekend, when keen users on Reddit spotted the official pages for the Synology DS925+ and DX525 on Amazon.co.uk, listing hardware specifications, pricing, release dates, and general background info. Although the appearance of the DS925+ isn’t exactly surprising—given the large info drop semi-officially revealed at an official event by a user on Chiphell—it is nonetheless surprising to see these two official Synology products seemingly added by Synology themselves for Amazon distribution, yet with absolutely zero mention on the traditional Synology platforms (Synology Products, Synology Downloads, Synology Download Registry, etc). Nonetheless, this appearance has confirmed numerous details about the DS925+ hardware specifications, for good and for bad, so I wanted to go through the further confirmed specifications and what they mean.

Synology DS925+ NAS Confirmed Hardware Specifications

As previously alluded to last month in the previous leak, the Synology DS925+ will arrive with the already integrated CPU from AMD that featured on previous SMB releases—the V1500B. This is a quad-core CPU that allows for more cores, more threads (i.e. more vCPUs) than the R1600 in the DS923+, as well as a lower TDP—though also a lower total clock speed available at first. It arrives with 4GB of ECC memory that can be scaled up to 32GB via two SODIMM DDR4 slots. DS925+ includes 2 × 2.5GbE, a very welcome if somewhat overdue upgrade on this product series from Synology. The SSD compatibility for storage pools and the speed allocated to each slot is still TBC. The expansion capabilities of the DS925+ have changed from the long-running eSATA support and DX517 of older Synology devices and now lean towards popular USB-C, and this is what triggered the new DX525 expansion box. We are still awaiting confirmation of the confirmed speed of this USB-C port, as well as its broader compatibility for other things (given the larger variety of USB-C options available in the market compared with eSATA), but slides shown at the Synology partner event last month seemingly indicated that this will NOT be USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps.

Probably the biggest and most controversial change here in the newer generation box is the removal of the mini PCIe upgrade slot that featured on the DS923+. The new DS925+ completely lacks this ability to scale up to 10GbE later down the line, which is probably going to upset a lot of users. PCIe modules they have sold (which would greatly explain, perhaps, the motivation for removing this feature), it is still something of a blow that this new generation device has removed a particularly appealing network upgrade path option. The motivation for this could be theoretically for multiple reasons, such as:

• Synology might well have deemed the two-times 2.5GbE network connectivity on the DS925+ sufficient for the four drives of SATA storage that it features, as well as ensuring that the system does not overlap other devices higher in the product portfolio food chain too much.
• The PCIe line distribution of this CPU and the chipset used on this board might result in limitations to the distribution of those lanes and therefore made the upgrade difficult to implement.
• The USB-C port for expansions may support a 10GbE upgrade module down the line that Synology intend on rolling out—a bit of a long shot though, as currently USB-C to 10GbE is only afforded to TB3/TB4/USB4 connectivity and would commit a great deal of internal lane distribution to that port to accommodate this potential upgrade.
• As previously alluded to, perhaps user integration of this upgrade slot on previous DS923+ devices was too low to justify accommodating this feature in the newest iteration.

Any of those reasons, or others, might well be why Synology decided to rescind this feature on this device. Nevertheless, it is something of a bitter pill that this device will not be featuring the ability to scale up out of the potential 5GbE bonded network connection that it arrives with and likely serves as a slight bottleneck to more high-performance hard drives in the SATA bays, as well as a significant cap on using SATA SSDs or M.2 NVMes in storage pools via the provided slots.

The AMD Ryzen R1600 and V1500B are both embedded CPUs used across Synology’s NAS lineup, but they serve distinct roles depending on the target user and workload. The R1600 is a dual-core, four-thread processor with higher clock speeds (2.6GHz base / 3.1GHz boost), making it ideal for environments that prioritize single-threaded performance—such as general file sharing, light server tasks, and basic backup operations. It has a TDP of 25W and is commonly found in more entry-level to mid-range Synology NAS models like the DS723+ and DS923+. By contrast, the V1500B is a quad-core, eight-thread CPU running at a lower base clock of 2.2GHz, but it delivers greater efficiency and significantly better multi-threading performance—essential for virtual machines, Docker containers, multiple user sessions, and parallel workflows. Its lower TDP of 16W also makes it a more efficient option for always-on deployments in business settings.

CPU Comparison: AMD Ryzen Embedded V1500B vs R1600

What makes the V1500B particularly notable in the DS925+ is that this CPU was previously reserved for Synology’s larger SMB and enterprise-tier systems, such as the DS1621+, DS1821+, and DS2422+. By introducing it into a prosumer-class 4-bay NAS, Synology is clearly continuing its long-standing trend of moving mature hardware platforms down into lower product tiers over time, as the cost of components becomes more accessible and manufacturing scales improve. This strategy enables Synology to offer higher-tier performance at mid-tier price points, effectively refreshing their product range while maintaining price consistency. For users who prioritize multi-tasking, virtualized workloads, or long-term scalability, the arrival of the V1500B in the DS925+ marks a significant shift in capability for this tier of NAS.

Want to Understand How Synology NAS Product Refreshes Work, as well as Why Synology Chooses Certain Hardware? Read my article below:

Synology DS925+ NAS HDD and SSD Compatibility?

Unfortunately, there is no mention of Synology’s position on third-party hard drive and SSD compatibility on the new DS925+ confirmed yet. Realistically, basing it on the predecessor and other Synology Plus Series devices, at the very least, we’re going to see a repeat of the priority towards Synology’s own series of hard drives and SSDs, with a handful of third-party drives from Seagate, Western Digital, and Toshiba added to the support list. This has now become the status quo with the majority of Synology Plus Series and above devices, and if this device rolls out with that, I’m not going to say that it’s perfect, but at the very least it does still leave a narrow window open for users to use third-party hard drives without the system spitting alerts or amber warnings at you during setup.

As the system is being listed on the Amazon pages without drives included, that at the very least removes the concern of many that Synology may have been proceeding down the pre-populated system route, or being more rigid on the lock-in of the drives you can use on the system. Nevertheless, there is still the matter of the M.2 NVMe slots and whether this system will continue with the policy of third-party drives only being supported for use as caching, whereas Synology’s own M.2 NVMe drives support both caching and storage pools. It will most certainly continue with this position.

Synology DS925+ NAS Price and Release Date?

As originally predicted last month, the pricing of the DS925+ will be largely the same as that of the DS923+, as Synology is always keen to maintain the pricing at each tier of its portfolio year on year—even if sometimes that can result in the hardware being a little more lean despite the cost of components going up. I kind of respect how long Synology has been able to maintain the same price for their prosumer 4-bay device, right? All the way back since 2015, it has always arrived at that similar £550 price. Keep in mind that the price listed on the early leaked Amazon.co.uk page includes VAT, whereas pricing listed in other countries like the U.S. will likely not include tax.

With regards to the intended release date and availability of the DS925+, the Amazon leak page appears to indicate the 7th of May. Now, whether this has always been the plan by the brand when refreshing all of its currently existing product line, or it is a launch date that has been changed rapidly in light of discussions surrounding tariffs and stock travelling around the world, is yet to be confirmed. Nevertheless, that seems like a fairly reasonable launch date in light of the information—originally appearing online with the product page added to Amazon on April 8th—and the slow but steady gear Synology goes through when making a product live across traditional online retailers. You can use the links below to monitor the availability and price of the Synology DS925+ on Amazon, as it will redirect to your own region via the link. Anything purchased via these links will result in a small commission to me (Robbie) and Eddie at NASCompares, which really helps us keep doing what we do.

Synology DS923+ vs DS925+ NAS – Buy Now or Wait?

When comparing the Synology DS923+ and DS925+, the differences are subtle but important depending on your priorities. Both NAS units share the same price point, run Synology’s DSM software with identical features, and include the same baseline 4GB DDR4 ECC memory (expandable up to 32GB). They also both lack integrated graphics, feature four SATA drive bays, and offer two M.2 NVMe Gen 3 slots for SSD caching. However, the DS925+ gains an edge in raw parallel processing power, featuring a quad-core, eight-thread AMD V1500B CPU, which translates to more virtual CPUs (vCPUs) for virtual machines and containerized applications. It also benefits from dual 2.5GbE ports, enabling up to 5GbE performance with Link Aggregation or SMB Multichannel, compared to the 2x 1GbE ports on the DS923+, which top out at 2GbE combined. Additionally, the DS925+ offers a faster expansion interface via USB-C (6Gbps) versus the older eSATA (5Gbps) on the DS923+.

That said, the DS923+ still holds certain advantages. Its AMD R1600 CPU features a higher clock speed, which may offer better single-threaded performance in lighter tasks or low-concurrency applications. Crucially, the DS923+ supports an optional 10GbE upgrade via its mini PCIe slot, a feature completely removed in the DS925+, which could be a deal-breaker for users planning to grow into a higher-speed networking environment. So, should users buy the DS923+ now or wait for the DS925+? If 10GbE upgradeability or faster per-core performance is important for your workload, the DS923+ is still a strong option. However, if you’re prioritizing multi-threaded performance, better default network speeds, and a more modern expansion standard, the DS925+ is the more forward-looking choice—particularly for virtualization and container-heavy environments. Ultimately, both devices serve the same class of user, but choosing the right one depends on whether your focus is scalability or efficiency out of the box.

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ZimaOS est une distribution Linux basée sur Debian, conçue pour simplifier l’auto-hébergement tout en offrant des fonctionnalités avancées pour les NAS. Elle s’installe en quelques minutes et ne nécessite quasiment aucune intervention humaine pendant l’installation. Ce qui rend ZimaOS unique, c’est son intégration native avec CasaOS. Cependant, ZimaOS ne se limite pas à cette seule fonctionnalité : elle élargit considérablement les possibilités offertes…

CasaOS : Une solution d’auto-hébergement simplifiée

CasaOS est une plateforme qui facilite l’auto-hébergement grâce à une interface élégante et conviviale. Elle permet aux utilisateurs de déployer des applications en quelques clics et de gérer leur espace de stockage avec une grande simplicité. Cependant, CasaOS présente certaines limitations importantes :

• Ce n’est pas un système d’exploitation : CasaOS doit être installé sur un OS existant, ce qui peut compliquer sa mise en œuvre pour certains utilisateurs ;
• Absence de gestion RAID : C’est un point critique pour ceux qui souhaitent utiliser CasaOS sur un NAS ;
• Pas de virtualisation : CasaOS ne permet pas de créer ou gérer des machines virtuelles, ce qui limite son potentiel pour les utilisateurs avancés.

C’est là qu’entre en scène ZimaOS…

ZimaOS vient corriger ces absences

ZimaOS est une distribution atypique à bien des égards. Tout d’abord, elle s’installe facilement sans intervention (tout est entièrement automatisé), si ce n’est le choix du disque d’installation. Le système se configure automatiquement en fonction du matériel détecté. Une fois l’opération terminée et le système redémarré, ZimaOS et CasaOS sont prêts à l’emploi !

Les fonctionnalités clés de ZimaOS :

• Gestion du RAID : Il prend en charge plusieurs modes RAID (RAID 0, RAID 1 et RAID 5) dès l’installation.
• Optimisation de CasaOS : ZimaOS intègre CasaOS comme plateforme centrale d’auto-hébergement, avec un espace de stockage accessible par défaut via le réseau local.
• Virtualisation intégrée : ZimaOS peut exécuter des machines virtuelles, offrant ainsi la possibilité de lancer un système Windows ou Linux directement depuis l’interface Web.
• Applications multiplateformes : L’équipe derrière ZimaOS propose également des applications compatibles avec Windows et macOS pour gérer votre système (et sauvegarde votre ordinateur en Beta). De plus, des applications mobiles devraient arriver prochainement pour iOS et Android.

J’aurais pu citer également la prise en charge du Thunderbolt 4, les sauvegardes automatiques, l’accès à distance, etc.

Alors, tout n’est pas rose avec ZimaOS. Certains modes RAID sont encore absents. Les machines virtuelles, bien que fonctionnelles, ne disposent pas encore de système de sauvegarde ou d’import-export. Je ne parle même pas de la possibilité de chiffrer (encrypter) les données.

En synthèse

ZimaOS représente une alternative intéressante dans le domaine des distributions Linux dédiées à l’autohébergement et aux NAS DIY. En combinant la simplicité de CasaOS avec des fonctionnalités essentielles, telles que la gestion RAID et la virtualisation, elle offre une solution adaptée aux besoins du quotidien. Cependant, il reste quelques améliorations à apporter, notamment au niveau du support RAID, des outils pour les sauvegardes ou encore la gestion des machines virtuelles.

Pour découvrir davantage sur ZimaOS ou contribuer au projet open source, rendez-vous sur la page officiel GitHub.

Zettlab D6 AI NAS Prototype Review – A Glimpse at the Future of Local AI NAS?

The Zettlab D6 represents a compelling entry into the increasingly competitive world of AI-integrated network-attached storage. Developed by a relatively new player in the market, Zettlab is attempting to blend traditional NAS functionality with localized artificial intelligence features, positioning its devices as intelligent storage hubs capable of far more than simple file serving or backups. It’s important to emphasize from the outset that the Zettlab D6 — and its siblings in the D4, D6 Ultra, and D8 Ultra series — are still under development, with the company preparing to launch these systems via crowdfunding rather than established retail channels. This distinction is not trivial: what we’re looking at here is a prototype, an early production model meant to demonstrate core functionality, not a finalized consumer-ready product. As such, this review assesses both the current capabilities and the projected potential, while keeping in mind the expected evolutions that may come post-launch.

This review is based on a pre-release prototype of the Zettlab D6, supplied ahead of the official crowdfunding campaign. While the unit demonstrated strong hardware build quality and successfully showcased many of the local AI features promoted by the brand, it’s important to note that this version may not fully reflect the final product that backers will receive. As development continues, both software and functionality are expected to evolve. A follow-up video will be produced closer to the end of the crowdfunding campaign to reassess the system, evaluate any updates, and determine how closely the final release aligns with early expectations.

BUILD QUALITY - 8/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 6/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 9/10

8.0

PROS

Real local AI processing (image recognition, OCR, transcription, semantic search) works without internet access on the D6.
Intuitive natural language commands for system control (e.g., adjust fan speed, create users, reboot) via built-in AI chat. But still very early days...
Excellent LCD display provides real-time system stats (CPU, RAM, IP, disk status) — rare at this price point.
Fast and responsive UI with good UX; even advanced features like RAID setup and AI search feel snappy and polished, if a little feature lite at this development stage
One-click SD card backup with programmable automation tasks (copy, transcode, eject) — ideal for photographers and creators.
Unique design and solid build quality
Fully populated app center, thanks to the community, ready packaged container deployment at 1 click
Clear product segmentation between D6 and Ultra models (better AI support, faster connectivity, PCIe expansion), allowing users to scale as needed - but could be clearer about the need for an included 1-click local AI client model on the client app requirements.

CONS

Not final software — many features are still in beta or marked “coming soon,” including VM hosting and first-party AI enhancements.
Partial dependency on desktop client for advanced AI functions (like document chat and LLM integration) on the D6 model.
Crowdfunding risks — as a pre-release, crowdfunded device, the final user experience may differ from the reviewed prototype.

Zettlab D6 AI NAS – Hardware Design

Positioned as a mid-tier offering in the range, the D6 occupies a unique spot in Zettlab’s portfolio. It’s more powerful than the compact 4-bay D4, but stops short of the considerable hardware resources found in the D6 Ultra and D8 Ultra. At the heart of the D6 lies the Rockchip RK3588, an ARM-based SoC (System on Chip) that features eight processing cores and an integrated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) capable of six trillion operations per second (6 TOPS).

This chip has become a popular choice for AI-at-the-edge applications due to its low power draw, reasonable performance, and growing developer ecosystem. Complementing the CPU is 16GB of LPDDR4x memory — soldered to the board and non-upgradable — which is ample for many NAS workloads but may bottleneck under high AI load or virtualization. Storage-wise, the system includes six SATA drive bays and a single M.2 NVMe slot for SSD caching or high-speed application hosting. The OS resides on a 32GB eMMC module, which, while functional, is slower and less durable than SSD alternatives found in higher-tier models.

By contrast, the Ultra-class models — the D6 Ultra and D8 Ultra — are built around x86 architecture, using Intel’s Core Ultra 5 125H processor. This CPU offers a dramatic leap in compute potential, with 14 cores (combining performance and efficiency cores), 18 threads, and an integrated AI engine capable of 34 TOPS. These devices support up to 96GB of DDR5 memory via SODIMM slots and include dual PCIe Gen 4 M.2 NVMe slots for storage or app caching. So, an important thing that potential buyers of the standard D4 and D4 model need to note is that this system arrives with ‘on board’ memory, not ‘SODIMM’. This is not uncommon on more ‘efficient’ CPU-powered systems, but AI processes can get really memory hungry and that fixed 16GB, although good to have ‘out the gate’ could potentially serve as a low glass ceiling for heavier ops later on.

They also ship with a 256GB SSD for the operating system, eliminating the limitations of eMMC entirely. The D6 Ultra provides six drive bays like its ARM counterpart, while the D8 Ultra expands to eight, catering to users with higher storage demands.

Network interfaces also scale accordingly, with dual 10GbE ports on the Ultra devices, significantly improving throughput for AI workloads or media editing environments. This clear segmentation allows Zettlab to cater to both entry-level users and more demanding professional or prosumer environments.

Although the D6 is not as performance-heavy as the Ultra models, it still delivers a surprisingly mature and distinctive hardware design — especially for a product from a startup brand. Visually, the D6 breaks from the mold of black-box NAS devices with a more industrial design language. The drive trays are notably robust, offering support for both 3.5” and 2.5” drives without the need for tools, and include subtle shock absorption to reduce wear during hot-swaps. Behind the trays, a SATA backplane keeps cabling clean and ensures good airflow, aided by a rear-mounted fan.

The chassis is largely steel and aluminum, with solid build quality across panels and connectors. The front panel features a real-time 3.49-inch LCD display — one of the best I’ve seen in this price range — capable of showing system temperature, CPU and memory utilization, storage status, and network throughput.

This is complemented by an LED lighting strip and a programmable hardware copy button, as well as a comprehensive set of front ports including a USB-C and USB-A port (both USB 3.2 Gen 1), SD3.0 and SD4.0 card readers, and a TF card slot.

Connectivity on the D6’s rear I/O is functional, if modest by today’s standards. It includes one standard Gigabit Ethernet port and one 2.5GbE port — which, while useful for small workgroups or home streaming setups, may limit its viability in higher bandwidth environments.

USB 2.0 ports are also present, mainly for legacy peripherals or UPS/KVM support. There is a single HDMI 2.0 port capable of 4K output at 60Hz, which opens the door for potential direct media playback or GUI access, though its use cases are still undefined in the current firmware.

Notably missing is any PCIe expansion capability — a feature reserved for the Ultra models via their SFF-8654 Gen4 x8 connector. This omission makes sense in the product segmentation strategy, but prospective users who anticipate needing expansion — whether for faster networking, GPU acceleration, or additional storage — will need to look to the higher-tier models.

Still, for what it is, the D6 offers a complete and well-assembled foundation, and the early signs in terms of temperature control, acoustics, and system stability are encouraging.

Zettlab D6 – Software and Services Review

Before we get into exactly what this system can and cannot do, I need to highlight that the D6 prototype I received does not feel like a finished product yet. I have been monitoring this brand and it’s solution for 6 months (even having a different prototype sent to me as fast back as October 2024) and although I have seen ALOT of changes and improvements in the GUI, the software features, storage optimization, performance and consistency – the Zettlab OS does not feel finished yet.

The hardware feels robust and ready to go! But the software still feels like development is ongoing. This makes a lot of sense in the context of crowdfunding a product and I can appreciate that the brand needs real world feedback and development time. However, that does mean that reviewing the software is tough! As I have to balance what the system does TODAY against what the brand says it will be able to do TOMORROW. So keep that in mind as you read this software review.

One of the standout ambitions behind the Zettlab D6 is its integration of localized artificial intelligence. While most consumer NAS systems limit themselves to media management and basic data organization, Zettlab’s vision goes much further: a platform that applies real-time AI processing to images, audio, video, and documents — all without relying on cloud services.

This pitch is especially appealing in a world where data privacy is an increasing concern. In practice, the D6 delivers some truly novel capabilities, although it’s important to remember this software is still in active development. Not all features are complete, and the performance and behavior of certain AI tools are still subject to change.

The D6 runs on ZettOS, a proprietary operating system built around containerized apps, lightweight AI inference engines, and standard NAS functions.

ZettOS resembles a more refined version of a web-based Linux desktop, complete with user management, storage setup, application deployment, network configuration, and protocol support (SMB, FTP, WebDAV, etc.).

While the core system functions well, it’s the AI layer where things begin to differentiate the D6. ZettOS offers native support for facial recognition, object detection, OCR, and natural language search — all running directly on the device.

Image tagging, semantic queries like “men standing near trees,” and auto-transcription of audio and video files are examples of what’s already functional today.

One of the more impressive capabilities is real-time media classification. Photos added to the NAS — whether uploaded manually, copied via SD card, or moved over the network — are immediately scanned and indexed. Users can search for visual content by descriptive terms rather than filenames. For example, searching for “cats,” “dice,” or “flowers” surfaces content accurately, regardless of how files were named.

This indexing happens locally and often within seconds of upload, leveraging the RK3588’s integrated NPU. Similarly, when audio or video files are uploaded to designated folders, the system automatically transcribes them using onboard tools. The Clip application handles this, and within moments, transcripts appear with speaker identification and time-linked navigation.

The AI features are tied to a broader system of prompts and shortcuts. A dedicated “AI Chat” interface allows users to type commands like “increase fan speed,” “reboot the system,” or “create a new user.” Many of these commands work today and are executed promptly, showing promise for a more natural interface between user and NAS.

While it’s far from full AI orchestration, the groundwork is clearly there. The system also supports basic automation — for example, auto-import tasks triggered when an SD card is inserted can move, rename, or transcode files and even safely eject the card afterward. These are practical, time-saving tools that go beyond novelty.

ZettOS includes a growing App Center with one-click deployments of popular open-source tools like Jellyfin, Nextcloud, Image, and Home Assistant. Apps are containerized and installed quickly, with port forwarding handled automatically. While this is becoming common among modern NAS platforms, ZettOS executes it cleanly and without needing user intervention.

Some proprietary applications, such as Creator Studio and virtual machine hosting, are marked “coming soon” in the current builds, with roadmap estimates targeting mid-2025. It’s clear that while ZettOS is already usable, it is also a work in progress.

Notably, the AI document analysis and generative chat features currently require the desktop companion app for full functionality on the D6 model, with a locally downloaded AI model (1 click from the client software install, but still, this could be clearer in the online documentation!).

While the basic indexing and media analysis are handled on-device, more advanced interactions such as querying large document sets or generating context-specific answers appear to rely on the Windows or Mac client.

This distinction is critical: the more powerful Ultra models promise full offline AI, while the standard D6 offloads some computation. Transparency about how much AI is truly local versus partially remote will be key for user trust going forward.

Zettlab D6 Prototype Review – Conclusion and Verdict

Overall, the Zettlab D6 offers one of the most advanced AI software stacks seen in a consumer NAS at this level — even in its unfinished state. With real-time image recognition, semantic search, speech-to-text transcription, natural language controls, and media classification, it exceeds what many larger NAS brands have offered to date. There are still rough edges, missing features, and questions about long-term support, but what’s already functional is impressive. For early adopters and tinkerers, this is a promising glimpse of what local AI NAS could become. For others, it may be worth waiting to see how ZettOS matures over the next development cycle.

Important – This review is based on a pre-release prototype of the Zettlab D6, supplied ahead of the official crowdfunding campaign. While the unit demonstrated strong hardware build quality and successfully showcased many of the local AI features promoted by the brand, it’s important to note that this version may not fully reflect the final product that backers will receive. As development continues, both software and functionality are expected to evolve. A follow-up video will be produced closer to the end of the crowdfunding campaign to reassess the system, evaluate any updates, and determine how closely the final release aligns with early expectations.

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Want to follow specific category? Also Read...Synology vs UGREEN NAS (in 202Synology DS925+ NAS ReleasedSynology DS925+ NAS Released (Aoostar WTR Max POWERHOUSE NASWeek 16 Tech Roundup – SynolSynology 2025 NAS Hard Drive aSynology 2025 NAS Hard Drive aSynology DS925+ NAS Leaked (AGWeek 15 Tech Roundup – ProxmZettlab D6 NAS Review - The Fi Subscribe You can also follow specific search terms:

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

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If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

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