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Synology DS1525+ vs DS1522+ NAS

Synology DS1525+ vs DS1522+ NAS Comparison – Get It Right, FIRST TIME!

With the arrival of the Synology DS1525+ in 2025, many users are now weighing it against its immediate predecessor, the DS1522+, released in 2022. On the surface, both NAS units share the same 5-bay form factor, nearly identical chassis design, and very similar price points—typically between $699 and $799 at launch. However, a deeper dive reveals a number of meaningful changes in hardware resources, storage expansion policies, and how Synology now handles drive compatibility and system flexibility. While the DS1525+ does offer better networking and CPU core count, it also introduces tighter restrictions on what drives can be used, how storage pools are formed, and what options are available to users looking to migrate data from older systems. By contrast, the DS1522+ retains a far more open approach to hardware, offering greater freedom for enthusiasts and IT professionals. In this article, we’ll break down the internal hardware, ports, storage support, DSM software capabilities, and system behavior of these two NAS systems—giving you the context you need to make the right decision the first time, and avoid buyer’s regret later.

Synology DS1525+ vs DS1522+ NAS Comparison – Internal Hardware

The most noticeable hardware difference between the DS1525+ and DS1522+ lies in their processors. The DS1522+ is powered by a dual-core AMD Ryzen R1600 CPU, which operates at a base frequency of 2.6 GHz and can boost up to 3.1 GHz. This chip delivers strong single-threaded performance and is very power efficient, making it well-suited for environments where tasks are sequential or lightly parallelized—such as SMB file sharing, surveillance, or general-purpose storage. The DS1525+, in contrast, uses a quad-core AMD Ryzen V1500B processor running at a fixed 2.2 GHz. While it lacks boost frequency, the additional cores and threads make it the more capable option for multitasking-intensive DSM deployments. Workloads like hosting multiple Docker containers, running several VMs, or operating high-volume backup jobs are handled more smoothly by the V1500B thanks to its stronger concurrent throughput. While synthetic benchmarks might show the R1600 ahead in single-threaded operations, in day-to-day NAS usage, the V1500B’s multitasking benefits are more relevant—particularly for users aiming to centralize many services on one box.

Component Synology DS1522+

Synology DS1525+

CPU Model AMD Ryzen R1600 AMD Ryzen V1500B
CPU Architecture 64-bit, Dual-Core, 4-Thread 64-bit, Quad-Core, 8-Thread
Base / Turbo Frequency 2.6 GHz / 3.1 GHz 2.2 GHz (no boost)
Hardware Encryption AES-NI AES-NI
Pre-installed Memory 8 GB DDR4 ECC SODIMM (1×8 GB) 8 GB DDR4 ECC SODIMM (1×8 GB)
Total RAM Slots 2 2
Max Supported Memory 32 GB (2×16 GB) 32 GB (2×16 GB)
ECC Support Yes Yes
System Cooling 2 × 92mm fans 2 × 92mm fans
Noise Level (Idle) 22.90 dB(A) 22.60 dB(A)
Power Supply 120W External Adapter 120W External Adapter
Power Consumption (Access) 52.06 W 44.56 W
Power Consumption (Idle) 16.71 W (HDD Hibernation) 13.63 W (HDD Hibernation)
Chassis Dimensions (H×W×D) 166 × 230 × 223 mm 166 × 230 × 223 mm
Weight 2.7 kg 2.67 kg
Memory configurations between the two models appear similar at first glance. Both ship with 8 GB of DDR4 ECC SODIMM memory installed in a single stick and support up to 32 GB using both slots. ECC memory is a staple of Synology’s Plus series, designed to catch and correct single-bit memory errors on the fly—an important safeguard in RAID arrays, collaborative file editing, and database hosting. However, in practical use, the DS1525+ has more headroom to take advantage of this memory due to its quad-core CPU, making it more responsive when multiple DSM services are running concurrently. For example, users running Surveillance Station with 10+ cameras, Synology Drive, and a virtual DSM guest will find the DS1525+ holds up better under load, whereas the DS1522+ may begin to show bottlenecks unless its RAM is upgraded early. Despite these differences, both systems provide adequate memory for general use and can be expanded easily if workload demands grow.
Beyond raw processing and RAM, the DS1525+ also refines power and noise efficiency. It has a slightly lower noise floor at 22.60 dB(A) compared to the DS1522+ at 22.90 dB(A)—a small but welcome reduction for those placing the NAS in workspaces or home offices. Power consumption is another area of subtle improvement. The DS1525+ draws just 44.56 watts under active use and 13.63 watts in HDD hibernation, making it more efficient than the DS1522+, which consumes 52.06 watts and 16.71 watts, respectively. This improvement may be attributed to internal board optimizations and more efficient firmware tuning. Physically, both NAS systems share identical chassis dimensions, cooling layout, and component arrangement, including dual 92mm fans for thermal management. In sum, while neither model introduces radical hardware changes over the other, the DS1525+ provides a better balance of multitasking power and efficiency for modern DSM deployments—particularly when scaling beyond light usage.

Synology DS1525+ vs DS1522+ NAS Comparison – Ports and Connections

The differences between the DS1525+ and DS1522+ become more apparent when examining their networking and expansion connectivity. The DS1522+ is equipped with four 1GbE RJ-45 LAN ports, which support link aggregation for up to 4 Gbps combined bandwidth when used with a managed switch. This configuration provides solid redundancy and flexible port allocation, especially for environments where isolating traffic across different services (e.g., backups, media, surveillance) is desirable. However, in 2024 and beyond, 1GbE is increasingly viewed as a bottleneck—particularly for users working with 4K video editing, large VM images, or fast local backups. The DS1525+ addresses this issue by shifting to 2 × 2.5GbE RJ-45 LAN ports, allowing up to 5 Gbps total bandwidth through link aggregation, and faster speeds on a per-connection basis, even when using unmanaged 2.5GbE switches that are now more common and affordable. This change aligns the DS1525+ with modern mid-tier NAS expectations and offers improved real-world performance, especially for multi-user workloads and high-speed transfers from SSD caches or NVMe pools.

Feature Synology DS1522+

Synology DS1525+

LAN Ports 4 × 1GbE RJ-45 2 × 2.5GbE RJ-45
Link Aggregation / Failover Yes Yes
USB Ports 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 1 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 1
Expansion Ports 2 × eSATA (for DX517) 2 × USB Type-C (for DX525)
PCIe Slot 1 × PCIe Gen3 x2 (for 10GbE upgrade) 1 × PCIe Gen3 x2 (for 10GbE upgrade)
Wake on LAN / WAN Yes Yes
Scheduled Power On / Off Yes Yes
Hot-Swappable Drive Bays 5 × SATA HDD/SSD (M.2 not hot-swappable) 5 × SATA HDD/SSD (M.2 not hot-swappable)
M.2 NVMe Slots 2 × M.2 2280 (cache only, 3rd-party SSDs supported) 2 × M.2 2280 (cache and storage, Synology SSDs only)
Expansion Compatibility DX517 (eSATA interface) DX525 (USB-C interface)
In terms of USB connectivity, both models include two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, suitable for attaching external drives, UPS units, or compatible USB printers. These ports remain unchanged between models and offer no direct performance advantage to either system. Where the expansion capability does change significantly is in the port type for connecting additional storage enclosures. The DS1522+ includes two eSATA ports, allowing it to connect up to two DX517 expansion units, adding 10 more drive bays. The DS1525+, however, replaces these with two USB Type-C expansion ports, which interface with the newer DX525 expansion units. While the overall expansion capacity remains the same (15 total bays), the move to USB-C reflects a generational shift in Synology’s design language. USB-C may offer slightly more flexible cable routing and future-proofing, but it also introduces a hard cutoff between older and newer ecosystems. For users with existing DX517s or other eSATA-based gear, this limits backwards compatibility and locks the DS1525+ into the latest hardware infrastructure.

Additionally, both units include a PCIe Gen3 x2 slot for optional 10GbE network upgrades. Synology’s E10G22-T1-Mini card is supported on both models and provides a compact, cost-effective way to future-proof network performance. However, given the DS1525+ already starts with 2.5GbE, users may find less urgency to upgrade immediately compared to the DS1522+, where a 10GbE card may be needed sooner to break past 1GbE limitations. Both models support Wake-on-LAN and scheduled power events, and both feature dual rear fans for effective cooling regardless of network traffic or drive load. From a connectivity standpoint, the DS1525+ represents a forward step toward higher-speed networking and modern expansion methods—but it does so at the cost of legacy compatibility, which may matter for users with established infrastructure. In contrast, the DS1522+ offers broader port coverage and flexibility but risks becoming dated more quickly in high-throughput environments.

Synology DS1525+ vs DS1522+ NAS Comparison – Storage

At first glance, storage capacity and physical layout appear virtually identical between the DS1525+ and DS1522+. Both systems offer five main drive bays that support 3.5″ SATA HDDs and 2.5″ SATA SSDs, as well as two M.2 NVMe SSD slots for caching or, in the case of the DS1525+, full storage pool creation. Each NAS can be expanded up to a total of 15 bays using two proprietary Synology expansion units (DX517 for the DS1522+, DX525 for the DS1525+), enabling up to 240 TB of raw storage assuming maximum capacity drives. However, a major divergence emerges when we examine drive compatibility policies. The DS1522+ follows Synology’s older, more permissive approach: users may install third-party drives from brands like Seagate, Western Digital, or Toshiba with only warning messages shown during setup. Storage pools, RAID arrays, and DSM installation all proceed without functional restrictions, making it a flexible platform for users with existing drives or cost-sensitive deployments.

Storage Feature Synology DS1522+

Synology DS1525+

Drive Bays 5 × 3.5″/2.5″ SATA HDD/SSD (Hot-swappable) 5 × 3.5″/2.5″ SATA HDD/SSD (Hot-swappable)
M.2 NVMe Slots 2 × M.2 2280 (Cache only, 3rd-party SSDs allowed) 2 × M.2 2280 (Cache & Storage Pool, Synology SSDs only)
Maximum Drive Bays (with Expansion) 15 (with 2 × DX517 via eSATA) 15 (with 2 × DX525 via USB-C)
Supported RAID Types SHR, Basic, JBOD, RAID 0/1/5/6/10 SHR, Basic, JBOD, RAID 0/1/5/6/10
Max Internal Volumes 64 32
Max Volume Size 108 TB 200 TB (requires 32 GB RAM)
NVMe Storage Pool Support ❌ Not supported ✅ Supported (Synology SNV drives only)
3rd-Party Drive Support ✅ Fully supported (with warnings) ❌ Blocked (DSM install/expansion/recovery restricted)
RAID Recovery with Unverified Drives ✅ Supported ❌ Not allowed
Storage Pool Expansion (Unverified) ✅ Supported ❌ Blocked
Hot Spare Assignment (Unverified) ✅ Supported ❌ Blocked
Drive Migration (with 3rd-party drives) ✅ Functional, with warnings ⚠ Allowed, but persistent warnings & blocked expansion
The DS1525+, by contrast, enforces the strict drive verification policy introduced in Synology’s newer Plus series models, like the DS925+ and DS1825+. At launch, only Synology-branded drives (HAT3300, HAT5300, SAT5200, and SNV3400 series) are listed as officially compatible. If users attempt to initialize DSM using unverified HDDs—such as a standard WD Red Plus or Seagate IronWolf—the installation process will be blocked entirely. This represents a significant limitation for long-time Synology users who are accustomed to broader hardware flexibility. Even after successful DSM setup, the system will not allow users to expand storage pools, rebuild degraded RAID arrays, or assign hot spares using non-verified drives. Persistent warnings and degraded status indicators in Storage Manager will appear even for migrated volumes, making the DS1525+ less accommodating for mixed-media configurations or DIY upgrades. SATA SSDs, while slightly more flexible in some scenarios, are still subject to similar warning behaviors post-install.
Further separating the two models is support for NVMe-based storage pools. The DS1522+ only allows M.2 NVMe SSDs to be used for read/write caching, and it permits the use of third-party SSDs for this function, giving users a cost-effective route to performance acceleration. The DS1525+, however, allows these NVMe slots to be used for full DSM storage volumes—but only when using Synology-verified SNV-series SSDs. This enables the creation of fast, low-latency storage pools using NVMe media, which is a compelling advantage for certain workflows (like media scratch disks or high-speed sync folders). Still, the restricted compatibility policy limits practical utility for those who already own quality NVMe drives from other vendors. In short, while the DS1525+ technically offers more advanced storage architecture, the DS1522+ offers far more freedom, especially for users managing legacy systems, migrating data from older Synology devices, or sourcing their own HDDs and SSDs independently.

Synology DS1525+ vs DS1522+ NAS Comparison – DSM Capabilities

Both the DS1525+ and DS1522+ run Synology’s DSM 7.2 operating system and provide access to the same broad library of official and third-party packages. This includes core applications such as Synology Drive for file sync and access, Synology Office for collaborative documents, and Active Backup for Business for system-wide backup management. The app experience is largely identical on both devices, with support for Virtual Machine Manager, Hyper Backup, Snapshot Replication, Synology Photos, and Surveillance Station. However, the differences in system hardware and compatibility enforcement subtly influence how DSM behaves and what features remain available under different configurations. For example, both models support up to 256 snapshots per shared folder and a system-wide maximum of 4,096 snapshots, but users on the DS1525+ will be subject to stricter compatibility enforcement in DSM’s Storage Manager if using drives that aren’t on Synology’s approved list.

DSM Feature / Capability Synology DS1522+

Synology DS1525+

DSM Version DSM 7.2+ DSM 7.2+
Max Internal Volumes 64 32 ▼
Max Single Volume Size 108 TB 200 TB (requires 32 GB RAM) ▲
Snapshot Replication 256 per shared folder / 4,096 total system snapshots 256 per shared folder / 4,096 total system snapshots
Synology Drive Users Up to 60 Up to 80 ▲
Synology Office Users Up to 60 Up to 80 ▲
Virtual Machine Manager (VMs) Up to 4 Virtual Machines Up to 8 Virtual Machines ▲
Virtual DSM Instances (Licensed) Up to 4 Up to 8 (1 free license) ▲
Hybrid Share Folder Limit 10 10
Surveillance Station (H.265) 40 cameras / up to 1200 FPS 40 cameras / up to 1200 FPS
Maximum SMB Connections (RAM Expanded) 30 40 ▲
RAID Recovery with 3rd-Party Drives ✅ Supported ❌ Blocked
Storage Expansion with Unverified Drives ✅ Supported ❌ Blocked
Hot Spare (Unverified Drives) ✅ Supported ❌ Blocked
M.2 NVMe Caching (3rd-Party SSDs) ✅ Supported ❌ Blocked
NVMe Storage Pool Creation ❌ Not supported ✅ Supported (Synology SNV SSDs only)
DSM Storage Manager Behavior (Unverified) Warnings only, all features functional Persistent alerts, blocks expansions and rebuilds
High Availability Support Yes Yes
Full System Backup (Hyper Backup) Yes (DSM 7.2+) Yes (DSM 7.2+)
Where this becomes particularly relevant is during system migration or advanced storage scenarios. The DS1522+ handles drive migration and unverified HDDs without functional limitation. DSM will display minor warnings but still permit RAID recovery, storage pool expansion, hot spare assignments, and cache creation—even with mixed-brand hardware. By contrast, the DS1525+ introduces active blocks within DSM for unsupported drives. Users migrating from older Synology NAS devices using drives like WD Red Plus or Seagate IronWolf will find that, while the DS1525+ may import the pool, DSM will flag the drives as unverified and prevent future RAID rebuilds or expansions unless all disks are from Synology’s supported list. These alerts cannot be disabled, and they will persist across the user interface, making the system appear at risk even if the drives themselves are healthy. This creates a significant difference in administrative experience, especially for IT professionals managing multiple systems or resellers integrating legacy hardware.
In terms of user and service scalability, the DS1525+ supports slightly higher limits overall. It allows for up to 80 Synology Drive users and Office users (versus 60 each on the DS1522+) and can support up to 8 concurrent virtual machines versus 4 on the DS1522+, assuming sufficient RAM is installed. Surveillance Station camera and FPS limits are virtually identical, and both models support High Availability, Hybrid Share, SAN Manager, and central management features. However, the DS1525+ supports larger single volume sizes—up to 200 TB if upgraded to 32 GB RAM—compared to the DS1522+’s 108 TB ceiling. In return, the DS1522+ offers more internal volume flexibility with support for up to 64 volumes, double the DS1525+’s 32 volume limit. This trade-off reflects Synology’s shifting priorities in DSM: the DS1525+ favors fewer, denser volumes and more centralized control, while the DS1522+ gives power users finer-grained storage separation. Both systems excel with DSM, but your experience will differ depending on whether you prioritize scalability and structure—or open, hardware-flexible operation.

Synology DS1525+ vs DS1522+ NAS Comparison – Conclusion

The Synology DS1525+ and DS1522+ may look nearly identical on the outside, but they diverge sharply in philosophy, system behavior, and long-term value. The DS1522+, launched in 2022, stands as one of the last truly flexible 5-bay NAS systems in Synology’s portfolio. It offers a dual-core AMD Ryzen R1600 processor with excellent single-thread performance and supports up to 15 drives with two DX517 expansions. More importantly, it retains the traditional Synology approach to third-party drive compatibility—meaning users can install and operate a wide range of HDDs and SSDs (Seagate, WD, Toshiba, etc.) without system blocks. DSM will issue warnings if a drive isn’t officially listed, but critical features like RAID recovery, storage pool expansion, and hot spare assignment continue to function. That level of hardware openness makes the DS1522+ particularly attractive to power users, budget-conscious builders, and small IT teams looking to repurpose existing hardware. The DS1525+, released in 2025, represents a subtle but significant shift in Synology’s design strategy. On paper, it offers solid upgrades: a quad-core AMD Ryzen V1500B processor that enables better multitasking, faster 2.5GbE LAN ports for improved data throughput, lower noise and power consumption, and full NVMe storage pool support (with Synology SSDs). These improvements make the DS1525+ a better fit for users running multiple simultaneous services—such as Surveillance Station, Synology Drive, and Docker containers—all while maintaining smooth operation. However, these benefits come with stricter limitations. The unit enforces Synology’s 2025-era drive verification policy, which outright blocks DSM installation or RAID operations with unverified drives. Migration is allowed, but users will be met with persistent warnings, degraded system status indicators, and feature restrictions that can’t be bypassed. The flexibility to reuse older drives, expand arrays freely, or mix hardware brands has been systematically curtailed.

In essence, the choice between these two NAS systems reflects more than just performance—it’s a decision between openness and control. The DS1522+ remains a strong all-rounder for users who want to build their system on their own terms, manage diverse storage needs, or repurpose hardware they already trust. It’s well-suited to small businesses, creators, and experienced users who value transparency and adaptability. The DS1525+, by comparison, is more refined, but also more prescriptive. It favors users willing to commit fully to Synology’s ecosystem—those who prioritize simplicity, tighter integration, and long-term consistency, even at the expense of flexibility. It’s a better fit for turnkey environments where reliability and vendor support matter more than customization. Both NAS devices are excellent in their own right, but the right choice depends entirely on how much control you’re willing to trade for convenience—and whether your NAS should be a platform you shape, or a solution that shapes your workflow.

Aspect Synology DS1522+

Synology DS1525+

✅ Pros – Broad 3rd-party HDD/SSD compatibility – 2.5GbE LAN ports for faster networking out of the box
– Fully supports RAID recovery, expansion, and hot spares with any drive – NVMe SSDs can be used for storage pools (Synology SSDs only)
– Better suited for drive migration from older NAS systems – Quad-core CPU enables better multitasking and virtualization
– More internal volumes supported (up to 64) – Lower power draw and slightly quieter operation
– Ideal for budget-conscious users and mixed-brand deployments – Slightly higher user caps in DSM apps (Drive, Office, VMM)
❌ Cons – Only 1GbE networking unless upgraded – Blocks DSM install and critical functions with unverified drives
– No support for NVMe storage pools – Only Synology SSDs supported for caching or NVMe volumes
– Lower VM performance ceiling (dual-core CPU) – Fewer internal volumes supported (32 max)
– Less suitable for users with existing 3rd-party storage hardware
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I went to Synology HQ and Asked About Hard Drives…

Synology Explain WHY They Changed Drive Support and Verification in 2025 NAS

During a recent visit to Taipei for Computex 2025, I took the opportunity to visit Synology’s headquarters and speak directly with company representatives about one of the most discussed and divisive topics in the NAS community today — the company’s increasingly strict stance on hard drive compatibility. With the rollout of Synology’s latest generation of hardware, users have been met with significant limitations on the use of third-party drives, prompting concern over reduced flexibility, potential e-waste, and the future direction of Synology’s hardware ecosystem. This article provides a can overview of that visit, beginning with the HQ tour, but mainly it is about putting several big questions users have about the brand’s change in support of Seagate, WD, etc on their 2025 devices.

Four core questions — based on direct community feedback — were put forward, addressing the motivation, risks, and future implications of Synology’s current drive support policy. Each answer is presented exactly as delivered. Note, this article is not sponsored by Synology and they have no control over the editorial stance and output! For users, partners, and industry observers alike, understanding these policy shifts is essential for making informed decisions about Synology systems moving forward.

Touring the Synology Headquarters

The Synology headquarters tour took place during a coordinated visit arranged alongside the Computex 2025 trade event. Approximately 30 to 40 individuals were in attendance, a mix that included official Synology partners, resellers, independent media, and technology commentators. The tour began with a structured company overview presentation outlining Synology’s operational history, business units, and market positioning.

While much of this information was familiar to long-term observers, it served to reinforce the company providing integrated storage and data management solutions. The presentation also included a brief overview of Synology’s global distribution and the evolving structure of its enterprise product lines.

Attendees were then guided through various areas of the facility, which covered several floors within a shared building. Synology does not occupy the entire structure, but the portions shown during the tour were substantial, comprising office sections, collaborative workspaces, logistics coordination areas, and support-related operations. Notably, many desks were temporarily unoccupied due to staff presence at Computex’s Nangang Exhibition Center.

Nonetheless, the offices remained populated with active terminals and systems undergoing live testing.

A significant portion of the tour focused on the environmental and durability testing facilities, including designated zones for acoustic profiling, thermal analysis, and dust resilience. The diversity of units being tested suggested coverage across multiple device classes, including both rackmount and desktop models.

The most extensive portion of the tour was the dedicated test and burn-in area. This floor was almost entirely devoted to long-term performance and diagnostic evaluations. Numerous Synology NAS units — some dating back to the early 2010s — were in continuous operation, either running synthetic workloads or undergoing compatibility assessments with the current DSM operating system.

The presence of so many legacy devices in active testing underscored the company’s emphasis on software longevity and cross-generational hardware support. However, it also provided a contrast to Synology’s new strict verification policies, especially given the mixed hardware environments visible during testing. The tour was led by ZP Kao, Sales Director at Synology, and Chad Chiang, Regional Manager for the UK and Germany, who offered clarification and responded to several direct inquiries during the walkthrough.

Why Has Synology Changed Its HDD Support Policy? Questions and Answers

Chad Chiang | NTU Overseas Internship Program 臺大國際引水人計畫

Questions I put to Synology about their change in policy regarding verifying and supporting drive media being used on their 2025 and later series of NAS devices. I based these on the comments and suggestions from videos on the YouTube channel and comments on previous articles. I am under no illusions that these changes by Synology in their drive support policies have financial justifications (ranging from Support efficiency and it’s financial overhead, to the simple profitability of prioritizing their own labelled firmware optimized storage media choices over those of other brands), but I wanted to know if these were the only reasons for this? What other reasons could Synology provide to support this large and unpopular move. Thank you once again to Chad Chiang for taking the time to answer these questions.

Note – for a better understanding of the current DSM Support of Unverified media, as well as test scenarios detailing each setup and how DSM handles it, you can read it HERE in my Test Article.

How has the verification process changed for which drives you can use on Synology systems moving forward? And are there drive options from WD and Seagate currently undergoing support verification?

Answer – At Synology, we constantly reflect on a core question: Why do people choose a NAS? We believe the answer lies in the need for secure, reliable, and hassle-free data storage. This belief has guided our mission for over a decade. When analyzing our support history, the data clearly shows that systems using Synology-branded drives experience 40% fewer issues compared to those with third-party HDDs. This insight underscores the importance of using thoroughly tested drives. As for which third-party vendors are currently undergoing drive verification, we’re unable to disclose details. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, we recommend reaching out directly to the respective manufacturers.

The response positions Synology’s verification changes as a reliability-focused initiative and smooth platform running as the chief reasoning for them, referencing internal data that suggests a 40% reduction in support issues when Synology-branded drives are used. However, as mentioned previously, the statement does not provide supporting metrics such as sample size, timeframes, or specific failure modes, making it difficult to assess the scope or significance of this claim. I do not doubt that it is true, but without the X/Y and details of how this result was achieved, we are only getting half the story here.  The policy shift is framed as a precautionary measure aimed at minimizing user disruption, but the absence of transparency regarding ongoing verifications with WD or Seagate limits clarity for users seeking alternatives – which is why users are seeing this more as a means for the brand to increase profitability in the 2025 series as a bundled utility purchase – not as a means of system stability.

Ultimately, discussing the technical standards or benchmarks involved in the verification process in paramount here. It largely confirms that responsibility for future third-party compatibility lies with the drive manufacturers themselves, effectively shifting the onus of transparency to them. While it is understandable that Synology might want to mitigate support complexity, the lack of specificity about how the verification criteria have evolved or what steps vendors must follow leaves key questions unanswered for both users and third-party storage providers. I reached out to representatives from Seagate and WD to see if they could elaborate further on this new media side verification process with their respective NAS/Server class media – neither was able to provide further details at this time.

UPDATED 07-05-25 = Added Unverified HDD and SSD (Migrated) Storage Pool RAID Repair, RAID POOL Expansion and Hot Spare Tests. Right now, the following is what works and what does not (between pre-2025 Series and the 2025 Series that is releasing now):

Feature / Function Pre-2025 Synology NAS<br>(e.g., DS1821+, DS920+, DS923+) 2025 Synology NAS<br>(e.g., DS1825+, DS925+, DS1525+)
DSM Installation – Verified Drives ✅ Full support ✅ Full support
DSM Installation – Non-Verified Drives ✅ Allowed (with warnings) ❌ Blocked completely
Drive Migration (Non-Verified Drives) ✅ Fully functional, minor alerts ✅ Works, but shows persistent warnings
Storage Pool Creation – Verified Drives ✅ Fully supported ✅ Fully supported
Storage Pool Creation – Non-Verified Drives ✅ Allowed (with warnings) ❌ Blocked
Storage Pool Expansion – Verified Drives ✅ Fully supported ✅ Fully supported
Storage Pool Expansion – Non-Verified Drives ✅ Allowed (mixed arrays supported) ❌ Blocked – drives flagged as incompatible
Hot Spare Assignment – Verified Drives ✅ Fully supported ✅ Fully supported
Hot Spare Assignment – Non-Verified Drives ✅ Allowed ❌ Blocked
RAID Recovery – Verified Drives ✅ Supported ✅ Supported
RAID Recovery – Non-Verified Drives ✅ Supported ❌ Blocked – system will not rebuild with unverified media
M.2 NVMe Cache – Synology SSDs ✅ Supported ✅ Supported
M.2 NVMe Cache – 3rd Party SSDs ✅ Supported ❌ Blocked
M.2 NVMe Storage Pools – Synology SSDs ❌ Not supported ✅ Supported
M.2 NVMe Storage Pools – 3rd Party SSDs ❌ Not supported ❌ Blocked
SMART Monitoring – Verified Drives ✅ Full support ✅ Full support
SMART Monitoring – Non-Verified Drives ✅ Full support ⚠ Limited or blocked (TBC)
Storage Manager Alerts – Non-Verified Drives ⚠ Warnings, dismissible 🔴 Persistent, cannot be cleared
Overall Compatibility Flexibility ✅ High – mix-and-match drives allowed ❌ Low – walled-garden enforcement

Users are able to migrate existing storage arrays that feature Unverified/unsupported drive media in previous Synology systems into 2025 Plus series devices and still use DSM services – however once they do so, they are unable to use the same model ID of drives to perform RAID recovery, RAID expansion or introduced a hot spare, unless that drive is on the verified drive list. Why is this?

Answer- Advanced operations such as RAID recovery, expansion, or hot spare assignment are technically intensive and carry a higher risk of data loss if inconsistencies arise. Drives that haven’t been validated through Synology’s verification process may behave unpredictably under stress, impacting array stability or performance. For this reason, support for these functions is limited to verified drives—a precaution designed to safeguard user data and maintain long-term system reliability.

So, this answer outlines Synology’s rationale for restricting critical RAID operations on unverified drives and It emphasizes the increased risk associated with advanced storage operations, particularly when performed on drives that may not have been tested under stress or fault conditions. The justification focuses on data integrity and system reliability, suggesting that verified drives have undergone stress testing scenarios that others have not. However, the lack of granularity in what defines “unpredictable behavior” makes it difficult to independently evaluate the severity or frequency of these issues. Much like the statistics point earlier, this seems a remarkable stretch in terms of reaction to what many users would consider a very, very low % risk factor. Equally, though there is an argument that some drive media is less suitable for NAS usage (eg the WD Red SMR drives, desktop single drive use media like Seagate Barracuda and high power draw HDDs/SSDs in some cases), these make up a very small % of drive media in the market and using this as a reasoning to effectively bar the continued support of drive media that has been supported/used in Synology server use over the last 2 decades to prevent RAID recovery and Expansion in the latest gen for those carrying them over seems insane overkill.

The policy effectively limits upgradability and flexibility in mixed-drive environments. While it is technically reasonable to restrict risky operations on unvalidated components, the ability to migrate but not expand or rebuild a RAID introduces a half-measure — allowing users to enter unsupported configurations while restricting them mid-cycle. The result is a system state that may appear functional at first but ultimately lacks key functionality unless users conform to the verified list. For long-term users upgrading from older systems, this shift can lead to unexpected limitations without adequate warning, particularly in small or home office deployments. The messaging has been poor and though I made a video about these limitations (embedded above), there is practically no other clear and transparent information about this online (with incongruous detailson the Synology Knowledge base that could stand to be a lot clearer and louder).

HOT TAKE, and hear me out – If Synology do not allow support of RAID repair/Expansion on drives that have been migrated over from older NAS systems where the drives WERE originally supported (unless they use 2025 verified drives) because of reasons of stability, I have a somewhat extreme suggestion. As unpopular as it might have been, Synology should have just BARRED the support of migration from older generation Synology NAS devices with unverified drives entirely. I personally think they should have allowed for RAID repair/Expansion of unverified drives, but if they are going to pursue this for reasons of system stability, they should have committed to this fully and not allowed this grey area with migration. As it just looks bad for the brand, as means of ensuring people can upgrade/remain in the ecosystem, but then have limited scalability when those older drives require replacement/growth.


Were pre-populated Synology NAS devices considered, given the strict verified support stance that this new Synology hardware generation contains?

Answer – Regarding pre-populated NAS solutions, there hasn’t been significant internal discussion or a formal strategy around this model. As such, I don’t have a concrete answer at this time. The focus remains on ensuring that any storage media used—whether user-installed or bundled—is fully verified to meet Synology’s reliability standards.

Not much to unpack here. It makes sense. I imagine they DID discuss this as an option (as they are already engaging with this with systems like the Beestation), but at least for now, it seems off the table. As unpopular as this might have been, in some ways it could have solved a lot of this friction for some users. Provide the 2025 PLUS series as an empty/enclosure-only solution with similar compatibility as the 2024 and earlier generation – but then also supply several pre-populated options that feature Synology drive media as standard. However, that would be a different discussion entirely (eg logistics, SKUs, viability, ROI by offering this alongside flexible options).


Can you provide example(s) of critical system issues that using unverified drives caused, that were the tipping point for this new strict HDD support policy?

Examples of what stepped up our verification process moving forward:

Performance Issues: Unverified drives may function under light workloads but can suffer serious performance drops (e.g., IOPS decline) under multi-user access or when running demanding services like virtualization, backup, or databases. This can lead to poor user experience or service disruptions (e.g., iSCSI timeouts).

Stability Risks: Without thorough testing, unverified drives are more prone to failures under stress conditions such as unexpected power loss or long-duration file transfers—leading to timeouts, reboot failures, or data integrity issues in high-load or long-term operations.

Compatibility Problems: Drives not validated for compatibility may show unstable behavior with certain NAS controllers, resulting in drive drops, RAID instability, or data access interruptions over time.

Advanced Feature Failures: Unverified drives may fail during operations like SMART testing or Secure Erase, especially after unexpected power outages. Some drives may not respond properly under frequent access or specific command sets, affecting system stability.

Drive Failures Under High Load or Density: Some drives may become unresponsive under high data density or I/O intensity, with issues persisting even after a reset.

The examples provided by Synology highlight a variety of operational issues associated with unverified drives, most of which relate to performance degradation, system instability, or failure of advanced features under stress. These scenarios focus on workloads involving sustained I/O, power fluctuations, and controller-level interactions. In isolation, many of the issues described are plausible for lower-tier or unsuitable drive models, particularly in demanding or enterprise-like environments. That said, that are very low margins (eg 0.01% or lower) when you look at the traditional deployment of many Synology NAS solution in the Plus series. Again though, the scale and frequency of these issues remain unclear. There is no indication of how widespread such failures are across Synology’s user base, nor whether they represent rare edge cases or common occurrences. The examples also apply more logically to enterprise or high-density configurations, whereas the same strict policies now affect all tiers — including two-bay and four-bay systems used by home and prosumer users. Without concrete statistics or clearer thresholds, it is difficult to assess whether these issues justify the breadth of the policy. The policy appears to target potential worst-case scenarios, but may have broader consequences for user flexibility than the risk profile necessarily warrants.

Additional Information and Details from the MyBroadband Article

Data is at the heart of every industry's transformation, and this is where Synology has a profoundly important role to play”: Michael Chang - Express Computer

Further context on Synology’s new drive compatibility policy was provided in an interview between MyBroadband journalist Daniel Puchert (click to read) and Michael Chang, Synology’s Regional Sales Manager. The discussion reinforced many of the points raised during the HQ visit, while also offering additional information into the motivations behind Synology’s stricter approach to drive support in their latest generation of NAS systems. Chang explained that Synology’s primary objective was to ensure product reliability and reduce system-level faults that were increasingly traced back to third-party hard drives. According to Chang, complaints received by Synology often involved third-party drive issues, yet Synology would still be held accountable by users due to their role as the NAS provider. This prompted the company to centralize responsibility and tighten control over supported hardware configurations. While Synology-branded drives are currently the only models certified, Chang noted that other vendors are being invited to participate in the compatibility validation program — provided they meet the same testing standards.

(In the case of the NAS drives) “..because Synology’s product would typically facilitate the usage of third-party hard drives, it would also be the scapegoat for any faults with the entire system.”

“..complaints received by Synology regarding issues relating to its NAS devices were most often caused by faulty hard drives.

“severe storage anomalies have decreased by up to 88%” for hard drive models that have adopted its hard drive compatibility policy, compared to older models.”

“We still welcome third parties to join Synology’s ecosystem and have invited vendors to join our validation program,”

Michael Chang, Synology Regional Sales Manager – full article HERE

The article also mentioned that Synology-certified drives undergo over 7,000 hours of testing, and systems using those drives reportedly experience 40% fewer failures than those using uncertified media. Additionally, Synology claims that severe storage anomalies have dropped by up to 88% in systems following its compatibility policy. Although Chang confirmed that third-party compatibility may expand in the future, it will only do so under strict adherence to Synology’s internal benchmarks. These statements align with Synology’s position during the HQ tour, further emphasizing a shift toward a closed, highly controlled ecosystem that prioritizes consistent performance over hardware flexibility.

Synology and HDD Support and Verification – Conclusion and the Long Term

My biggest issue with all this is that, almost certainly, we are going to see Seagate, WD, Toshiba and more slow (slooooooooowly) appear on the compatibility lists for a number of the 2025 generation of devices over the coming months. So, what was all this for? The PR damage and likely early sales damage of the Synolgoy 2025 Series because of this change of support I would estimate is going to be pretty substantial – and all the reports and reactions to this online are not going to go away as soon as a Seagate Ironwolf or WD Red drive appears on the support lists. Also, Synology work on these devices for a very, very long time before launch – why is all this happening now – and not before launch. The cynic in me wants to just assume it was pure profitability and that Synology want to maximize profits, and if when this does begin to U-Trun ,that the brand can say that it was the plan all along. But whether that is true or not, the damage to the brand in the eyes of a substantial % of their long term fans is notable, and with many more players in the market (UniFi, QNAP, UGREEN and more) launching new products in Q3 and Q4 – is this all going to be a gamble by the brand that ends up costing them more than just leaving the support status quo where it was? Only time will tell.

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Synology DS1525+ NAS Released (in the East)

The Synology DS1525+ NAS is Confirmed and Just Overshadowed the DS925+

The Synology DS1525+ NAS represents a significant evolution in the brand’s 5-bay desktop series, bringing forward a more scalable, performance-focused solution aimed at both advanced home users and professional environments. Positioned as a more powerful and versatile alternative to the recently launched DS925+, the DS1525+ is clearly engineered with broader deployment scenarios in mind—from creative professionals handling high-volume media workflows to small businesses seeking reliable virtualization, backup, and collaboration tools. It boasts a modernized hardware foundation, including a Ryzen quad-core processor, 8GB of ECC memory (upgradeable to 32GB), dual M.2 NVMe SSD slots, and native support for 2.5GbE networking—features that now align with the increasing demands for multi-user, high-throughput environments.

Yet the DS1525+ isn’t just about faster networking or raw internal horsepower—it also brings back long-requested upgrade options like 10GbE scalability via a PCIe slot and dual DX525 expansion support for up to 15 drives total. This places the DS1525+ in a much more flexible tier compared to previous 5-bay Synology NAS systems and even challenges some of the lower-end rackmount models in terms of features and performance. With the continuing integration of Synology’s DSM 7.2 platform and a shift in how the brand is enforcing drive compatibility policies in the 2025 generation, the DS1525+ also enters the market during a controversial transition period for the company—something that may significantly influence buying decisions. Whether you’re upgrading from an older DS920+/DS1520+ or looking to deploy a scalable data solution for your home or office, the DS1525+ arrives at a pivotal moment for Synology.

Synology DS1525+ NAS – Hardware Specifications

The Synology DS1525+ brings a refined balance of processing power, memory, connectivity, and scalability that reflects its positioning in the upper end of Synology’s Plus Series. At its core is the AMD Ryzen V1500B processor, a 64-bit quad-core chip running at 2.2GHz with support for hardware encryption and virtualization. While this processor first debuted in Synology’s higher-end SMB models in 2020, its migration to the 5-bay desktop tier represents a welcome boost in capability for power users. It offers significantly more multitasking headroom compared to the dual-core Ryzen R1600 seen in the DS923+, and its support for native virtualization, container workloads, and file services under sustained loads makes it a particularly strong choice for office deployments and edge data processing.

Category Specification
CPU AMD Ryzen V1500B, Quad-Core, 2.2 GHz, 64-bit architecture, AES-NI encryption
Memory (Default/Max) 8 GB DDR4 ECC SODIMM (1 × 8 GB) / Up to 32 GB (2 × 16 GB)
Drive Bays 5 × 3.5″/2.5″ SATA HDD/SSD (hot-swappable)
M.2 Slots 2 × M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slots (for caching or storage pools, Synology drives only)
Expansion Up to 15 drives with 2 × DX525 expansion units
PCIe Slot 1 × PCIe Gen 3 x2 slot (for 10GbE upgrade module E10G22-T1-Mini)
LAN Ports 2 × 2.5GbE RJ-45 (Link Aggregation & Failover support)
USB Ports 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps)
Cooling 2 × 92mm system fans (auto speed control)
Power Supply External 100W AC power adapter (100V–240V, 50/60Hz)
Dimensions 166 mm (H) × 230 mm (W) × 223 mm (D)
Weight 2.67 kg (without drives)
Max Volume Size 108 TB (200 TB with 32 GB RAM and Btrfs)
RAID Support SHR, Basic, JBOD, RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10
File Systems Internal: Btrfs, EXT4 / External: Btrfs, EXT4, EXT3, FAT32, NTFS, HFS+, exFAT
Operating Temperature 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)
Warranty 3 years (extendable to 5 years in select regions with EW201/EW+ plans)
Alongside this CPU is a pre-installed 8GB ECC DDR4 SODIMM module—double that of the DS925+—with support for up to 32GB across two slots. ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory is still rare at this price point and capacity, and it adds another layer of data integrity assurance, particularly useful when running business-critical workloads like database hosting, mail servers, or multi-user collaborative suites. Whether you’re hosting Synology Office or leveraging multiple Docker containers, the default 8GB RAM already places the DS1525+ above its peers in out-of-the-box readiness, with upgrade options that scale appropriately with larger RAID arrays and SSD caching.
Specification AMD Ryzen Embedded V1500B AMD Ryzen Embedded R1600
Cores / Threads 4 Cores / 8 Threads 2 Cores / 4 Threads
Hyperthreading Yes Yes
Base Frequency 2.20 GHz 2.60 GHz
Turbo Frequency (1 Core) Not Supported Up to 3.10 GHz
Turbo Frequency (All Cores) Not Specified Not Specified
Overclocking No No
TDP 16W 25W
Cache (L1 / L2 / L3) 384KB / 2MB / 32MB 192KB / 1MB / 4MB
Socket Type BGA1140 BGA1140
Architecture Zen (Normal) Zen (Normal)
CPU Class Embedded / Mobile Embedded / Mobile
First Seen Q2 2021 Q4 2022
Single Thread Rating (CPUBenchmark) 1230 (-28.7% vs R1600) 1724 (Higher)
CPU Mark (Overall) (CPUBenchmark) 4829 (Higher) 3276 (-32.1% vs V1500B)
Estimated Yearly Power Cost $2.92 $4.56

The DS1525+ also introduces versatile storage configuration options. It supports five 3.5″/2.5″ SATA HDDs or SSDs, with the option to add two DX525 expansion units for a maximum of 15 bays total—translating to 300TB of raw capacity with 20TB drives. Additionally, the system includes two M.2 NVMe slots, allowing users to add SSD cache acceleration or create separate storage pools without sacrificing any of the main drive bays. As with other 2025-generation Synology models, the M.2 slots currently only support Synology’s own SNV-series drives for both caching and pool creation, further tying storage choices to the Synology ecosystem.

Network and expansion features on the DS1525+ are another standout area. The NAS includes two native 2.5GbE LAN ports that support Link Aggregation, failover, and SMB multichannel. This addresses a long-standing complaint of previous generations, which were limited to 1GbE by default. Better still, the DS1525+ includes a PCIe Gen3 x2 slot for installing Synology’s E10G22-T1-Mini 10GbE network card—something that was removed from the DS925+ entirely. This combination of faster default networking and optional 10GbE makes the DS1525+ suitable for demanding data workflows, such as multi-camera surveillance, real-time 4K media editing, and large-volume backup tasks.

Synology DS1525+ NAS vs the DS925+ (2025) or DS1522+ (2022)

The release of the Synology DS1525+ will naturally invite comparisons with two other key models in Synology’s portfolio: the recently launched DS925+ and the 2022-era DS1522+. On paper, the DS1525+ shares a large portion of its DNA with both of these models — borrowing the same AMD Ryzen V1500B processor from the DS925+, and directly succeeding the DS1522+ as Synology’s latest 5-bay NAS in the Plus series. But while these three models target similar audiences — advanced home users, creative professionals, and small businesses — there are clear differences in hardware, scalability, network architecture, and long-term usability that separate them meaningfully. The DS1525+ builds directly on the foundation laid by the DS925+, which itself introduced a wave of hardware upgrades to the Synology Plus series in early 2025. Both devices feature the same AMD Ryzen V1500B 4-core, 8-thread processor and support ECC memory up to 32GB. However, where the DS925+ stops at 4 bays with no support for expansion units, the DS1525+ supports up to 15 total bays with the inclusion of two DX525 expansion chassis — a major difference for users planning long-term storage growth. The DS1525+ also doubles the memory out of the box (8GB vs 4GB in the DS925+), includes the same 2x 2.5GbE ports for faster-than-gigabit networking, and features dual M.2 NVMe slots for cache or storage pools. In essence, the DS1525+ is the more scalable, robust choice — particularly if you foresee needing significantly more storage or concurrent users down the line.

Hardware Specifications
CPU
Model DS1522+ DS1525+ DS925+
CPU Model AMD Ryzen R1600 AMD Ryzen V1500B AMD Ryzen V1500B
CPU Quantity 1 1 1
CPU Core 2 4 4
CPU Architecture 64-bit 64-bit 64-bit
CPU Frequency 2.6 (base) / 3.1 (turbo) GHz 2.2 GHz 2.2 GHz
Hardware Encryption Engine / / /
Memory
System Memory 8 GB DDR4 ECC SODIMM 8 GB DDR4 ECC SODIMM 4 GB DDR4 ECC SODIMM
Memory Module Pre-installed 8 GB (8 GB x 1) 8 GB (8 GB x 1) 4 GB (4 GB x 1)
Total Memory Slots 2 2 2
Maximum Memory Capacity 32 GB (16 GB x 2) 32 GB (16 GB x 2) 32 GB (16 GB x 2)
Storage
Drive Bays 5 5 4
Maximum Drive Bays with Expansion Unit 15 (DX517 x 2) 15 (DX525 x 2) 9 (DX525 x 1)
M.2 Drive Slots 2 (NVMe) 2 (NVMe) 2 (NVMe)
Drive Type (See all supported drives)
  • 3.5″ SATA HDD
  • 2.5″ SATA SSD
  • M.2 2280 NVMe SSD
  • 3.5″ SATA HDD
  • 2.5″ SATA SSD
  • M.2 2280 NVMe SSD
  • 3.5″ SATA HDD
  • 2.5″ SATA SSD
  • M.2 2280 NVMe SSD
Hot Swappable Drive*
Notes The hot swappable drive feature is not supported by M.2 SSD slots.
  • The hot swappable drive feature is not supported by M.2 SSD slots.
  • Compatible drives are mandatory. Please consult our compatibility list before purchasing hard drives. For more details, please refer to this article.
  • The hot swappable drive feature is not supported by M.2 SSD slots.
  • Compatible drives are mandatory. Please consult our compatibility list before purchasing hard drives. For more details, please refer to this article.
External Ports
RJ-45 1GbE LAN Port 4 X X
RJ-45 2.5GbE LAN Port X 2 2
USB 3.2 Gen 1 Port 2 2 2
Expansion Port 2 2 1
Expansion Port Type eSATA USB Type-C USB Type-C
Notes MTU value of 1GbE LAN port has a limit of 1500.
PCIe
PCIe Expansion 1 x Gen3 x2 network upgrade slot 1 x Gen3 x2 network upgrade slot
Appearance
Size (Height x Width x Depth) 166 mm x 230 mm x 223 mm 166 mm x 230 mm x 223 mm 166 mm x 199 mm x 223 mm
Weight 2.7 kg 2.67 kg 2.26 kg
Others
System Fan 92 mm x 92 mm x 2 pcs 92 mm x 92 mm x 2 pcs 92 mm x 92 mm x 2 pcs
Fan Speed Mode
  • Full-Speed Mode
  • Cool Mode
  • Quiet Mode
  • Full-Speed Mode
  • Cool Mode
  • Quiet Mode
  • Full-Speed Mode
  • Cool Mode
  • Quiet Mode
Brightness Adjustable Front LED Indicators / / /
Power Recovery / / /
Noise Level* 22.90 dB(A) 22.60 dB(A) 20.5 dB(A)
Scheduled Power On / Off / / /
Wake on LAN / WAN / / /
Power Supply Unit / Adapter 120 watts 120 watts 100 watts
AC Input Power Voltage 100V to 240V AC 100V to 240V AC 100V to 240V AC
Power Frequency 50/60 Hz, Single Phase 50/60 Hz, Single Phase 50/60 Hz, Single Phase
Power Consumption* 52.06 watts (Access)
16.71 watts (HDD Hibernation)
44.56 watts (Access)
13.63 watts (HDD Hibernation)
37.91 watts (Access)
12.33 watts (HDD Hibernation)
British Thermal Unit 177.64 BTU/hr (Access)
57.02 BTU/hr (HDD Hibernation)
151.95 BTU/hr (Access)
46.48 BTU/hr (HDD Hibernation)
129.27 BTU/hr (Access)
42.05 BTU/hr (HDD Hibernation)

The DS1522+, launched in mid-2022, was one of Synology’s most widely praised 5-bay NAS systems, with an excellent price-to-performance ratio. It featured the AMD Ryzen R1600 processor (dual-core, 4-thread) and came with 8GB of ECC memory, a PCIe Gen 3 slot for 10GbE upgrades, and four Gigabit Ethernet ports for flexible network configurations. The DS1525+ modernizes and refines that package. While it drops the PCIe slot, it replaces it with native 2.5GbE networking — removing the need for upgrades just to get faster-than-Gigabit speeds. It also improves processor efficiency with the more capable V1500B CPU (same as in the enterprise-grade DS1823xs+) and retains support for up to 32GB of ECC RAM. Additionally, the M.2 NVMe slots in the DS1525+ support both caching and storage pools — unlike earlier models where storage pool creation was either unsupported or limited to Synology-only drives.

Which of these NAS systems is right for you comes down to a blend of performance needs, scalability goals, and budget. The DS1525+ offers a more future-proof solution with high raw performance, 5-bay storage out of the box, superior expansion support (up to 15 drives), and a modern networking stack with 2.5GbE ports included as standard. It’s ideal for content creators with large media libraries, teams running shared services or VMs, or businesses needing long-term flexibility. The DS925+, on the other hand, is the budget-conscious user’s pick — priced lower and providing nearly identical internal hardware, but in a more compact 4-bay enclosure with no option to scale beyond that. If you’re confident you won’t need more than 4 drives and don’t require 10GbE or PCIe expansion, the DS925+ still provides DSM 7.2 and Synology’s excellent software ecosystem without compromise. Finally, for users still holding onto the DS1522+ or considering it due to its often discounted price post-DS1525+ launch, it’s worth weighing the trade-offs. While the DS1522+ provides a PCIe slot for 10GbE expansion, it lags behind in CPU power, lacks 2.5GbE out of the box, and doesn’t support NVMe storage pools. The DS1525+ is clearly the better long-term investment — if the price difference fits your budget. For users looking for the right balance of power, performance, and scalability — without needing to jump to the pricier XS series — it may well be the best 5-bay Synology NAS to date.

Synology DS1525+ NAS – HDD and SSD Compatibility

One of the biggest points of contention with the new Synology DS1525+ — following the controversy sparked by the DS925+ — is Synology’s stricter enforcement of drive compatibility. Historically, Synology supported a broad range of third-party hard drives and SSDs, merely issuing warning messages when unsupported drives were used. That changed with the DS925+, and the DS1525+ appears to double down on this new policy. At launch, the DS1525+ only lists Synology-branded HDDs and SSDs — such as the HAT3300, HAT5300, SAT5200, and SNV3400 — as officially compatible. If users attempt to initialize DSM using a drive not listed, the system will block installation entirely. This is a significant departure from earlier models like the DS1522+ or DS920+, which allowed DSM installation with third-party drives, even if accompanied by warning banners.

This tighter control extends to both SATA HDDs and M.2 NVMe SSDs. In the DS1525+, users can no longer use third-party NVMe SSDs for even basic caching — a feature previously accessible with non-Synology drives. Storage pools and caching are now restricted to Synology’s own SNV-series drives. This limitation can be a deal-breaker for users with existing SSDs or those seeking more affordable alternatives.

Drive migration from older NAS systems still works, with volumes booting as expected — but warning messages about unverified drives will be persistent. Moreover, trying to expand existing storage pools with unlisted drives will now fail outright, blocking the option in Storage Manager unless using Synology-verified models. While Synology cites system reliability and long-term support as reasons for these restrictions, the user base has expressed growing frustration. This new approach marks a clear shift toward a walled ecosystem, and while it may enhance stability, it reduces flexibility — especially for enthusiasts and IT professionals used to Synology’s former openness.

Synology DS1522+ NAS Release Date and Price?

The Synology DS1525+ NAS is expected to see a staggered global release, continuing the rollout pattern observed with the DS925+ and other 2025 series models. Initial availability is anticipated in Synology’s eastern markets — including Taiwan, China, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand — with Western availability (North America, UK, and Europe) likely landing in late May or early June 2025. This regional launch strategy has become common for Synology, allowing them to manage early feedback and firmware polishing before global distribution.

As for pricing, early indicators suggest that the DS1525+ will launch between $699 and $799 USD, depending on local taxes and bundled accessories (such as pre-installed memory or included drives). This places it squarely between the DS925+ ($599–$649) and the older DS1522+, which has often dipped below $550 in recent sales due to its older hardware and limited upgradability. Despite being the most expensive of the trio, the DS1525+ justifies its price tag with enhanced default memory, greater expansion potential, and retained PCIe support for optional 10GbE — features notably absent on the DS925+.

While Synology has yet to officially confirm regional pricing or exact release dates, retail listings and early distribution documents hint that pre-orders and launch events may begin rolling out in key Asian markets before the end of May. As always, early adopters should watch Synology’s official channels and trusted retailers for updates, especially considering recent trends toward drive bundling and tighter ecosystem control. For those who waited for a more robust refresh of the DS1522+, the DS1525+ is shaping up to be the spiritual and practical successor many had hoped for.

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Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions
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Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

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