Le Minisforum N5 Max avait été présenté lors du CES 2026, mais on en sait désormais davantage à son sujet. Le constructeur a officialisé son prix ainsi que sa date de lancement. Avec son processeur AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395, ce NAS à 5 baies s’annonce comme l’un des modèles les plus puissants jamais commercialisés sur le marché du stockage réseau. Voici ce qu’il faut retenir…

Minisforum N5 Max

Minisforum s’est imposé depuis 2018 comme un spécialiste reconnu des Mini PC performants. En 2025, la marque avait déjà fait une première percée sur le marché des NAS avec le N5 Pro, un modèle aux caractéristiques particulièrement ambitieuses.

Avec le N5 Max, le constructeur conserve le même châssis compact que les autres modèles de la gamme N5. L’appareil mesure 199 × 202,4 × 252,3 mm pour un poids d’environ 5 kg.

Ce nouveau boîtier embarque 5 baies SATA et 5 emplacements M.2 NVMe  (1 slot PCIe 4.0 x4 et 4 slots PCIe 4.0 x1). Un SSD de 128 Go préinstallé accueille le système d’exploitation et occupe l’un des emplacements NVMe.

Le Minisforum N5 Max est construit autour d’un processeur AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (capable d’atteindre 5,1 GHz), épaulé par un iGPU Radeon 8060S, ainsi qu’un NPU affichant une puissance de 126 TOPS (tera-opérations par seconde). Le NAS serait livré avec 64 Go de mémoire LPDDR5x (non extensible).

Vous l’aurez compris, Minisforum positionne clairement ce modèle comme un véritable serveur local dédié à l’intelligence artificielle. L’objectif est de permettre l’exécution locale de modèles IA, sans dépendre d’infrastructures cloud externes. Selon le site PassMark, ce processeur obtient 55 141 points… un niveau de performances bien éloigné des configurations habituellement. À noter que le fabricant annonce un TDP de 55W.

Connectique

Le N5 Max ne fait aucun compromis côté connectivité. Le boîtier intègre notamment :

• 2 ports RJ45 10 Gb/s ;
• 2 ports USB4 à 80 Gb/s ;
• 1 port USB4 à 40 Gb/s ;
• 1 sortie audio-vidéo HDMI 2.1.

Une fiche technique qui vise clairement les usages professionnels avancés, le traitement de données massif ou encore les workflows vidéo lourds.

MinisCloud OS et MinisOpenClaw : l’IA locale au centre du projet

Le système maison MinisCloud OS intègre la plateforme MinisOpenClaw (OpenClaw préinstallé). Celle-ci propose un assistant IA local (images et vidéos déjà pris en charge, support de tous les fichiers prévu d’ici la fin du troisième trimestre 2026), une recherche sémantique, la gestion de snapshots ZFS, des machines virtuelles, l’isolation multicomptes et un contrôle de permissions en un clic (cette dernière devrait arriver un peu plus tard, d’ici fin 2026). L’objectif affiché est clair : offrir de l’IA générative et du traitement de données localement, sans dépendance au cloud.

Prix et disponibilité

Ce nouveau NAS vise les professionnels qui travaillent sur des fichiers lourds, les entreprises qui souhaitent exécuter des modèles d’IA locaux sans passer par un fournisseur cloud… ou encore les particuliers les plus exigeants.

Le N5 Max serait vendu 2 899 $ (prix en euro non dévoilé pour le moment) dans une configuration incluant 64 Go de RAM et le SSD système de 128 Go. Pour comparaison, le N5 Pro (Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370) démarre à 959€ et le N5 Air (Ryzen 7 255) débute à 559€.

Le N5 Max occupe donc clairement le sommet de la gamme, avec un écart tarifaire significatif justifié par une puissance de calcul sans équivalent dans ce segment.

Minisforum N5 Max NAS UPDATE

The Minisforum N5 Max was originally shown in January 2026 during CES 2026 as the next step in the company’s 5 bay NAS series, following the N5 Pro that arrived in summer 2025 and later sitting above the N5 Air that was introduced in February 2026. At that stage, most of the information around the system came from early hands on coverage, reveal material, and first wave specification details, which meant some elements were still provisional or inconsistent depending on source. Now, in April 2026, the picture around the N5 Max is much clearer. Minisforum has provided a more defined specification set, a clearer description of the hardware layout, and a much stronger explanation of how the system is intended to be positioned, not just as another compact 5 bay NAS, but as a higher tier platform that combines local AI capability, multi tier storage, and more advanced infrastructure features. This update is therefore intended to bring the original January reveal into line with what is currently known, clarify where earlier CES details have since been refined, and set out the N5 Max as it stands now based on the latest available information.

Minisforum N5 Max NAS Design and Storage

The N5 Max keeps the same broad chassis direction first seen in the earlier N5 systems, using a compact 5 bay enclosure that supports both 3.5 inch and 2.5 inch SATA drives. Physically, it remains very close to the N5 Pro and N5 Air in footprint, with the April 2026 dimensions now listed at 199 × 202.4 × 252.3 mm and a base unit weight of 5 kg. That means Minisforum has not redesigned the platform into a larger desktop tower, but instead chosen to scale capability within the same general enclosure class that defined the rest of the series.

One of the more visible design changes carried over from the original January reveal is the inclusion of lockable drive trays. That may seem like a small revision, but it directly addresses one of the practical complaints raised around the earlier N5 generation. Minisforum is also still using the pull out internal layout, where the main board and flash storage area can be accessed through a more service friendly internal assembly rather than a completely fixed internal frame.

In structural terms, the N5 Max remains very much part of the same family, but it has been revised in several small ways that make it look more mature than the first N5 design.

On the hard drive side, the N5 Max is now specified with 5 SATA 3.0 bays supporting up to 30 TB per bay, giving the system a stated raw HDD ceiling of 150 TB before any NVMe storage is counted. Minisforum also lists the platform as supporting up to 190 TB total storage overall. Compared with the 22 TB per drive guidance attached to earlier N5 series documentation, this higher ceiling does not change the number of bays, but it does position the Max for a higher total capacity target within the same physical format. As with most NAS vendors, real world drive compatibility will still depend on validation over time, but the intent is clearly to place the N5 Max above the earlier models in maximum raw storage potential.

Flash storage is where the N5 Max diverges most clearly from the N5 Pro and N5 Air. Instead of the mixed M.2 and U.2 style arrangement used on those systems, the N5 Max is now described as having 5 M.2 NVMe positions in total. The current April 2026 specification lists 1 × M.2 2280 NVMe slot running at PCIe 4.0 x4 with support up to 8 TB, plus 4 × M.2 2280 NVMe slots running at PCIe 4.0 x1 with support up to 8 TB each. Minisforum also states that the system disk is a preinstalled 64 GB module occupying 1 of those SSD positions, which is relevant because it affects how many slots are immediately free to the user out of the box.

That layout gives the N5 Max a storage structure that is more layered than the earlier N5 models, with large capacity HDDs handling primary bulk storage while multiple NVMe slots can be used for cache, active project data, containers, VM storage, model files, or application workloads. It also fits the broader April 2026 positioning of the unit as a system meant to keep more data in an active state rather than simply acting as a passive archive box. The tradeoff is that the Max no longer appears to prioritize the same U.2 flexibility seen on the N5 Pro and N5 Air, instead leaning harder into a denser onboard M.2 arrangement within the same 5 bay chassis.

Minisforum N5 Max NAS Internal Hardware

The N5 Max is built around the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395, a 16 core, 32 thread processor with a 3 GHz base frequency and boost up to 5.1 GHz. Minisforum lists the chip with Radeon 8060S integrated graphics featuring 40 graphics cores, alongside AMD Ryzen AI support rated at up to 126 TOPS overall and up to 50 TOPS on the NPU. In simple terms, this places the N5 Max in a very different compute class to the original N5 and above the N5 Pro as well, making it much closer to a compact workstation platform than a conventional 5 bay NAS in processor terms.

Memory is also handled very differently from the rest of the series. Rather than using upgradeable SO-DIMM slots, the N5 Max is listed with 128 GB of LPDDR5x memory on a 256 bit interface, with support references of 7500 to 8000 MT/s depending on source. That fixed memory design should provide substantially more bandwidth than the socketed DDR5 approach in the N5 Pro and N5 Air, which matters for integrated graphics and local AI workloads, but it also removes user upgrade flexibility. This is one of the clearest examples of Minisforum prioritizing performance density over long term modularity in the Max model.

Cooling and power delivery have also been scaled up to match that higher tier hardware. Minisforum lists a cooling system built around 5 heat pipes with PCM, dual 80 × 15 mm turbo fans for the CPU area, dual 92 × 25 mm axial fans for the HDD section, and a separate 60 × 12 mm turbo fan for the SSD and PSU area. Power is now handled by an internal 250 W supply with AC input built directly into the chassis, replacing the external brick used on the earlier N5 systems. Taken together, these changes suggest that the N5 Max is not simply using a faster CPU in the same shell, but has been reworked internally to support higher sustained load, denser flash storage, and a more integrated overall design.

Minisforum N5 Max NAS Connectivity

The N5 Max keeps the same broad I/O philosophy as the rest of the N5 family, but with a more aggressive top end specification. On the front, Minisforum lists 1 × USB4 port with DisplayPort Alt Mode 2.0 support and 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 port. On the rear, the system is listed with 2 × USB4 v2, 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1 × USB 2.0, 1 × HDMI 2.1 FRL, and 1 × AC input. There is also still an internal PCIe x16 slot operating at PCIe 4.0 x4, which means the N5 Max continues to support internal expansion in the same general way as the earlier N5 systems.

Networking is one of the areas where the April 2026 information has become more specific, but it is also where earlier coverage created some confusion. The latest specification material lists 2 × 10GbE LAN ports using Realtek RTL8127 controllers. That differs from some earlier CES era references that described 1 × 10GbE plus 1 × 5GbE, and it also differs from the N5 Pro and N5 Air, which were generally presented as 10GbE plus 5GbE systems. Based on the most recent material now available, the safest reading is that the N5 Max is currently positioned as a dual 10GbE model, though that was not consistently communicated in the earliest reveal phase.

Display and high speed external bandwidth are also stronger on the N5 Max than on the other N5 variants. Minisforum lists video output support through HDMI and USB4, with the current specification stating up to 8K at 60 Hz or 4K at 144 Hz. More notably, the USB configuration now includes 2 × USB4 v2 connections, which is a substantial increase in external bandwidth compared with standard USB4 implementations. In practical terms, that gives the N5 Max a better fit for high speed external storage, direct attach workflows, fast ingest tasks, and display connectivity, while reinforcing that this system is being pitched as more than just a standard network storage appliance.

What Can You Do with the Minisforum N5 Max NAS

At the most basic level, the N5 Max can still be understood as a compact 5 bay NAS for centralised storage, backup, and multi user file access. With support for up to 150 TB of raw HDD capacity across its SATA bays, plus additional NVMe storage for faster tiers, it can be used for the same core roles as more traditional NAS systems, including shared folders, media libraries, workstation backups, and project archives. The difference is that Minisforum is not presenting it as a storage box first and everything else second. Instead, the current messaging places storage alongside compute and local services as equal parts of the platform.

The second role is as a higher performance working data system for users who need more than simple network storage. The combination of 5 HDD bays, multiple NVMe slots, dual 10GbE, PCIe expansion, and high speed USB4 v2 means the N5 Max is better suited to active workloads than a typical 5 bay desktop NAS. That can include media production, large photo libraries, virtual machine storage, container workloads, active project caching, and heavier multi user access. In that sense, the N5 Max sits closer to a compact storage server or workstation adjacent appliance than to an entry level NAS.

The third and most distinctive role is local AI processing. Minisforum’s March 2026 positioning pushes the N5 Max as a platform for private AI workloads running directly on the device rather than through cloud services. The company has specifically highlighted OpenClaw deployment on local LLMs, semantic photo search, voice to text, summarisation, smart organisation, and a more unified AI assistant style interface inside its software environment. Whether all of those functions arrive in the same form and at the same maturity level at launch remains something that still needs real world validation, but the intended direction is clearly toward keeping both data and AI interactions local.

For more advanced users, the N5 Max is also being framed as a private infrastructure platform rather than only an appliance. Minisforum has attached features such as ZFS, snapshots, virtualization, Docker, UPS support, and stronger permission control to the product direction, which broadens its appeal beyond simple home storage. That means the N5 Max could be used not just for storing files or running AI assisted search, but also for self hosting services, managing recoverable local data pools, running isolated applications, or building a more controlled homelab environment around the same hardware.

Minisforum N5 Max Price & Release Date

As of April 6, 2026, Minisforum still does not appear to have published an official retail price or a confirmed shipping date for the N5 Max. The company’s March 11 announcement described the system as “to-be-launched,” and contemporaneous reporting also noted that pricing and release timing had not yet been announced. That means the N5 Max remains in a pre-release stage from a commercial point of view, even though the hardware platform, software direction, and much of the specification set are now clearer than they were during the original January CES reveal.

What can be said with more confidence is where the N5 Max is likely to sit within the existing Minisforum NAS range. On Minisforum’s current store listings, the N5 Air is shown at $519 sale price on the official store home page, the base N5 is shown at $599, and the N5 Pro is shown at $959, while no live product listing or price is currently visible there for the N5 Max. Given the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 platform, fixed 128 GB LPDDR5x memory, internal 250 W PSU, and broader AI focused positioning, it is reasonable to expect the N5 Max to land above the N5 Pro rather than alongside it, but until Minisforum formally opens orders or publishes a listing, that remains an informed expectation rather than a confirmed launch price.

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Minisforum N5 AIR NAS Review – A Lighter Better Way?

Minisforum entered the NAS market in Summer 2025 with the N5 and N5 Pro, 2 closely related 5 bay systems that stood out for combining a compact desktop form factor with relatively high-end AMD hardware, 10GbE plus 5GbE networking, and less common expansion features such as OCuLink and a PCIe slot. Between the 2, the N5 Pro drew more attention for its Ryzen AI CPU and ECC memory support, while the standard N5 was generally the more accessible option because it retained most of the same chassis design and connectivity at a much lower entry price. That first generation also established the basic identity of the range, namely a compact 5 bay NAS platform aimed more at prosumer and homelab users than at the usual entry-level turnkey NAS audience (albeit, with some bumps along the road in the first wave of devices – more on that in a bit).

The N5 Air now appears to take over that lower tier position in the lineup, sitting beneath the N5 Pro and alongside the higher end N5 Max that Minisforum previewed more recently. In practical terms, the N5 Air does not radically change the formula of the original N5, because it keeps the same Ryzen 7 255 CPU class, the same broad 5 bay plus NVMe storage approach, and the same expansion-minded design philosophy. What it changes is the balance of cost, materials, and positioning. The result is a system that looks intended to preserve the strengths of the original N5 platform while making the entry point slightly lower and the product identity within the range a little clearer.

Minisforum N5 AIR Review – Quick Conclusion

The Minisforum N5 Air is best viewed as a lower-cost refinement of the original N5 rather than a major new generation. It keeps the same core strengths that made the 2025 N5 notable, including a compact 5 bay design, Ryzen 7 255 CPU, Radeon 780M graphics, 10GbE plus 5GbE networking, 3x internal NVMe slots, OCuLink, and a PCIe x16 physical slot running at PCIe 4.0 x4, which still gives it a broader hardware feature set than many similarly sized NAS systems. The main changes are in positioning and materials, with a lighter plastic-led chassis, a more practical matte finish, and a lower entry price, making it easier to see as the current entry point in the N5 family. Storage flexibility remains one of its strongest points, with 5 SATA bays for bulk capacity and 3 NVMe slots for cache, containers, VMs, or faster working storage, while the slide-out internal design and socketed DDR5 memory up to 96 GB help keep the platform user-serviceable and upgrade-friendly. Performance appears solid for the class, with enough CPU and storage headroom for multi-hundred MB/s file operations, easy saturation of 10GbE from NVMe storage, reasonable idle power draw for an AMD-based NAS, and enough media capability for direct playback and general multimedia duties, even if AMD still lacks the same simple transcoding appeal as Intel in some setups.

The weaker side remains MinisCloud OS, which is functional and includes ZFS snapshots, compression, Docker, remote access, media tools, and mobile apps, but still does not feel as polished or mature as the hardware deserves, making the N5 Air easier to justify as a hardware-first purchase than as a fully rounded turnkey NAS appliance. That distinction matters, because buyers planning to use TrueNAS, Unraid, or another third-party NAS OS will likely find the value proposition much stronger than buyers expecting a highly refined out-of-box software experience. There is also some broader platform context, as early N5 and N5 Pro units drew user discussion online around first-wave storage and controller-related issues on some systems, though later production appeared more stable and there is no basis to treat that as a confirmed N5 Air problem. Overall, the N5 Air is a practical and well-specified NAS platform that retains most of what made the original N5 relevant, and while it is not the most polished turnkey NAS in software terms, it remains a strong option for users who prioritise compact size, flexible storage, multi-gig networking, and expansion over software maturity alone.

BUILD QUALITY - 9/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 8/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.2

PROS

5 bay SATA design in a relatively compact desktop footprint, in a space you would normamlly find 4x SATA
3x internal NVMe slots for cache, apps, VMs, or faster storage tiers
10GbE + 5GbE networking included as standard
PCIe x16 physical expansion slot wired at PCIe 4.0 x4
OCuLink support for external PCIe or eGPU expansion
User-upgradeable DDR5 SO-DIMM memory up to 96 GB
Lower entry price than the earlier N5 while keeping most of the same core hardware
Slide-out internal design makes memory and SSD upgrades easier than on many compact NAS systems
 Change in design has resulted in a price drop vs the original N5 Model and noticably cheaper than N5 Pro (2025)

CONS

MinisCloud OS still feels unfinished compared with more established NAS software platforms
Plastic-led chassis may be seen as a downgrade in build feel versus the earlier metal-heavy N5 design
No ECC memory support, unlike the N5 Pro
Included 64 GB OS drive occupies part of the internal SSD footprint

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Minisforum N5 AIR Review – Design & Storage

At a glance, the N5 Air remains very close to the chassis concept established by the earlier N5 and N5 Pro. It uses the same compact 199 × 202 × 252 mm footprint, the same 5 bay desktop layout, and the same slide-out internal assembly that allows access to memory, NVMe storage, and internal expansion without dismantling the whole enclosure. That layout still makes the system easier to service than many compact NAS designs in this size class, particularly for users who expect to upgrade memory or flash storage after purchase. Minisforum has kept the internal structure largely unchanged, so the Air still feels more like a revision of an existing platform than a ground-up redesign.

The main physical change is in the external construction. Where the earlier N5 and N5 Pro leaned more heavily on a metal outer shell, the N5 Air shifts to a more plastic-heavy chassis and a revised front finish. That change reduces the quoted weight from 5 kg to 4 kg, which is significant in relative terms for a desktop NAS of this size, but it also changes the character of the system.

The original front panel treatment on the N5 generation was prone to showing fingerprints quite easily, so the move to a more matte presentation is arguably more practical. At the same time, the change away from a more metal-heavy enclosure may lead some buyers to question long-term thermals and overall build perception, even if the basic form factor remains the same.

In storage terms, the N5 Air continues to offer 5 SATA drive bays for 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch media, with Minisforum quoting support for up to 30 TB per bay and a total raw HDD capacity of up to 150 TB. Alongside that, it includes 3 internal M.2 NVMe slots, with a claimed ceiling of up to 8 TB per slot, taking total flash capacity to a further 24 TB. As with the earlier N5 platform, the design is clearly intended to separate bulk storage and faster flash tiers in a flexible way, whether that is for caching, containers, VMs, or all-flash working datasets alongside larger HDD pools. The preinstalled 64 GB OS storage also occupies 1 of those internal SSD positions, which remains a practical inclusion for a turnkey setup but does still consume part of the internal flash footprint.

Minisforum continues to position the N5 Air around mixed media deployment and ZFS-oriented storage management, with support listed for RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 or RAIDZ1, RAID 6 or RAIDZ2, snapshots, and LZ4 compression within MinisCloud OS. The system is therefore being presented less as a fixed-purpose home NAS and more as a compact storage platform that can be adapted for archive storage, media serving, backup tasks, and lighter virtualization.

It is also worth noting, as platform context rather than as a direct criticism of this model, that some early N5 and N5 Pro units drew user complaints online around SATA-side stability and storage behavior under certain workloads, although those reports appeared inconsistent across users and later production units seemed to fare better. That background does not confirm any equivalent issue on the N5 Air, but it remains part of the lineage around this hardware family.

Minisforum N5 AIR Review – Internal Hardware

The N5 Air is built around the AMD Ryzen 7 255, an 8-core, 16-thread processor with boost up to 4.9 GHz and a stated 45 W to 55 W operating range. In practical terms, this places it in the same compute tier as the original N5 rather than the N5 Pro, which used the more capable Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370. That distinction matters because the N5 Air is not trying to move upmarket on raw CPU throughput. Instead, it keeps the same general processing profile as the earlier standard model, which is still relatively strong for a 5 bay NAS in this size class and substantially above the level of entry ARM or Intel N100 based systems.

Graphics are handled by the integrated Radeon 780M, again matching the original N5 and sitting below the Radeon 890M found in the Pro model. For NAS duties, that matters less in terms of display output and more in relation to media handling, accelerated workloads, and light edge compute. Minisforum continues to market the platform around AI-adjacent use cases, Docker deployments, and media serving, but the Air is clearly the more modest version of that vision. It can still support eGPU expansion over OCuLink and accepts a PCIe add-in card internally, so the compute story here is less about the onboard silicon alone and more about the range of hardware paths the system leaves open.

Memory remains user-upgradeable through 2 DDR5 SO-DIMM slots with support for up to 96 GB at 5600 MT/s, but unlike the N5 Pro there is no ECC support listed. That keeps the Air aligned with the original N5 and preserves one of the more important practical differences between the standard and Pro classes. In a market where some newer compact NAS systems are moving toward soldered memory, Minisforum retaining socketed DDR5 remains relevant because it gives buyers flexibility over cost and capacity at the point of purchase and later on. That said, buyers specifically looking for ECC-backed storage integrity or heavier VM density will still view the N5 Pro as the more appropriate tier in the lineup.

From a platform perspective, the N5 Air also appears to keep the same broad internal topology as the earlier N5 generation, including the split NVMe lane arrangement and the dedicated SATA controller architecture behind the 5 drive bays. That continuity is useful for understanding where the Air sits, but it also means some of the discussion around the earlier units still forms part of the background. In particular, some first-wave N5 and N5 Pro users reported online issues around controller behavior, power management, and storage-side stability under certain operating conditions, although those reports did not appear universal and later units seemed to be less affected. For the N5 Air, the important point is not to assume the same fault is present, but to recognise that this is still an evolution of an existing hardware platform rather than a completely new internal design.

Minisforum N5 AIR Review – Ports and Connections

The N5 Air keeps the same broad external I/O philosophy as the earlier N5 and N5 Pro, which is to say it offers a level of connectivity that is notably more flexible than most compact 5 bay NAS systems in this price bracket. On the rear, it includes 1x 10GbE RJ45 port, 1x 5GbE RJ45 port, 1x OCuLink port, 1x HDMI 2.1 output, 1x USB4 port, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, and 1x USB 2.0 port. On the front, there is an additional USB4 port and a further USB 3.2 Gen 2 port. Taken together, that gives the Air a more workstation-like I/O profile than a conventional closed NAS appliance.

Networking remains one of the more important features of the system. The N5 Air uses a 10GbE port based on the Realtek RTL8127 and a 5GbE port based on the Realtek RTL8126. Compared with the earlier N5 and N5 Pro, which paired the 5GbE port with Realtek but often used an AQC113 controller for 10GbE, this means the Air moves to a more consistent dual-Realtek controller setup. Functionally, the headline remains the same, namely that the system can support multi-gig client access well beyond standard 2.5GbE NAS territory, whether for direct workstation links, faster switch uplinks, or more demanding shared file workloads.

The USB4 and OCuLink support continue to define the range more than any of the USB-A ports do. Minisforum still positions the USB4 implementation not just as a display or peripheral connection, but also as part of direct host connectivity and higher speed external workflows. Alongside that, OCuLink remains unusual in a NAS at this level and gives the system a route toward external PCIe-based expansion such as eGPU support or other bandwidth-sensitive devices. Internally, the machine also retains a PCIe x16 physical slot wired at PCIe 4.0 x4, which means the external I/O is only part of the expansion story, not the whole of it.

Video output support is also unchanged in broad terms, with HDMI and USB4 both listed for high resolution display output, including up to 8K at 60 Hz or 4K at 144 Hz. For most NAS buyers this will not be a deciding factor in itself, but it does align with Minisforum’s attempt to present the N5 family as more than simple storage boxes. The Air can be used as a direct-attached media endpoint, a light desktop-style appliance, or a hybrid storage and compute system in ways that many traditional NAS systems do not attempt. Whether that added flexibility is necessary will depend on the deployment, but in terms of raw connectivity the N5 Air remains unusually well equipped for its class.

Minisforum N5 AIR Review – Noise, Heat, Power Use and Speed Tests

In testing, the N5 Air broadly behaves as expected for a NAS built around the same Ryzen 7 255 platform as the earlier N5. In day to day storage tasks, its behaviour is less defined by the CPU alone and more by the mix of storage media and network configuration being used. With HDD storage in place, the system was able to deliver around 650 MB/s read and roughly 500 to 525 MB/s write in RAID-based testing with 4 Seagate 4 TB drives, which is consistent with a multi-bay SATA array operating below the ceiling of the available 10GbE connection. When the system was tested with SATA SSDs instead, throughput moved closer to 800 MB/s in both directions, showing that the platform itself is not especially constrained at the CPU level in routine NAS workloads.

The internal NVMe storage naturally sits above that level and has little difficulty saturating the 10GbE interface. That is not especially surprising given the lane arrangement already seen in the earlier N5 generation, but it does reinforce the intended role of the 3 M.2 slots inside the Air. Used as fast working storage, cache, or application space, those slots allow the system to do more than simply serve as a 5 bay archive NAS. At the same time, buyers should remain realistic about the PCIe layout, because while the presence of 3 NVMe slots is useful, the available bandwidth is still split across x1, x1, and x2 links rather than full x4 across all slots. For NAS tasks that is generally acceptable, but it remains a design tradeoff rather than a fully unrestricted flash platform.

On acoustics and thermals, the N5 Air appears reasonably controlled. With SATA SSDs used to remove the variable of mechanical drive noise, idle noise was reported at around 35 to 38 dBA, while under higher CPU load and more aggressive fan settings this rose to around 46 to 48 dBA. Those figures place it in a fairly typical range for a compact performance-oriented desktop NAS, though not a silent one. Thermal imaging during testing showed mostly moderate external surface temperatures, generally in the high 20s to high 30s Celsius depending on area, which suggests that the cooling design remains broadly competent despite the move from a more metal-heavy chassis to a lighter plastic-led enclosure. Even so, the long-term thermal behaviour of the plastic revision is something that only extended real-world use will fully answer.

Power draw is one of the more practical areas where the N5 Air remains competitive. With SATA SSDs installed and the system otherwise idle, power use was around 26 to 27 W, rising to around 81 to 83 W under full CPU load. As always, those figures need context because populated HDD bays will raise the baseline by several watts per drive, especially with larger enterprise-class disks. Still, the base system draw is reasonable for this class of AMD-based NAS. In performance terms, media playback also looked acceptable for direct play workloads, with an 8K 60 fps test file reportedly using only around 9 to 11 percent CPU in playback, though transcoding remains a less clear-cut strength on AMD than on current Intel NAS platforms. The practical reading is that the N5 Air has enough performance for file serving, containers, lighter VMs, and media duties, but it is the storage and expansion balance that defines it more than any single benchmark figure.

Minisforum N5 AIR Review – Miniscloud OS NAS Software

The N5 Air ships with MinisCloud OS preinstalled on the included 64 GB system SSD, continuing Minisforum’s approach of treating the software stack as part of the out-of-box experience rather than expecting every buyer to start immediately with a third-party NAS OS. In practical terms, the platform remains centred on a ZFS-based storage model with built-in snapshots, LZ4 compression, multi-user account separation, remote access features, and container deployment. The interface is available across desktop, mobile, and local system access, and it is clearly intended to present the N5 Air as a turnkey NAS rather than only as bare hardware for TrueNAS, Unraid, or OpenMediaVault users.

In general use, MinisCloud OS appears functional but still not especially mature. Core tasks such as pool creation, snapshot management, file access, user permissions, and backup jobs are present and reasonably straightforward to work through, but the overall design still lacks the consistency seen in more established NAS platforms. Different parts of the interface can feel as though they were developed with different design priorities, and the result is a system that works in broad terms without always feeling cohesive. That does not make it unusable, but it does make it harder to treat the software as a primary buying reason in the same way buyers might with Synology DSM or QNAP QTS.

The feature set itself is relatively broad on paper. MinisCloud OS includes Docker deployment, VM tools, AI-assisted photo indexing, media playback, Time Machine support, remote sharing, and mobile-led backup functions, along with HDMI output management for local media use. Some of these features are more convincing than others.

The mobile application appears more polished and coherent than the desktop client in several areas, and basic backup or file access tasks seem better aligned there. By contrast, some system-level controls still feel incomplete, with examples including missing fan control in software, uneven interface presentation, and gaps around security and broader service maturity that make the platform feel like an actively developing beta rather than a fully settled NAS OS.

That remains the main software conclusion for the N5 Air just as it was for the earlier N5 and N5 Pro. MinisCloud OS is useful as an included baseline and may be enough for buyers who want simple storage, remote access, and a handful of bundled services without much setup effort.

However, it still feels secondary to the hardware rather than central to the value of the product. Most buyers considering this system are likely to be doing so because of the chassis, networking, expansion, and CPU platform first, with the included OS treated as a starting point rather than the final destination.

Minisforum N5 AIR Review – Verdict and Conclusion

The Minisforum N5 Air does not substantially reinvent the N5 formula, but that appears to be a deliberate choice rather than a limitation in itself. In hardware terms, it keeps most of what made the original N5 relevant, including the Ryzen 7 255 platform, 5 bay storage layout, 3 NVMe slots, 10GbE plus 5GbE networking, OCuLink support, and the internal PCIe expansion slot. What has changed is mostly around materials, controller choices, and pricing. The move to a lighter plastic-led chassis and a revised front finish helps separate it physically from the earlier model, while the controller revisions and lower asking price make it easier to position as the more accessible member of the current range. In that sense, the N5 Air is best understood as a practical rework of the standard N5 rather than a major new generation, and for many buyers that may be enough.

That said, the balance of this system depends heavily on what the buyer expects from it. The hardware remains the strongest part of the package, particularly for users who value expandability, multi-gig networking, and a compact chassis that does more than a conventional 5 bay NAS in the same price range. At the same time, the software side still feels less mature than the hardware deserves, and the shift away from the older metal-heavy chassis may not appeal to everyone. Buyers planning to install a third-party NAS OS will likely view the N5 Air as a strong value-oriented platform with relatively few direct alternatives at this size and price. Buyers looking for a polished turnkey NAS with refined software, longer platform maturity, and fewer open questions may take a more cautious view. Overall, the N5 Air is a capable and well-specified NAS platform with a clear use case, but it remains easier to recommend on hardware merits than as a fully rounded appliance.

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Minisforum New Minisforum N5 Max and N5 Air NAS Revealed

Minisforum used CES 2026 to extend its 5 bay N5 NAS lineup with 2 new models, the N5 Max and the N5 Air, building on the original N5 and the better known N5 Pro that arrived in Summer 2025. The N5 Pro drew a lot of attention in the small form factor NAS space because it combined a compact 5 drive chassis with higher end AMD mobile silicon, 10 GbE plus 5 GbE networking, and expansion options like OCuLink and a PCIe slot, all in a system that was positioned as approachable for homelab and prosumer storage. That visibility also meant its weaker points were discussed publicly, including practical items such as drive tray security and the use of an external power brick, alongside broader questions about how far the platform could scale without changing the chassis concept.

The CES 2026 announcements read as an attempt to answer those conversations while keeping the core N5 identity intact. The N5 Max is framed as the scale up option, keeping the modular approach but shifting to a higher tier CPU platform, moving to 128 GB of onboard LPDDR5x at 8000 MT/s, expanding internal NVMe options, and switching to a built-in 250 W PSU rather than an external adapter. Minisforum also points to a larger internal thermal solution, which fits the idea of sustaining heavier compute and storage workloads. In parallel, the N5 Air effectively replaces the originally positioned base N5, keeping the same overall layout and I/O concept but aiming at a more cost conscious configuration while still retaining features that defined the series, including multi-gig Ethernet and the same general expansion philosophy.

Minisforum N5 Max and N5 Air NAS Design & Storage

Across the N5 family, the core physical concept remains a compact 5 bay enclosure designed around 3.5 inch or 2.5 inch SATA drive trays, with the internal platform arranged to keep compute, cooling, and expansion in a relatively dense footprint. The N5 Max keeps that same overall direction but applies several practical design revisions that align with feedback around the earlier models. One visible change is the inclusion of lockable drive trays, addressing a small but commonly noted omission on the original implementation. Minisforum also continues to lean into a modular internal layout, where key components and storage areas are organized around a pull-out or service-friendly mechanism rather than a fully fixed internal frame.

For bulk storage, the N5 Max increases the stated per-bay ceiling to 30 TB per drive across its 5 SATA bays, compared with 22 TB per drive on the N5 Air, N5 Pro, and original N5 specifications. In practical terms, that suggests the Max is being positioned for higher raw capacity targets without changing the 5 bay limit, which keeps it in the same general footprint category as the earlier systems. The N5 Air retains the same 5 bay arrangement and chassis approach as the prior N5 tier, intended to preserve the basic storage layout while shifting the internal bill of materials. The N5 Pro and N5 remain closely aligned on the SATA side, both being specified for 5 bays and the same 22 TB per disk guidance (realistically, this is just a compatibility on HDDs that needs updating on the docs!).

The larger differentiation in this generation is on flash storage density and placement. The N5 Pro and original N5 were defined by a mix of 1 standard M.2 slot and 2 additional high capacity NVMe positions that could be populated via U.2 or longer M.2 formats, allowing up to 15 TB on those larger bays depending on configuration. The N5 Air keeps that general storage strategy, with an M.2 slot plus 2 NVMe positions that can be used as U.2 or longer M.2, including a PCIe 4.0 x2 lane allocation on 1 of those slots. The N5 Max shifts the emphasis toward multiple M.2 placements instead, listing 5 total NVMe positions across 2230 and 2280 formats with PCIe 4.0 lanes spread between x4 and multiple x1 links, and also highlighting that the additional NVMe options are split across both sides of the internal assembly rather than being confined to a single board-facing area.

Minisforum N5 Max and N5 Air Internal Hardware

The main divider between these systems is the compute platform. The N5 Max moves to an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395, a 16 core, 32 thread Zen 5 processor with boost up to 5.1 GHz and a default 55 W TDP, with configurable TDP listed at 45 to 120 W. It also integrates Radeon 8060S graphics with 40 compute units and advertises an AI engine capability up to 126 TOPS overall, including up to 50 TOPS on the NPU. By comparison, the N5 Air is specified with an AMD Ryzen 7 255 and Radeon 780M graphics, matching the original N5 tier orientation rather than the higher end Pro or Max positioning. The earlier N5 Pro used an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370, pairing a higher class CPU with Radeon 890M graphics and an NPU rating up to 50 TOPS, while the original N5 stayed in the Ryzen 7 255 class without an NPU listed.

Memory design is also handled differently across the lineup. The N5 Max is specified with 128 GB of LPDDR5x on a 256-bit interface running at 8000 MT/s, and it is described as soldered rather than socketed. That approach fixes capacity at the factory but aligns with the CPU platform’s native support for LPDDR5x-8000 and the 128 GB maximum in AMD’s published specifications. The N5 Pro and original N5 both used 2 DDR5 SO-DIMM slots with a stated ceiling of 96 GB at up to 5600 MT/s, with the key difference being ECC support on the N5 Pro and non-ECC on the N5. The N5 Air follows the same SO-DIMM approach and is specified as non-ECC, aligning it more closely with the original N5 than the N5 Pro.

Power delivery and thermals are presented as a direct area of revision on the N5 Max. It is specified with a built-in 250 W PSU, replacing the external power brick approach used on the N5 Air, N5 Pro, and original N5, which are listed with a DC 5525 19 V 14.73 A 280 W adapter. The N5 Max also adds a secondary power input option via USB-C PD at up to 140 W (20 V 7 A), which is described separately from the internal PSU. On cooling, the N5 Max is described as having a larger heatsink and a scaled-up cooling solution compared with earlier N5 designs, positioned to better match the higher tier CPU platform and the denser NVMe configuration.

Minsforum N5 Max and N5 Air – Ports and Connections

Minisforum keeps a consistent external I/O layout across the N5 family, centered on a mix of high speed USB, direct display output, and storage or expansion links. The N5 Max and N5 Air are both listed with a rear HDMI 2.1 FRL output and USB4 Type C that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode (DP 2.0). Both also retain OCuLink on the rear, which is typically used for attaching external PCIe storage or expansion hardware, plus additional USB ports split between rear and front for local peripherals and service access. Audio output is handled through HDMI and USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode rather than separate analog jacks.

Networking is positioned as a key feature, but the exact N5 Max configuration depends on which source you reference. The show floor description referenced 2 copper 10 GbE ports, while the specification set provided lists 1x 10 GbE (Realtek RTL8127) and 1x 5 GbE (Realtek RTL8126). The N5 Air matches the broader series approach with 1x 10 GbE (Realtek RTL8127) plus 1x 5 GbE (Realtek RTL8126). For the earlier N5 Pro and N5, the published configuration is also dual ports at 10 GbE plus 5 GbE, with the 10 GbE module listed as Marvell AQtion AQC113 and the 5 GbE module as Realtek RTL8126. Functionally, all of these configurations target multi-gig wired networking for faster client access, direct workstation links, or higher throughput to a switch.

USB4 capability is another differentiator on the N5 Max. The general port list shows USB4 on both the front and rear panels, while the additional connectivity notes for the Max indicate a combination of 2x USB4 v2 Type C ports capable of 80 Gbps or 120 Gbps operation, plus 1x USB4 Type C at 40 Gbps. Alongside USB4, the rear I/O includes USB 3.2 Gen 2 and USB 2.0, and the front adds another USB 3.2 Gen 2. Internally, all the N5 variants listed include a PCIe x16 physical slot wired for PCIe 4.0 x4, plus an internal USB 3.2 Gen 2 header or port, keeping the option open for add-in cards or internal devices without relying only on external ports.

Specification

Minisforum N5 Max

• LAN: 1x 10 GbE (RTL8127) + 1x 5 GbE (RTL8126) listed, 2x 10 GbE described in show floor discussion

• Rear: 1x USB4 (Alt DP 2.0), 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 1x OCuLink, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB 2.0

• Front: 1x USB4 (Alt DP 2.0), 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2

• Internal: 1x PCIe x16 slot (PCIe 4.0 x4), 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 header/port

• Video notes: HDMI 2.1 (4K 60), USB4 Type C 40 Gbps (Alt DP 2.0), USB4 v2 Type C up to 80/120 Gbps (Alt DP 2.0)

Minisforum N5 Air

• LAN: 1x 10 GbE (RTL8127) + 1x 5 GbE (RTL8126)

• Rear: 1x USB4 (Alt DP 2.0), 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 1x OCuLink, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB 2.0

• Front: 1x USB4 (Alt DP 2.0), 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2

• Internal: 1x PCIe x16 slot (PCIe 4.0 x4), 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 header/port

• Video notes: HDMI up to 8K 60 Hz or 4K 144 Hz, USB4 up to 8K 60 Hz or 4K 144 Hz

Minsforum N5 Max vs N5 Air vs N5 Pro NAS

For a straightforward view of where the lineup sits now, I compare the N5 Max, N5 Air, and the earlier N5 Pro side by side because they represent the clearest tiering of the platform. The N5 Max is the top spec option, built around the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and a fixed 128 GB LPDDR5x-8000 memory configuration, with a built-in 250 W PSU and a storage layout that shifts toward multiple M.2 slots alongside the 5 SATA bays. The N5 Air stays closer to the original N5 concept with a Ryzen 7 255 and 2 DDR5 SO-DIMM slots (non-ECC), while keeping the same general chassis approach, dual multi-gig networking, and the same style of rear I/O and expansion features. The N5 Pro remains the point of reference from Summer 2025 because it pairs a higher tier Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 with 2 DDR5 SO-DIMM slots that support ECC, while retaining the same 5 bay layout and the same overall connectivity concept. Where there are spec conflicts in early CES coverage, such as how many 10 GbE ports the N5 Max ultimately ships with, I treat the provided spec sheet values as the baseline and note the discrepancy separately.

Minsforum N5 Max and N5 Air – Conclusion

Taken together, the CES 2026 updates split the N5 lineup into clearer tiers than before. The N5 Max is positioned as the upper configuration, combining a higher class CPU platform with a fixed 128 GB memory design and a stronger emphasis on internal NVMe density. The N5 Air sits closer to the original N5 tier in processor class and upgrade flexibility, while keeping the same general chassis direction and expansion approach that defined the earlier models. The practical tradeoffs follow from those choices. The N5 Max concentrates capability into a more integrated build, which can simplify ownership but reduces user control over memory configuration and may increase base cost due to the included LPDDR5x. The N5 Air, N5 Pro, and original N5 retain socketed DDR5 and a more traditional external power arrangement, which can be easier to service or adjust over time. The series overall remains defined by a compact 5 bay layout paired with multi-gig networking and expansion options, with the main differences now centered on compute tier, memory strategy, and how far the platform is intended to scale.

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The Best RAID 5 Ready 4/5/6-Bay NAS Servers of 2025

Multi bay NAS units in the 4,5 and 6 bay bracket have become the default choice for users who want a single chassis that can handle RAID 5 or larger arrays, mix HDD and NVMe storage and still fit under a desk or on a shelf. This roundup looks at systems released in 2025 that sit in that space, from compact ARM based 4 bay boxes up to more expandable x86 platforms with additional M.2 slots and higher network bandwidth. The focus is on how each unit balances raw storage capacity across SATA and NVMe, the type of RAID and pool layouts it can realistically support, and the power, noise and feature overhead that comes with those choices, so readers can match a chassis to their plans for backup, media, virtualisation or general home lab use without stepping up to larger, more complex rack or 8 bay solutions.

#1 Minisforum N5 NAS – $599 to $749 HERE

SPECS: AMD Ryzen 7 255 8 core 16 thread up to 4.9 GHz – up to 96 GB DDR5 via 2 SODIMM slots – 5 x 3.5″/2.5″ SATA bays – 1 x 10 GbE RJ45 / 1 x 5 GbE RJ45 – 3 x M.2 NVMe or U.2 SSD slots (PCIe 4.0, mixed x1 and x2 lanes) plus 128 GB OS storage.

With 5 SATA bays rated for up to 22 TB per disk and 3 PCIe 4.0 NVMe or U.2 positions, the N5 can be configured as a hybrid array where high capacity RAID 5 or RAID 6 sits on HDDs while SSDs are used for fast pools or tiered storage. MinisCloud OS exposes ZFS style RAID options including RAID 0, 1, 5 and 6, snapshots and compression, so the storage layout can be tuned for sequential workloads, mixed containers or heavier virtualisation without replacing the base system. The Ryzen 7 255 and Radeon 780M iGPU give it enough compute and PCIe bandwidth for multi gig throughput over the combined 10 GbE and 5 GbE interfaces, but they also raise power use and thermal output compared with simpler ARM or low end x86 models. In a 4 or 5 bay context it therefore suits users who expect to keep expanding with higher density drives and multiple NVMe pools over several years, rather than those who just need a small RAID 5 and basic apps.

What we said in our July ’25 Review HERE:

The Minisforum N5 Pro is an impressive and highly versatile NAS platform that successfully combines the core strengths of a storage appliance with the capabilities of a compact, workstation-class server, making it suitable for demanding and varied use cases. Its defining features include a 12-core Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 CPU with 24 threads and onboard AI acceleration up to 50 TOPS, support for up to 96GB of ECC-capable DDR5 memory for data integrity, and a hybrid storage architecture offering up to 144TB total capacity through a mix of five SATA bays and three NVMe/U.2 slots. Additional highlights such as ZFS file system support with snapshots, inline compression, and self-healing, along with high-speed networking via dual 10GbE and 5GbE ports, and expansion through PCIe Gen 4 ×16 and OCuLink interfaces, position it well beyond the capabilities of typical consumer NAS systems. The compact, fully metal chassis is easy to service and efficiently cooled, enabling continuous operation even under sustained virtual machine, AI, or media workloads.

At the same time, the bundled MinisCloud OS, while feature-rich with AI photo indexing, Docker support, and mobile integration, remains a work in progress, lacking some enterprise-grade polish, robust localization, and more advanced tools expected in mature NAS ecosystems. Minor drawbacks such as the external PSU, the thermally challenged pre-installed OS SSD, and the higher cost of the Pro variant relative to the standard N5 are important to weigh, particularly for users who may not fully utilize the Pro’s ECC and AI-specific advantages. For advanced users, homelab builders, and technical teams who require high compute density, flexible storage, and full control over their software stack, the N5 Pro delivers workstation-level performance and configurability in NAS form—offering one of the most forward-thinking and adaptable solutions available today in this segment.

The is now available to buy: Minisforum N5 Pro (Check Amazon) – HERE Minisforum N5 Pro (Check AliExpress) – HERE Shop for NAS Hard Drives on Amazon – HERE Shop for SSDs for your N5 Pro on Amazon – HERE

BUILD QUALITY - 10/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 7/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.6

PROS

High-performance AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 CPU with 12 cores, 24 threads, and AI acceleration (50 TOPS NPU) is INCREDIBLE for a compact desktop purchase
Support for up to 96GB DDR5 memory with ECC, ensuring data integrity and stability in critical environments
ZFS-ready storage with numerous ZFS and TRADITIONAL RAID configurations, snapshots, and inline compression
Hybrid storage support: five 3.5\\\"/2.5\\\" SATA bays plus three NVMe/U.2 SSD slots, with up to 144TB total capacity
Versatile expansion options including PCIe Gen 4 ×16 slot (×4 electrical) and OCuLink port for GPUs or NVMe cages
Dual high-speed networking: 10GbE and 5GbE RJ45 ports with link aggregation support + (using the inclusive MinisCloud OS) the use of the USB4 ports for direct PC/Mac connection!
Fully metal, compact, and serviceable chassis with thoughtful cooling and accessible internal layout - makes maintenance, upgrades and troubleshooting a complete breeze!
Compatibility with third-party OSes (TrueNAS, Unraid, Linux) without voiding warranty, offering flexibility for advanced users

CONS

MinisCloud OS is functional but immature, with unfinished localisation and limited advanced enterprise features - lacks MFA, iSCSI, Security Scanner and More. Nails several key fundamentals, but still feels unfinished at this time.
Despite External PSU design (will already annoy some users), it generates a lot of additional heat and may not appeal to all users overall
Preinstalled 64GB OS SSD runs hot under sustained use and lacks dedicated cooling. Plus, losing one of the 3 m.2 slots to it will not please everyone (most brands manage to find a way to apply an eMMC into the board more directly, or use a USB bootloader option as a gateway for their OS
Premium $1000+ pricing may be hard to justify for users who don’t need ECC memory or AI capabilities compared to the standard N5 at $500+

#2 UGREEN NASync DH4300 Plus – $369 to $409

SPECS: Rockchip RK3588 8 core ARM up to 2.0 GHz – 8 GB LPDDR4X – 4 x 3.5″/2.5″ SATA bays – 1 x 2.5 GbE RJ45 – no internal M.2 SSD slots.

The DH4300 Plus concentrates all of its storage on 4 SATA bays with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10, up to a stated 120 TB raw using 30 TB disks, which makes it a straightforward choice for traditional RAID 5 capacity rather than mixed media architectures. The absence of M.2 slots means there is no internal SSD cache tier, although SSDs can still be used in the main bays if lower latency is required, at the cost of capacity per bay. In return, the RK3588 SoC and LPDDR4X memory keep power consumption relatively low, with quoted figures under 25 W under load, and the 2.5 GbE interface is enough to saturate what 4 mechanical drives in RAID 5 or RAID 6 can usually deliver. UGreen’s UGOS Pro platform adds a container system, snapshot capable file services and consumer facing features such as AI photo indexing, so for a 4 bay RAID 5 appliance the trade off is clear: a fixed, HDD focused storage layout with no internal NVMe, in exchange for low complexity, modest power draw and a simple upgrade path based mainly on higher capacity disks.

What we said in our July 2025 Review:

The UGREEN DH4300 Plus carves out a unique niche in the budget NAS landscape by delivering hardware typically reserved for higher-tier systems at a much lower price point. Its RK3588 processor, 8GB of RAM, and support for 2.5GbE networking place it well ahead of most similarly priced competitors in terms of raw specifications. Additionally, features such as HDMI output, 10Gbps USB ports, and local AI-powered photo indexing are rare to find in entry-level NAS systems. Despite its plastic-heavy internal design and lack of expansion options like PCIe or M.2, the device delivers stable performance for file sharing, media access, and low-intensity AI workloads. It is not suited for power users demanding virtual machines or advanced snapshot automation, but within its class, the DH4300 Plus presents an appealing balance between cost and capability.

That said, the software experience is still a work in progress. UGOS Pro covers the essentials and offers a visually accessible UI, but lacks the advanced features and ecosystem integration found in more mature platforms like Synology DSM or QNAP QTS. Docker and snapshot support add welcome flexibility, but the absence of native Jellyfin, iSCSI, and VM functionality limits its use in more complex environments. Still, for home users, media collectors, or small office setups looking for reliable backup, modest AI-enhanced photo sorting, and smooth 4K playback, the DH4300 Plus delivers value well beyond its price tag. While it won’t replace high-end NAS appliances, it serves as a capable, efficient, and quietly innovative option in a saturated entry-level NAS market.

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	STORE

SOFTWARE - 6/10

HARDWARE - 7/10

PERFORMANCE - 6/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 10/10

7.6

PROS

Powerful ARM CPU: Equipped with the RK3588 SoC, offering 8 cores, integrated GPU, and NPU for AI workloads.
Generous (but fixed!) Memory: 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, rare in budget NAS systems, supports multitasking and Docker use.
2.5GbE Network Port: Provides faster-than-Gigabit throughput for backups, media streaming, and multi-user access.
HDMI 2.1 Output: Rare on ARM powered turnkey NAS, and enables direct media playback or NAS control at up to 4K 60Hz, uncommon in value-tier NAS units.
USB 10Gbps Ports: Dual USB-A 10Gbps and one USB-C 5Gbps allow for high-speed backups or external storage expansion.
AI Photo Management: Built-in NPU supports facial recognition and scene detection for local, private media organization.
Low Power Consumption: Efficient under load (~30W) and idle (~5W without drives), suitable for 24/7 operation.

CONS

No PCIe or M.2 Expansion: Lacks future scalability for NVMe caching, 10GbE, or other upgrades.
Single LAN Port: Only one 2.5GbE port, with no failover or link aggregation support.
Limited Software Ecosystem: UGOS Pro lacks iSCSI, VM support, and native Jellyfin, trailing behind DSM/QTS in maturity.

#3 Beelink ME Mini N150 – $259 to $299

SPECS: Intel N150 quad core up to 3.6 GHz – 12 GB LPDDR5 (16 GB variants available) – 6 x M.2 SSD slots (1 preinstalled 2 TB PCIe 3.0 x2, 5 user accessible PCIe 3.0 x1) plus 64 GB eMMC – dual 2.5 GbE RJ45.

The ME Mini replaces conventional 3.5″ or 2.5″ bays with 6 M.2 sockets, one wired as a PCIe 3.0 x2 system drive and 5 as PCIe 3.0 x1, giving up to 24 TB of all flash capacity in a 99 mm cube chassis when populated with current 4 TB modules. Because there is no SATA backplane, any RAID is provided by the chosen OS or software layer, whether that is a Linux distribution, ZFS based platform or a dedicated NAS operating system installed in place of the default Windows image. From a power and thermal standpoint, the combination of an 8 to 10 W class Intel N150 and low voltage NVMe SSDs keeps system draw relatively low compared with multi bay HDD units, while still allowing the dual 2.5 GbE ports to be used effectively for small sequential workloads and many concurrent small reads. In practical terms this makes the ME Mini a compact all flash alternative to 4 or 5 bay HDD chassis for users willing to handle their own OS choice, trading spinning disk capacity and native RAID controls for high IOPS, small physical footprint and lower acoustic impact.

What we said in our June ’25 Review HERE:

The Beelink ME Mini NAS delivers an uncommon blend of size, functionality, and efficiency in a market segment often dominated by larger, louder, and less integrated alternatives. It is not designed to compete with traditional enterprise-grade NAS devices or modular, scalable solutions for prosumers. Instead, its strengths lie in targeting the needs of home users who want a quiet, energy-efficient storage solution that is easy to deploy, aesthetically unobtrusive, and capable of handling daily tasks such as media streaming, file backup, or soft routing. The inclusion of six M.2 NVMe SSD slots—paired with a Gen 3 x2 system slot—offers a rare level of expansion in such a small enclosure. The integration of an internal PSU, silent fan-assisted cooling, and a surprisingly effective thermal design are thoughtful touches that differentiate it from the majority of DIY NAS mini PCs.

That said, it is not without limitations. The memory is non-upgradable, thermal accumulation at the base suggests room for improvement, and bandwidth ceilings imposed by Gen 3 x1 lanes will constrain users who demand high parallel throughput. Still, for its price point—particularly when pre-order discounts are applied—the ME Mini offers significant value, especially when compared to ARM-based NAS solutions with similar or lower specifications. With bundled Crucial SSD options and support for a wide range of NAS operating systems, it positions itself as a ready-to-go platform for tech-savvy users wanting to avoid the assembly of a fully DIY system. Overall, while not a product for every use case, the Beelink ME Mini succeeds in its aim to be a compact, stylish, and capable home NAS.

BUILD QUALITY - 9/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 10/10

8.8

PROS

Compact cube design (99x99x99mm) ideal for discreet home deployment
Supports up to 6x M.2 NVMe SSDs with total capacity up to 24TB
Integrated PSU eliminates bulky external power adapters
Dual 2.5GbE LAN ports with link aggregation support
Wi-Fi 6 and UnRAID7 Support means not limited to 2x2.5G
Low power consumption (as low as 6.9W idle, ~30W peak with full load)
Silent fan and effective internal thermal management via large heatsink
Includes Crucial-branded SSDs in pre-configured options for reliability

CONS

Five of the six SSD slots are limited to PCIe Gen 3 x1 bandwidth
Memory is soldered and non-upgradable
Not 10GbE Upgradable (maybe m.2 adapter - messy)
Bottom panel retains heat due to lack of active ventilation

#4 TerraMaster F4-425 Plus – $549 to $599

SPECS: Intel N150 quad core up to 3.6 GHz – 16 GB DDR5 (1 slot, up to 32 GB) – 4 x 3.5″/2.5″ SATA bays – 2 x 5 GbE RJ45 – 3 x M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 3.0 x1 slots.

The F4-425 Plus is built as a hybrid 4 bay chassis with 3 additional M.2 NVMe slots, allowing a mixed layout where HDDs hold bulk data in conventional RAID while SSDs are used for cache or as separate RAID 5 or RAID 1 pools. TerraMaster quotes support for up to 120 TB on the 4 SATA bays plus up to 24 TB across the 3 M.2 sockets, and TOS 6 can treat the SSDs as either acceleration for HDD arrays or discrete volumes for latency sensitive workloads. The dual 5 GbE ports give a potential aggregated 10 Gb link that better aligns with SSD capable throughput than 1 GbE or single 2.5 GbE designs, while the N150 CPU and 16 GB DDR5 memory are sized for small office backup, virtualisation light use and multi user file serving rather than heavy compute tasks. From a RAID planning perspective the device suits scenarios where a 4 disk RAID 5 or RAID 6 on large SATA drives is combined with SSD based scratch or application volumes, without moving to a physically larger 6 or 8 bay enclosure.

What we said in our October 2025 Review:

The TerraMaster F4-425 Plus demonstrates how far the company’s mid-range NAS lineup has progressed in terms of hardware refinement and real-world usability. By combining Intel’s efficient N150 processor with 16GB of DDR5 memory, dual 5GbE connectivity, and triple M.2 NVMe slots, it provides a specification normally reserved for higher-priced units. The build quality, centered around a full-metal chassis and quiet cooling design, contributes to consistent thermals and low power usage even under multi-day workloads. While the design omits premium touches like drive locks or redundant fans, the emphasis on practicality and efficient cooling makes it a dependable solution for continuous operation. From a user experience perspective, the integration of TOS 6 represents TerraMaster’s most stable and capable operating system to date, offering improved security features, cloud synchronization tools, snapshot management, and flexible storage configurations that appeal to both home and small office users.

From a value standpoint, the F4-425 Plus stands out as one of the most competitively priced NAS units in its category. At $569.99, or $484.99 during the initial discount period, it delivers strong network and storage performance that aligns closely with rivals from Synology and QNAP while retaining open installation flexibility for third-party platforms such as Unraid or TrueNAS. Its combination of high-speed connectivity, compact design, and mature software environment makes it an appealing option for anyone seeking a 4-bay system capable of multitasking across media streaming, data backup, and light virtualization. Although it cannot fully match the polish of Synology DSM or the plugin ecosystem of QNAP QTS, TerraMaster has successfully positioned this device as a bridge between affordability and professional performance, solidifying its place as one of the more balanced NAS releases of 2025.

Amazon in Your Region for the Terramaster F4-425 plus NAS @ $569 ($489.99 till 19th Nov)	Terramaster F4-425 PLUS – $569	B&H for the Terramaster F4-425 plus NAS @ $569.99

SOFTWARE - 7/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 10/10

8.6

PROS

• Dual 5GbE network ports with full independent bandwidth for high-speed transfers + lots of USB-to-5GbE $30 upgrades in the market now
• Three PCIe 3.0 x1 M.2 NVMe slots supporting cache or storage pool configurations
• Intel N150 processor with integrated graphics enabling 4K hardware decoding and AES-NI encryption
• 16GB DDR5 memory (expandable to 32GB) offering improved bandwidth and multitasking performance
• Full-metal chassis with efficient thermals, low noise levels, and minimal vibration
• Comprehensive RAID and storage management through TOS 6 with snapshot and HyperLock-WORM protection
• Supports Docker, virtual machines, Plex, Emby, and Jellyfin natively within TOS 6
• Competitive pricing with strong value relative to Synology and QNAP alternatives

CONS

• Cheaper N150 NAS Systems have arrived earlier in 2025
• 5GbE adoption is low, so only larger 10GbE ready groups (via auto-negotiation) will enjoy the benefits of 5GbE
• TOS 6 interface and app ecosystem remain less polished than top-tier NAS platforms

#5 Synology DiskStation DS1525+ – $799 to $899

SPECS: AMD Ryzen V1500B quad core 2.2 GHz – 8 GB DDR4 ECC (2 slots, up to 32 GB) – 5 x 3.5″/2.5″ SATA bays – 2 x 2.5 GbE RJ45 – 2 x M.2 2280 NVMe slots plus 1 x PCIe 3.0 x2 expansion slot.

The DS1525+ follows Synology’s typical pattern of putting all primary capacity on 5 hot swap SATA bays while reserving 2 internal M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs used as cache or, in some scenarios, as separate pools under DSM. Raw capacity on the main bays is specified around 100 TB, and with 2 supported DX525 expansion units the platform can scale to 15 drives and roughly 300 TB, giving it more growth headroom than most standalone 4 or 5 bay devices. DSM prefers Synology certified NVMe modules for cache, and the typical deployment is therefore a RAID 5 or RAID 6 array on the 5 SATA disks with SSD cache accelerating small random access workloads such as virtual machines, databases or heavy Synology Drive usage. The Ryzen V1500B and ECC memory are adequate for that role and integrate with DSM features like Btrfs snapshots, Active Backup Suite and Virtual Machine Manager, but they do not drive NVMe storage as a primary all flash tier in the way more other NAS brands do (i.e you can only use them for caching, or limited ‘synology only SSD’ use for pools to comparatively lower performance than most). The result is a system where the storage design is conservative but predictable, emphasising SATA RAID resilience and cache-assisted responsiveness rather than radical hybrid layouts, backed by a mature software stack.

What we said in our July 2025 Review:

The Synology DS1525+ is a capable and well built NAS that continues the company’s focus on dependable performance, solid build quality and very tight integration with DSM, which is the main justification for choosing this platform over more open hardware from other vendors. Its compact 5 bay design, quiet operation and scalable storage make it suitable for small offices, creative studios and prosumers who want a single system to handle file serving, backup and light virtualisation. The inclusion of a server grade Ryzen V1500B CPU and ECC memory support provides predictable performance for DSM services such as Synology Drive, Synology Office, Virtual Machine Manager and Surveillance Station, while the dual M.2 slots and PCIe expansion give enough headroom for cache and 10 GbE upgrades. DSM itself remains the central strength: Btrfs based volumes with snapshots, Active Backup Suite for Windows, Linux and SaaS workloads, integrated directory and access control, and relatively polished mobile and web clients mean that much of the day to day administration, recovery and user management can be handled inside a single, consistent interface rather than across multiple third party tools.

More importantly for many buyers, Synology’s 2025 Plus series, including the DS1525+, now fully supports third party hard drives without on screen warnings or functional restrictions, which removes a major concern from earlier policies and restores flexibility for users reusing existing disks or mixing capacities and brands under DSM’s storage manager. By contrast, M.2 SSD support remains locked to Synology’s own validated modules, so NVMe upgrades for DSM cache or SSD pools still carry a vendor premium and limit hardware choice. The switch from four 1 GbE ports to two 2.5 GbE ports trades some port level redundancy for higher per port bandwidth and may require compatible switches to realise the benefit, but DSM can aggregate links, shape traffic and expose detailed monitoring from within its own interface.

In practice the DS1525+ suits users who prioritise DSM’s software maturity, integrated backup and collaboration stack and the relative simplicity of a managed ecosystem over maximum hardware openness; for those who want unrestricted NVMe choices or the highest raw performance per dollar, more generic x86 systems with looser SSD validation may be a better fit.

SOFTWARE - 10/10

HARDWARE - 6/10

PERFORMANCE - 7/10

PRICE - 7/10

VALUE - 6/10

7.2

PROS

Compact and quiet 5-bay design with support for 15 drives total
Dual 2.5GbE ports with aggregation and optional 10GbE upgrade
ECC memory support with upgradable capacity up to 32 GB
Hot-swappable drive bays and tool-free tray design
Integrated M.2 NVMe slots for caching or storage pools are easy to access, tooless and uncomplicated to deploy
Excellent DSM software suite with extensive features
Stable performance under multi-user and virtualized workloads
Efficient cooling with low noise levels in office environments

CONS

Huge limitations on the choice of HDD and SSD Media you can use on this system
USB ports limited to basic storage/UPS functionality
M.2 NVMe performance has limited scope in current configuration and support

Taken together, the Minisforum N5, UGREEN DH4300 Plus, Beelink ME Mini, TerraMaster F4-425 Plus and Synology DS1525+ outline the main paths available in the 4,5 and 6 bay segment in 2025: high core count x86 with mixed SATA and NVMe for heavier workloads, low power ARM with straightforward 4 bay RAID for cost sensitive deployments, compact all flash designs where capacity scales through M.2 rather than 3.5 inch bays, hybrid chassis that combine 4 bay RAID with several SSD slots, and software led platforms where DSM’s feature set is the primary reason to buy. None of them is universally better than the others; the practical choice depends on whether the priority is raw HDD capacity in RAID 5 or RAID 6, a larger number of NVMe slots, lower power use, or tighter integration of backup, collaboration and virtualisation tools. For buyers who understand how they intend to balance SATA and NVMe storage over the next few years, these units set a useful reference point for what can realistically be expected from a modern 4,5 or 6 bay NAS without moving to larger rackmount or 8 bay hardware.

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The Best PLEX, Emby and/or Jellyfin NAS Devices Released in 2025

Network media servers in 2025 range from tiny single drive boxes to fairly serious multi bay systems that can sit at the center of a home network. This article looks specifically at NAS hardware released in 2025 that can sensibly replace or supplement streaming services by running Plex, Jellyfin or Emby. The focus is on devices that arrive as complete appliances, with both hardware and a NAS style operating system included, so you can put a box on the network, install a media server app and start watching without building a PC or learning a full server stack.

To be included here, a NAS has to have gone on general sale in 2025, ship with its own OS rather than as a bareboard, and be able to run Plex Media Server, with Jellyfin and Emby support noted where it exists. In practical terms, that means hardware that can handle 4K and 1080p playback for multiple users and is realistically capable of at least 2 simultaneous 4K transcodes and 5 simultaneous 1080p transcodes, with a single exception where the overall package still makes sense for more limited workloads. RAID options, expansion, power use and noise are all taken into account, but the main filter is whether the device can function reliably as a modern media server on a typical home or small office network.

#1 Synology BeeStation Plus 8TB – $399 to $419

SPECS: Intel Celeron J4125 quad core 2.0 to 2.7 GHz – 4 GB DDR4 – 1 x 3.5″ 8 TB SATA bay (pre installed) – 1 x 1 GbE RJ45 / 1 x USB A 3.2 Gen 1 / 1 x USB C 3.2 Gen 1 – no M.2 SSD support.

BeeStation Plus is aimed at users who want a simple, appliance like Plex box rather than a configurable NAS. It runs Synology’s cut down BeeStation OS, has Plex Media Server support built in, and is set up entirely through a guided app and browser flow, so there is minimal configuration overhead. The hardware is sufficient for basic 4K and 1080p Plex use for a small number of clients, but the single non replaceable drive bay and lack of expansion, RAID options or M.2 slots mean it is best treated as a starter Plex unit for light libraries rather than a long term, scalable media server, and there is no official Jellyfin or Emby integration at this time.

What we said in our March ’25 Review HERE:

The Synology BeeStation marks a significant shift in Synology’s product line, targeting a new segment of users with its simplified yet functional design. This device stands out as an excellent middle ground between ease of use and a comprehensive private cloud system, providing secure and seamless access to stored data. While it is incredibly user-friendly and easy to set up, the lack of LAN access by default and its single-bay, 4TB-only configuration at launch might limit its appeal to more tech-savvy users or those seeking greater flexibility and expandability. The BeeStation’s unique selling point is its simplicity, making it a compelling choice for those new to NAS systems or for users who prioritize ease of use over extensive customization options. However, its simplicity also means that it lacks the extensive app support found in Synology’s DSM platform, potentially disappointing users accustomed to the richer application ecosystem offered by Synology’s more advanced models.

For users concerned about security, the BeeStation still upholds Synology’s reputation for secure data handling, with encrypted data transmission as a standard feature. However, experienced users who prefer a more hands-on approach to their NAS setup might find the BeeStation’s lack of advanced configuration options and its reliance on internet access for setup somewhat restrictive. In terms of market positioning, the BeeStation fills a gap left by other brands like WD and Seagate in offering ‘Easy NAS’ systems. Its competitive pricing, particularly considering the included 4TB of storage, makes it an attractive option for users seeking a private cloud solution without the recurring costs associated with third-party cloud services. Despite these potential drawbacks, the BeeStation is a solid entry-level NAS solution, especially for those seeking a personal cloud with minimal setup and maintenance. It may not be as feature-rich as Synology’s DSM-based NAS devices, but for its intended audience, the BeeStation provides a well-balanced combination of functionality, ease of use, and affordability. Synology’s move to cater to a broader, less technically inclined audience with the BeeStation demonstrates their understanding of market trends and user needs, offering a solution that balances simplicity with the reliability and quality Synology is known for.

In the end, the Synology BeeStation is an ideal choice for users seeking a straightforward, reliable, and cost-effective personal cloud solution. It represents Synology’s commitment to diversifying their product range, catering to the evolving needs of different user segments. While it may not suit everyone, especially those looking for advanced features and customization, it excels in its role as a user-friendly, secure, and affordable entry-level NAS device.

SOFTWARE - 7/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 7/10

PRICE - 10/10

VALUE - 10/10

8.4

PROS

User-friendly setup, ideal for beginners or those seeking a simple cloud solution.
Secure data handling with encrypted data transmission.
Comes with 4TB of storage included, offering good value.
Compact and lightweight design, enhancing portability.
Quiet operation, suitable for home or office environments.
Integrates seamlessly with popular cloud services like Google Drive and OneDrive.
Affordable pricing at $199, a cost-effective alternative to third-party cloud services.
Supports remote access, allowing data management from anywhere and across client devices/OS
Synologys reputation for quality and reliability is still clear on this smaller scale.
Several client tools (BeeFiles, BeePhotos and Desktop sync tool) for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android available for tailored access
System configuration backup option to USB/C2 (Often absent in budget cloud solutions)
AI Photo Recognition in BeePhotos for faces, Objects and geo data scraping + Advanced filter/search

CONS

Lacks the extensive app support and customization found in Synology\'s DSM platform.
Only available in a single-bay, 4TB configuration at launch, limiting expandability.
Single 5400RPM HDD running everything leads to slowdown more than you think!
LAN access is disabled by default, which may not suit all users.
Designed for a specific user base, may not meet the needs of more advanced users.

#2 Minisforum N5 NAS – $599 to $749

SPECS: AMD Ryzen 7 255 8 core 16 thread up to 4.9 GHz – up to 96 GB DDR5 via 2 SODIMM slots – 5 x 3.5″/2.5″ SATA bays – 1 x 10 GbE RJ45 / 1 x 5 GbE RJ45 / 2 x USB4 – 3 x M.2 2280 NVMe or U.2 SSD slots (PCIe 4.0).

The Minisforum N5 is a compact 5-bay NAS that targets users who want preconfigured hardware with some workstation derived design features. It uses an x86 CPU in the same general class as the Aoostar WTR Max, paired with an internal storage module of 64 GB for the system volume, and is typically sold in the 599 to 699 USD range, with the separate Pro variant occupying a higher bracket. The chassis integrates a removable drive base section for easier maintenance, and the platform includes multi-gig networking up to 10 GbE and 5 GbE, a PCIe expansion slot and USB4 connectivity for additional bandwidth or external devices. Minisforum ships the N5 with its own NAS operating system to provide an immediate out of box experience, but the software is still relatively young and many buyers elect to overwrite the included module with a more established NAS or server OS. Throughout 2025, availability has been intermittent, reflecting a level of demand from home lab users who want higher specification NAS hardware without building entirely from individual components.

What we said in our July ’25 Review HERE:

The Minisforum N5 Pro is an impressive and highly versatile NAS platform that successfully combines the core strengths of a storage appliance with the capabilities of a compact, workstation-class server, making it suitable for demanding and varied use cases. Its defining features include a 12-core Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 CPU with 24 threads and onboard AI acceleration up to 50 TOPS, support for up to 96GB of ECC-capable DDR5 memory for data integrity, and a hybrid storage architecture offering up to 144TB total capacity through a mix of five SATA bays and three NVMe/U.2 slots. Additional highlights such as ZFS file system support with snapshots, inline compression, and self-healing, along with high-speed networking via dual 10GbE and 5GbE ports, and expansion through PCIe Gen 4 ×16 and OCuLink interfaces, position it well beyond the capabilities of typical consumer NAS systems. The compact, fully metal chassis is easy to service and efficiently cooled, enabling continuous operation even under sustained virtual machine, AI, or media workloads.

At the same time, the bundled MinisCloud OS, while feature-rich with AI photo indexing, Docker support, and mobile integration, remains a work in progress, lacking some enterprise-grade polish, robust localization, and more advanced tools expected in mature NAS ecosystems. Minor drawbacks such as the external PSU, the thermally challenged pre-installed OS SSD, and the higher cost of the Pro variant relative to the standard N5 are important to weigh, particularly for users who may not fully utilize the Pro’s ECC and AI-specific advantages. For advanced users, homelab builders, and technical teams who require high compute density, flexible storage, and full control over their software stack, the N5 Pro delivers workstation-level performance and configurability in NAS form—offering one of the most forward-thinking and adaptable solutions available today in this segment.

The is now available to buy: Minisforum N5 Pro (Check Amazon) – HERE Minisforum N5 Pro (Check AliExpress) – HERE Shop for NAS Hard Drives on Amazon – HERE Shop for SSDs for your N5 Pro on Amazon – HERE

BUILD QUALITY - 10/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 7/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.6

PROS

High-performance AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 CPU with 12 cores, 24 threads, and AI acceleration (50 TOPS NPU) is INCREDIBLE for a compact desktop purchase
Support for up to 96GB DDR5 memory with ECC, ensuring data integrity and stability in critical environments
ZFS-ready storage with numerous ZFS and TRADITIONAL RAID configurations, snapshots, and inline compression
Hybrid storage support: five 3.5\\\"/2.5\\\" SATA bays plus three NVMe/U.2 SSD slots, with up to 144TB total capacity
Versatile expansion options including PCIe Gen 4 ×16 slot (×4 electrical) and OCuLink port for GPUs or NVMe cages
Dual high-speed networking: 10GbE and 5GbE RJ45 ports with link aggregation support + (using the inclusive MinisCloud OS) the use of the USB4 ports for direct PC/Mac connection!
Fully metal, compact, and serviceable chassis with thoughtful cooling and accessible internal layout - makes maintenance, upgrades and troubleshooting a complete breeze!
Compatibility with third-party OSes (TrueNAS, Unraid, Linux) without voiding warranty, offering flexibility for advanced users

CONS

MinisCloud OS is functional but immature, with unfinished localisation and limited advanced enterprise features - lacks MFA, iSCSI, Security Scanner and More. Nails several key fundamentals, but still feels unfinished at this time.
Despite External PSU design (will already annoy some users), it generates a lot of additional heat and may not appeal to all users overall
Preinstalled 64GB OS SSD runs hot under sustained use and lacks dedicated cooling. Plus, losing one of the 3 m.2 slots to it will not please everyone (most brands manage to find a way to apply an eMMC into the board more directly, or use a USB bootloader option as a gateway for their OS
Premium $1000+ pricing may be hard to justify for users who don’t need ECC memory or AI capabilities compared to the standard N5 at $500+

#3 TerraMaster F4 SSD NAS – $320 to $399

SPECS: Intel N95 quad core up to 3.4 GHz – 8 GB DDR5 (expandable to 32 GB) – 4 x M.2 2280 NVMe SSD bays – 1 x 5 GbE RJ45 / 2 x USB A 3.2 Gen 2 / 1 x USB C 3.2 Gen 2 / HDMI 2.0b – 4 x M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 slots (2 x2 / 2 x1).

The F4 SSD is an all flash NAS designed for users who want a compact, relatively low power Plex or Jellyfin server without mechanical drives. Its Intel N95 CPU and integrated graphics are sufficient for multiple 1080p and a modest number of 4K transcodes, and the 5 GbE interface allows the box to make use of higher network throughput than 1 GbE units. TerraMaster’s TOS 6 system offers a one click Plex package and container support for Jellyfin and Emby, but the interface and ecosystem are less refined than those from the largest NAS brands, and performance is ultimately limited by the entry level CPU and PCIe layout when many concurrent streams or heavier background tasks are involved.

What we said in our Aug ’25 Review HERE:

The TerraMaster F4 SSD presents itself as a well-considered entry into the compact, all-flash NAS segment, balancing low noise, energy efficiency, and competitive performance at a sub-$400 price point. With its fanless NVMe-based design, Intel N95 quad-core processor, and DDR5 memory, it meets the essential needs of home and small office users looking for a reliable and responsive storage solution. The inclusion of TerraMaster’s increasingly capable TOS 6 operating system, featuring AI-driven photo management, centralized backup, and Docker/VM support, makes it more than just a network storage device—it becomes a lightweight but versatile data center for the home. Its TRAID support allows for mixed SSD deployments with easy expansion, which is particularly attractive to users upgrading gradually or working within budget constraints. The thoughtful internal layout and cooling also ensure performance remains consistent even under sustained load, without sacrificing the near-silent operation.

However, the F4 SSD is not without caveats. The use of a single 5GbE port, without redundancy or aggregation, may deter users requiring network failover or higher throughput for simultaneous operations. Additionally, although the PCIe lane allocation strategy maximizes the N95’s limited bandwidth, the asymmetry between Gen3 x2 and x1 slots could bottleneck RAID performance depending on how volumes are configured. When compared to the larger F8 SSD or DIY options with dual 10GbE or ECC support, the F4 SSD may feel limiting to power users or business environments with stricter reliability requirements. That said, for the vast majority of home users, content creators, and prosumers looking for an all-in-one, high-speed NAS that blends well into living spaces, the F4 SSD delivers a solid and accessible solution. Its price-to-performance ratio, combined with the simplicity of deployment and maturing software ecosystem, makes it a compelling option in the growing market of SSD NAS devices.

SOFTWARE - 7/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 7/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 9/10

8.0

PROS

Compact, toolless chassis with easy-access thumb screw and SSD installation
All-flash NVMe architecture with support for four M.2 2280 SSDs
5GbE network port enables high-speed local and remote transfers
TRAID and TRAID+ allow mixed-capacity SSDs and seamless storage expansion
TOS 6 OS includes Plex, Jellyfin, Docker, VM support, and AI photo indexing
Quiet operation (19 dB) and low power usage (32W under load)
Priced competitively at $399 for a turnkey SSD NAS

CONS

Single 5GbE port with no failover or link aggregation
Two of the four SSD slots are limited to PCIe Gen3 x1, creating potential RAID bottlenecks
Non-ECC DDR5 memory may not meet strict data integrity requirements

#4 ZimaBoard 2 Single Board Server – $239 to $349

SPECS: Intel N150 quad core up to 3.6 GHz – 8 or 16 GB LPDDR5x – 2 x SATA 3.0 6 Gb/s ports for 3.5″/2.5″ drives (external bays or enclosures required) – 2 x 2.5 GbE RJ45 / 2 x USB 3.1 Type A / 1 x Mini DisplayPort 1.4 – M.2 SSD support via PCIe 3.0 x4 add in card only.

ZimaBoard 2 functions as a small, fanless compute module that can be combined with any suitable SATA enclosure or loose drives to create a highly customised Plex or Jellyfin server. It ships with ZimaOS, which exposes a NAS style interface, app catalogue and container options, so the system is usable out of the box without manually installing a general purpose Linux distribution. Dual 2.5 GbE ports and Intel Quick Sync support give it enough capability for several 1080p and selected 4K transcodes, but the absence of internal bays or native M.2 slots means storage design is entirely external, and the device is better suited to users who do not mind assembling their own chassis or reusing existing cases and drive cages.

What we said in our April ’25 Review HERE:

The ZimaBoard 2 is a competent and thoughtfully assembled single-board server that builds meaningfully on IceWhale’s earlier efforts, especially the original ZimaBoard and the ZimaBlade. Its design clearly targets users who want more flexibility and performance than traditional ARM-based boards can offer, but who also value power efficiency, silence, and a small footprint. The use of an Intel N150 CPU, 8GB of LPDDR5x memory, dual 2.5GbE ports, and a PCIe 3.0 x4 slot makes it viable for a variety of home server roles—from basic NAS and smart home coordination to lightweight container hosting and local media streaming. Features like onboard SATA, USB 3.1, and a DisplayPort connection further add to its utility. However, there are hardware limitations that may affect long-term suitability for advanced deployments. The soldered RAM cannot be upgraded, and the internal eMMC storage, while useful for initial setup, is too slow for OS-level responsiveness in more demanding use cases. Passive cooling, while appreciated for silence, also imposes some thermal limitations depending on the deployment environment.

On the software side, ZimaOS offers a decent out-of-the-box experience that caters to users with minimal technical background. It handles core tasks like application deployment, file sharing, and system monitoring without requiring advanced configuration, and its Docker-based App Store simplifies access to popular tools. For more experienced users, the system supports third-party OS installation, which is likely how many will ultimately use the ZimaBoard 2. Still, as a bundled solution, ZimaOS has matured significantly and now presents itself as a lightweight, capable, and non-intrusive platform for those who prefer to get started immediately. In the broader context of DIY server hardware, ZimaBoard 2 occupies a middle ground: more powerful and modular than Raspberry Pi-class systems, yet more constrained than full x86 mini PCs or enthusiast-grade NAS hardware. For those who understand and accept these trade-offs, and are willing to plan around its limitations, the ZimaBoard 2 offers a reliable and flexible foundation for compact, energy-efficient computing at the edge.

BUILD QUALITY - 10/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 10/10

9.0

PROS

x86 Architecture – Compatible with a wide range of operating systems including ZimaOS, Unraid, TrueNAS SCALE, and Proxmox.
Dual 2.5GbE LAN Ports – Offers strong networking capabilities for multi-service workloads and gateway setups.
PCIe 3.0 x4 Slot – Enables high-speed expansion for 10GbE NICs, NVMe storage, or combo cards.
Fanless, Silent Operation – Completely passively cooled, ideal for home or quiet office environments.
Compact and Durable Build – Small footprint with an all-metal chassis that doubles as a heatsink.
ZimaOS Included – User-friendly OS with a Docker-based App Store and basic VM tools, ready out of the box.
Flexible Storage Options – Dual SATA ports plus USB 3.1 support for connecting SSDs, HDDs, or external drives.
Low Power Consumption – Efficient 6W CPU with ~10W idle and ~40W max under heavy load scenarios.

CONS

Non-Upgradable RAM – 8GB of soldered LPDDR5x limits long-term scalability for memory-intensive tasks.
Slow/Small Default Internal Storage – 32GB eMMC is convenient but underperforms for OS-level responsiveness or high I/O workloads.
Thermal Headroom is Limited – Passive cooling alone may not be sufficient in closed environments or under sustained load without added airflow.
Not Launching on Traditional Retail, but instead on Crowdfunding.

#5 UGREEN NASync DH4300 Plus – $365 to $390

SPECS: Rockchip RK3588 8 core ARM (4 x Cortex A76 + 4 x Cortex A55) up to around 2.4 GHz – 8 GB DDR5 – 4 x 3.5″/2.5″ SATA bays – 1 x 2.5 GbE RJ45 / HDMI 2.0b / 1 x front USB C 3.2 Gen 1 / 2 x USB A 3.2 Gen 1 – no internal M.2 SSD slots.

The NASync DH4300 Plus is a 4 bay ARM based NAS that targets users who want RAID 5 capable storage for Plex or Jellyfin along with general backup duties at a moderate price. UGREEN’s UGOS Pro operating system includes its own media apps, an app store and containerisation features, and community testing has confirmed that Plex can achieve multiple 1080p and several 4K streams, benefiting from the RK3588’s hardware video engines. There is only a single 2.5 GbE port and no M.2 cache or expansion options, so scaling is limited to the 4 SATA bays and external USB storage, but for users who prioritise RAID 5 resilience, low to mid range transcoding capacity and comparatively low power use, it fits the role of a budget multi user media and file server.

What we said in our August ’25 Review Here:

The UGREEN DH4300 Plus carves out a unique niche in the budget NAS landscape by delivering hardware typically reserved for higher-tier systems at a much lower price point. Its RK3588 processor, 8GB of RAM, and support for 2.5GbE networking place it well ahead of most similarly priced competitors in terms of raw specifications. Additionally, features such as HDMI output, 10Gbps USB ports, and local AI-powered photo indexing are rare to find in entry-level NAS systems. Despite its plastic-heavy internal design and lack of expansion options like PCIe or M.2, the device delivers stable performance for file sharing, media access, and low-intensity AI workloads. It is not suited for power users demanding virtual machines or advanced snapshot automation, but within its class, the DH4300 Plus presents an appealing balance between cost and capability.

That said, the software experience is still a work in progress. UGOS Pro covers the essentials and offers a visually accessible UI, but lacks the advanced features and ecosystem integration found in more mature platforms like Synology DSM or QNAP QTS. Docker and snapshot support add welcome flexibility, but the absence of native Jellyfin, iSCSI, and VM functionality limits its use in more complex environments. Still, for home users, media collectors, or small office setups looking for reliable backup, modest AI-enhanced photo sorting, and smooth 4K playback, the DH4300 Plus delivers value well beyond its price tag. While it won’t replace high-end NAS appliances, it serves as a capable, efficient, and quietly innovative option in a saturated entry-level NAS market.

SOFTWARE - 6/10

HARDWARE - 7/10

PERFORMANCE - 6/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 10/10

7.6

PROS

Powerful ARM CPU: Equipped with the RK3588 SoC, offering 8 cores, integrated GPU, and NPU for AI workloads.
Generous (but fixed!) Memory: 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, rare in budget NAS systems, supports multitasking and Docker use.
2.5GbE Network Port: Provides faster-than-Gigabit throughput for backups, media streaming, and multi-user access.
HDMI 2.1 Output: Rare on ARM powered turnkey NAS, and enables direct media playback or NAS control at up to 4K 60Hz, uncommon in value-tier NAS units.
USB 10Gbps Ports: Dual USB-A 10Gbps and one USB-C 5Gbps allow for high-speed backups or external storage expansion.
AI Photo Management: Built-in NPU supports facial recognition and scene detection for local, private media organization.
Low Power Consumption: Efficient under load (~30W) and idle (~5W without drives), suitable for 24/7 operation.

CONS

No PCIe or M.2 Expansion: Lacks future scalability for NVMe caching, 10GbE, or other upgrades.
Single LAN Port: Only one 2.5GbE port, with no failover or link aggregation support.
Limited Software Ecosystem: UGOS Pro lacks iSCSI, VM support, and native Jellyfin, trailing behind DSM/QTS in maturity.

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