UniFi Cloud Gateway Industrial – Did Ubiquiti Go Too Hard Here?

The UniFi Cloud Gateway Industrial and UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber are positioned as high throughput UniFi gateways that also act as the controller for UniFi Network and other UniFi applications, so the buying decision is less about basic compatibility and more about which hardware package better fits the environment and the deployment style. The Fiber model is typically the lower cost entry point and focuses on compact desktop placement, multiple high speed WAN options, and optional local storage via an NVMe SSD for UniFi Protect. The Industrial model costs more and its appeal is tied to practical deployment factors rather than raw routing numbers: a heavier, ruggedized, fanless chassis intended to tolerate harsher placement, integrated WiFi 7 for situations where local wireless is useful at the gateway, built in microSD storage for NVR use out of the box, and a much higher PoE output budget that can power downstream devices directly. Both are rated for similar IDS/IPS throughput and similar scale on paper, so the price gap tends to come down to whether you actually need the Industrial model’s power delivery, integrated wireless, and physical design features, or whether you would get more value by choosing the Fiber model and putting the savings into switches, access points, cameras, storage, or redundancy elsewhere in the network.

UniFi Cloud Gateway Industrial – Quick Conclusion

The UniFi Cloud Gateway Industrial only makes sense at $579 if you will actually use what drives that price. That primarily means the 270W PoE budget with multiple PoE+++ 90W ports, the integrated WiFi 7 radio, the included 128 GB microSD for immediate Protect recording, and the tougher deployment profile. That deployment profile includes a fanless design, heavier build, higher operating temperature rating, and more mounting options. Those features can replace a separate PoE switch, a basic access point, and some setup time. They are most relevant in locations that are not ideal for a small desktop gateway. If your network already has a PoE switch and dedicated access points, the value shifts quickly. The same is true if you mainly want a fast UniFi controller and gateway with flexible uplinks, or if you would rather put $300 into more switching, an AP, cameras, or more storage capacity.

In that case, the UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber is generally the more rational buy. Both units share the same core platform traits that matter for routing and security workloads, including the 5 Gbps IDS/IPS rating. The Fiber’s higher WAN port count and 2x 10G SFP+ layout also fits conventional designs where WiFi and PoE are handled elsewhere. Put simply, the Industrial is a justified premium when it simplifies the overall bill of materials or solves placement constraints. It is hard to justify as an upgrade on performance alone. For typical indoor deployments, it usually makes more sense to buy the Fiber and allocate the difference to parts that materially expand the network.

You can buy the UniFi UNAS Pro 4 NAS via the link below – doing so will result in a small commission coming to me and Eddie at NASCompares, and allows us to keep doing what we do! 

UniFi Cloud Gateway Industrial (vs Fiber) – Design & Storage

Physically, the UniFi Cloud Gateway Industrial is built around a larger, heavier enclosure that is meant to stay in place rather than sit lightly on a shelf. In informal handling, it feels closer to a small piece of infrastructure gear than a typical compact gateway, which is consistent with its stated intent for rugged or semi permanent installs. By contrast, the Cloud Gateway Fiber is a low profile compact desktop unit, and its design reads more like a traditional small office gateway that can be placed near an ISP handoff or a small network stack.

The materials reflect that difference in intent. The Industrial uses a polycarbonate and aluminium alloy enclosure, while the Fiber uses polycarbonate. In practical terms, the Industrial’s metal content is more aligned with durability and heat management expectations in a fanless box that may be mounted in less forgiving places, whereas the Fiber’s lighter build aligns with a device expected to live in normal indoor environments.

Mounting flexibility is also not equal. The Industrial is listed as supporting wall mounting, compact desktop placement, and rack mounting via an accessory sold separately. The hardware design includes elements intended to support reconfiguration and installation style changes without changing the device itself.

The Fiber is primarily framed as a compact desktop form factor, which is typically fine for small racks or structured cabling areas only if you are comfortable improvising placement, rather than using a purpose built mounting approach.

Environmental tolerances are one of the clearest design separators. The Industrial is rated for an ambient operating range of -30 to 50 C, with 5 to 95 percent noncondensing humidity. The Fiber is rated for 0 to 40 C, also with 5 to 95 percent noncondensing humidity. If the gateway will be placed in a garage, loft, workshop, cabinet with poor airflow, or any space that regularly drifts outside typical indoor office temperatures, the Industrial’s ratings are the more relevant detail than most headline performance numbers.

Storage is where the devices take opposite approaches. The Industrial includes pre installed storage for NVR use, listed as a 128 GB microSD, and also supports microSD expansion. The Fiber does not ship with built in NVR storage, but supports selectable NVMe SSD storage up to 2 TB. In practice, the Industrial’s included microSD makes Protect usable immediately for light camera retention without additional parts, while the Fiber’s NVMe approach is better aligned with longer retention targets and scaling camera storage without relying on removable flash media

UniFi Cloud Gateway Industrial (vs Fiber) – Internal Hardware

At the core, both gateways sit on a very similar compute platform: a quad core ARM Cortex A73 CPU clocked at 2.2 GHz with 3 GB of system memory. In practical terms, that means neither device has an inherent advantage in baseline controller duties like running UniFi Network alongside other UniFi applications, or handling typical gateway services such as stateful firewalling, VPN termination, and traffic analysis.

The key performance headline for security enabled routing is also aligned. The Cloud Gateway Fiber is rated at 5 Gbps IDS/IPS throughput, and the Industrial model is positioned at the same 5 Gbps figure in the specifications you provided. That sets a realistic expectation that the price difference is not being driven by faster IDS/IPS, and that either unit can be the bottleneck if the goal is to inspect traffic at speeds above that rating.

Where the internal design diverges is less about raw compute and more about what each device integrates around that shared platform. The Industrial model bundles additional subsystems into the chassis, including a built in WiFi 7 radio, PoE switching hardware with much higher total PoE delivery, and cellular related features such as SIM slots intended for use with UniFi cellular hardware. Those additions change the role of the device from a gateway plus controller into something closer to a gateway, small switch, and basic wireless node combined, which can simplify certain installations where power and connectivity need to be consolidated.

The Fiber model stays more focused on being a high speed gateway with multiple WAN options and scalable local storage via NVMe for Protect, rather than integrating WiFi and high power PoE into the same chassis. In a typical structured network design, that aligns with the approach of keeping wireless and switching as separate components. In a more compact or power constrained install, the Industrial’s integrated approach can reduce the number of separate devices, but it also means you are paying for features you might not use if you already have dedicated switches and access points.

UniFi Cloud Gateway Industrial (vs Fiber) – Ports and Connections

Both gateways are built around multi WAN capability and a mix of 10 GbE and 2.5 GbE connectivity, but they prioritize different things. The Fiber model pushes WAN flexibility and high speed uplinks, listing a max WAN port count of 6. The Industrial model lists a max WAN port count of 5 and instead leans into powering downstream equipment directly through multiple high wattage PoE ports.

On the Cloud Gateway Fiber, the physical layout is centered on high speed copper and fiber. It includes (2) 10G SFP+ ports, (1) 10 GbE RJ45 port, and (4) 2.5 GbE RJ45 ports. Its default WAN configuration is shown as (1) 10G SFP+ and (1) 10 GbE RJ45, which makes it straightforward to mix fiber and copper upstream, or to reserve additional ports for LAN and internal switching depending on how you assign roles inside UniFi.

On the Cloud Gateway Industrial, the port layout is more explicit about power delivery. It has (4) 2.5 GbE RJ45 ports split as (2) PoE+++ and (2) PoE+, plus (1) 10 GbE RJ45 port that is PoE+++, and (1) 10G SFP+ port. The default WAN ports are listed as (1) 10 GbE RJ45 and (1) 2.5 GbE RJ45. In other words, it gives up some of the Fiber model’s extra high speed uplink optionality in exchange for multiple powered Ethernet outputs, including 90W class ports intended for higher draw devices.

Power input design also differs because it sets limits on what the PoE side can realistically do. The Industrial lists a PoE budget of up to 270W on DC input, with a 54V 350W adapter included, and it also supports an ATX power input (48V) with a lower PoE budget listed at 75W. The Fiber lists a much smaller PoE budget of 30W and is powered via a 54V DC jack with a 1.1A adapter. Excluding PoE output, both are in the same general range for the gateway itself, listed at 28W max for the Industrial and 29.4W max for the Fiber, but the Industrial’s power system is sized for PoE heavy deployments.

The Industrial also adds non Ethernet connectivity that the Fiber does not include. It has integrated WiFi 7 on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz with external antenna support, and it includes 2 SIM slots intended for use with UniFi cellular hardware. The Fiber does not integrate WiFi or SIM slots, so wireless and cellular failover are typically handled by separate UniFi devices rather than being built into the gateway.

UniFi Cloud Gateway Industrial vs Cloud Gateway Fiber – Where Has $300 Been Spent?

At $579 versus $279, the Industrial is asking you to pay about $300 extra for a different kind of gateway bundle rather than a higher routing ceiling. Both platforms align on the core controller and gateway capability, including the same general IDS/IPS rating, so the decision largely comes down to whether you will use the Industrial model’s integrated features and physical design enough to offset the price difference. The biggest measurable value add is PoE output. The Fiber’s PoE budget is 30W total, which covers a single low to moderate power device, but it does not change how you design a network. The Industrial can deliver up to 270W of PoE output on DC input, with multiple ports supporting PoE+++ up to 90W per port. If your plan includes powering higher draw devices directly from the gateway, or you want to avoid adding a separate PoE switch in a small installation, that difference can replace other hardware and simplify cabling.

The next set of value drivers are convenience and deployment constraints. The Industrial includes integrated WiFi 7 (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) with external antennas, plus dual SIM slots intended for cellular related UniFi use, and it is built for harsher placement with a higher listed operating temperature range. Those are specific benefits when the gateway needs to live in less controlled spaces, when a basic local wireless link at the gateway is useful, or when you want those functions inside a single enclosure. If you already plan to deploy dedicated access points, dedicated switching, and a separate failover device, these integrated features are less likely to change the design. Storage is a smaller part of the $300, but it affects out of box readiness. The Industrial includes 128 GB microSD intended for NVR use, so Protect storage exists immediately with no additional parts. The Fiber can scale higher with an NVMe SSD up to 2 TB, but that storage is optional and adds cost. If Protect is a core requirement and you want higher retention, the Fiber can still end up costing more once storage is added, while the Industrial starts with basic capacity included.

UniFi Cloud Gateway Industrial – Verdict & Conclusion

The UniFi Cloud Gateway Industrial is primarily justified by what it combines into a single chassis, and by where it is intended to live. The unit pairs a fanless, ruggedized enclosure and higher temperature tolerance with integrated WiFi 7 (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) using external antennas, multi port PoE output that includes PoE+++ at up to 90W per port, and a high total PoE budget when powered from its included 54V adapter. It also includes pre installed microSD storage aimed at NVR duties, plus SIM slots that are designed around supported UniFi cellular integrations. None of these features change the stated IDS/IPS ceiling compared with other similar gateways, but they do change what additional equipment is required in smaller or more constrained deployments.

The value case depends on whether those integrated functions replace other purchases. If you would otherwise buy a separate network gateway, a WiFi access point or router, and a PoE+++ capable switch to power downstream devices, the combined cost and installation complexity can narrow the apparent price gap and in some cases make the Industrial model the simpler, potentially cheaper route overall. If your design already assumes dedicated switching, dedicated wireless, and storage sized beyond what a microSD setup can reasonably provide, the Industrial model’s premium is more likely to be paying for capabilities you do not use. In that situation, the practical advantage of the Industrial is mainly its physical build and power delivery, not a different performance class for routing and security inspection.

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5 Mistakes New NAS Buyers ALWAYS MAKE

If you are buying a NAS for the first time, it is very easy to focus on brand names, bay counts and discounts while overlooking practical issues that will shape your experience for the next 5 to 7 years. New buyers often underestimate noise in real rooms, forget to plan for future capacity growth, misjudge the usefulness of SSD cache, ignore long term power consumption, or assume that a couple of very large drives are always the best value. On top of that, many people treat a NAS like a simple external drive rather than a 24/7 network device that will sit near family members or co workers and quietly draw power every day. This article looks at 5 common mistakes that first time NAS owners make and explains how each one happens, what it looks like in normal home or small office use, and the straightforward checks you can perform before you spend any money so you do not end up with a noisy, inefficient or inflexible system.

Mistake #1: Underestimating NAS Noise in REAL-WORLD Use (IGNORE the official Specs Sheets)

A common mistake with a first NAS is to assume it will sound like a quiet router or a small external drive. In practice a NAS contains several moving parts that generate and transmit noise into the room, especially at night or in a small flat. Drive seek clicks, spindle hum, fan airflow and vibration passing into the furniture all add together. If the system ends up in a bedroom, living room or small home office, the constant whirr can lead to complaints from other people in the house and leave the owner wondering whether the device is faulty when it is simply behaving as designed. It is also easy to forget that scheduled tasks such as antivirus scans, backups and indexing will often push the CPU, fans and disks harder than normal file access, so a system that seems acceptable during light daytime use can become noticeably louder when these jobs run.

Noise levels are heavily influenced by physical design choices that new buyers rarely consider. Metal chassis units tend to amplify vibration compared with plastic enclosures, which means every drive click and fan change is more noticeable. Larger capacity HDDs, particularly above 8TB, usually contain more platters and a more active actuator assembly, which produces sharper clicks and a deeper background rumble than smaller disks. Fan design also matters. Rear mounted fans tend to push sound directly into the room, while models with downward facing or internal fans may spread the noise more evenly into the surface under the NAS. Even the desk or cabinet matters, since hard surfaces can resonate and make a quiet system sound louder. Simple changes such as placing the NAS on a foam pad, an anti vibration mat or thick rubber feet will reduce the amount of vibration transferred into the furniture and can make a noticeable difference to perceived noise without changing the hardware.

The practical way to avoid this problem is to plan acoustics at the same time as you choose capacity and CPU. If the NAS must live in an occupied room, it makes sense to look at lower noise HDD lines, to avoid the very largest capacities where possible, and to consider using SATA SSDs for the working volume if budget allows. Checking vendor spec sheets for noise ratings in dB is useful, but you should also think about where the NAS will physically sit and how air can flow around it, since putting a box in a sealed cupboard simply forces the fans to run harder. Most modern NAS systems allow fan speed profiles and drive hibernation, which can reduce noise during idle periods, and many also support power schedules so the unit can power down completely during hours when it is not needed. You can also move heavy jobs such as RAID scrubs, indexing and backup windows into predictable time slots, for example overnight if the NAS is in a separate room, so that short periods of higher noise are less disruptive while the system remains quiet for normal daytime access.

Mistake #2: Ignoring Future Capacity and Expansion (PLAN AHEAD!)

A second common mistake is to buy a NAS that only matches your current data footprint with no realistic allowance for growth. Many first time buyers look at their existing files, see that they use 2TB or 4TB, then choose a 2 bay unit and a pair of modest drives that cover today with a small buffer. Once the NAS is in use, however, new cameras, phones and laptops start backing up to it, family members begin storing photos and videos, and it often becomes the default place for downloads and shared work files. Within a year or 2, the system that once looked spacious can be near its usable limit, especially once you take RAID overhead and snapshots into account.

The physical bay count and the way you populate those bays on day 1 has a direct impact on how easy it will be to grow later. A 2 bay NAS that starts fully populated leaves you with only a couple of options when you run out of room. You either replace both drives with larger ones, which is expensive and involves a full rebuild, or you bolt on an external expansion chassis if the vendor offers one. A 4 bay unit that initially uses only 2 drives gives you a much smoother path. You can add extra disks one at a time, or take advantage of flexible RAID schemes from some brands that allow mixing different drive sizes over time, which is far more forgiving when budgets are tight or upgrade windows are short.

Avoiding this mistake means planning capacity as a multi year decision rather than a single purchase. It is usually better to buy a slightly larger chassis with more bays than you think you need, then start with a sensible number of mid sized drives that offer a good cost per TB. This gives you headroom to add disks later without reorganising everything and lets the array performance improve as you add more spindles. It also leaves space for other changes such as introducing SSD volumes or cache in the future without having to retire the entire unit. In short, it is safer to overspec the enclosure a little and understuff it at the start than to buy the smallest possible model and discover that you have run out of practical expansion options far sooner than expected.

Mistake #3: Assuming SSD Cache and RAM Upgrades are a Magic Performance Fix (SAVE YOUR MONEY!)

New NAS owners often treat SSD cache and RAM upgrades as a universal answer to “my NAS feels slow”, without checking whether the underlying workload or hardware actually benefits. It is common to see a 2 or 4 bay system with a modest CPU and a couple of M.2 slots promoted heavily as “cache ready”, which encourages buyers to add SSDs and memory on day 1. In reality, if the processor is already running close to 100 percent under load, extra RAM will mostly sit idle and cache will only accelerate specific types of access. For simple sequential workloads such as bulk media streaming or large backup jobs, disk performance and network limits usually matter more than having faster cache in front of the array, so the investment does not translate into a noticeable improvement.

SSD cache in particular is often misunderstood. Write cache temporarily lands incoming data on SSDs and then flushes it to HDDs later, which can smooth out bursty writes but does not change the final speed of the array. Read cache keeps copies of frequently accessed “hot” data on SSDs, but in most NAS use this tends to be small random IO, metadata and thumbnails rather than entire large media files. Some platforms allow you to tune cache block size and policy, which can help in database or VM heavy environments, but for simple file sharing the benefit is limited. If a NAS mainly serves big video files to a handful of clients, using SSD cache rarely justifies the cost. In many cases, placing the NAS operating system, app data and indexes on an SSD volume, or using SSDs as a small primary pool for truly performance sensitive shares, delivers more predictable advantages than a generic cache layer.

The same caution applies to memory upgrades. More RAM allows the NAS to keep more filesystem cache and run more services concurrently, but it does not compensate for an underpowered CPU or a saturated network link. A basic check of CPU and memory utilisation under your typical workload is essential before buying additional modules. If CPU usage is consistently low while memory is pegged, extra RAM may help. If the processor is the bottleneck, adding memory or cache will not change the response time of apps and shares. For most first time buyers, it is more sensible to size CPU, network and base storage correctly first, then consider SSD based OS volumes, manual or automated tiering, and targeted RAM upgrades later if monitoring shows clear evidence that these changes will address a real bottleneck rather than an assumed one.

Note – If you are a QNAP NAS owner, you CAN use an alternative to ‘SSD Cache’, but using QTier – this MOVES (not copy) to data from slower HDDs and onto faster SSDs, as data is frequently accessed.

Mistake #4: Treating Power Consumption as an Afterthought (You Have CONTROL)

Many new NAS buyers focus on purchase price and capacity, then only think about power consumption after the first full month of electricity bills. A NAS is designed to be available around the clock, which means that even modest differences in idle draw add up over a year. Larger HDDs with more platters, multiple bays running full time, and older or less efficient CPUs all contribute to a steady baseline load, even when no one is actively using the system. In small flats or home offices this continuous draw can be a surprise, particularly for users coming from purely cloud based workflows where the power cost is hidden in the subscription fee.

Hardware choices have a direct impact on how much power a NAS will use at idle and under load. High capacity HDDs tend to have higher idle consumption because the mechanics must be ready to spin and seek immediately. A system with fewer, larger disks may draw more power at rest than a similar capacity built from several smaller drives, although this is not a strict rule and depends on the specific models. CPU generation and class matter as well. Modern low power x86 chips such as Intel N series parts can idle in the single digit watt range but still turbo high enough for typical home workloads, while older desktop class processors often draw more even when idle. Buyers who only look at drive capacity and bay count without checking HDD datasheets and CPU TDP figures can easily end up with a system that runs hotter and more power hungry than necessary for basic file serving and backups.

Software features and configuration also play a major role, yet many first time owners never touch these options after initial setup. Enabling HDD hibernation for lightly used volumes can drop disk consumption from around 8 to 12 W per drive to well under 1 W when idle, multiplied across several bays. Most NAS platforms support scheduled power on and power off, which allows you to shut the system down completely during hours when it is not needed and wake it automatically for work periods or backup windows. Moving heavy jobs such as backups, RAID scrubs and indexing into specific time slots also helps, since the system can stay in a lower power state for more of the day. Simple measures like these, applied on top of sensible hardware selection, make the difference between a NAS that quietly adds a manageable cost to your electricity bill and one that runs at full power far more often than your usage requires.

Mistake #5: Assuming Fewer Large Drives are Better (Often the REVERSE is Better)

A frequent assumption among new NAS buyers is that the best approach is to purchase the largest individual HDDs they can afford, fit a pair into a small enclosure and rely on that pair for both capacity and protection. On paper this looks simple and neat. Two 30TB drives in a 2 bay unit appear to offer an easy route to 30TB of usable space with RAID protection. However, this approach often produces a poor price per TB compared with building the same or greater capacity from several mid sized disks, and it concentrates a lot of risk and cost into each individual drive. When one of these large disks fails or needs replacing, the financial hit is substantial and rebuilds can be lengthy.

In most cases, the price per terabyte on both sides will remain largely consistent at each capacity. HOWEVER, when you start putting these drives into a NAS/DAS enclosure and acting in the RAID configuration, it soon becomes apparent that the ben efits in Drive #s in a RAID 1 vs a RAID 5 immediately show a saving in almost every single capacity the smaller you go! Below are two examples of achieving 12TB in a NAS enclosure using RAID 1 vs using RAID 5 (so, still maintaining 1 disk drive failure protection and having 12TB of storage to use):

12TB Storage in a RAID 1 MIRROR	12TB Storage in a RAID 5

Looking at retail pricing makes the problem clear. Large capacity HDDs carry a significant premium that is not always reflected in proportional capacity gains. At the same time that a 30TB drive might cost 500 to 600 in local currency, 10TB or 12TB drives can often be found for less than 200 each. Four 12TB drives in RAID 5 or similar single disk fault tolerant layouts can deliver 36TB of usable space for less money than a pair of 30TB disks that only provide 30TB usable, while also offering more spindles for better aggregate performance. The trade off is higher drive count, which brings extra power use, more noise and additional points of failure, but in purely cost per TB terms the multi-drive configuration is often more efficient.

The practical lesson is that drive selection for a first NAS should consider more than headline capacity. New buyers should compare price per TB across several HDD sizes, factor in the desired RAID level and protection scheme, and understand how many drives their chassis can support now and in future. In many cases it is more effective to choose a slightly larger enclosure and populate it with several mid sized disks that offer a good value point, rather than filling a small unit with the largest drives available. This gives better flexibility for future expansion, more options if a disk fails, and a storage layout that balances cost, capacity and performance instead of relying entirely on a small number of very large and expensive disks.

Larger NAS/DAS systems are always more expensive, as they need to have more physical space, resource use in production and power/PSU sizes to run the larger enclosure. Add to this, thanks to memory shortages right now, that smaller scale NAS systems are starting to arrive with more memory by default (as 2-4GB is becoming less cost-effective to produce with chip shortages) and often with little/no increase in the base price. For example, below is the TS-264 and TS-464 NAS. Same CPU, design and ports – however the 2-Bay system has 8GB memory by default AND IS STILL $134 cheaper! So, this can often mean that you can save money on smaller quantities of larger capacity HDDs becuase the enclosure they are going in is cheaper over all.

Conclusion – PLAN AHEAD!

New NAS buyers rarely set out to make poor choices. The problems described above usually arise because a NAS is treated like a simple storage box rather than a device that will run all day, sit in shared spaces and gradually absorb more roles over several years. Noise, expansion, SSD cache, power consumption and drive sizing are all easy to overlook when you are comparing spec sheets or promotional bundles, yet each one has a direct and practical impact on how comfortable and economical the system will be to live with. The safest approach is to treat the first NAS purchase as a medium term infrastructure decision rather than a one off gadget. That means thinking realistically about where the box will sit, how many people will rely on it, how much data is likely to arrive over time and how much power draw and running cost is acceptable. A slightly quieter chassis, a few more bays, a balanced drive choice and sensible use of features like hibernation and scheduling will matter more in day to day use than chasing the biggest individual drives or adding SSD cache on day 1. By addressing these 5 areas before you buy, you reduce the risk of needing early upgrades or workarounds and increase the chance that the NAS you choose will remain suitable for several years without constant attention.

5 affordable Turnkey 10GbE NAS Solutions (Between $499 and $699)

For years, 10GbE networking has been seen as a premium feature reserved for high-end or enterprise-grade NAS devices, often pushing total system costs well beyond the reach of home users and small businesses. However, as controller prices have dropped and demand for faster data transfers has grown, a new wave of affordable NAS solutions has started to appear with built-in 10GbE. These systems no longer require expensive proprietary upgrade cards or third-party NICs, and many sit comfortably below the $699 / £599 price point. They cover a range of use cases, from compact SSD-based NAS devices to rackmount storage appliances and versatile desktop units. Below is a selection of some of the most notable options currently available, each offering a balance of performance, connectivity, and affordability for users who want to move beyond 1GbE or 2.5GbE without breaking the bank.

UniFi UNAS Pro (7-Bay, Rackmount)

I keep coming back to two words for the UniFi UNAS Pro—fundamentals and consistency. UniFi has clearly focused on making this system a strong addition to their ecosystem, prioritizing the essential storage needs of a NAS. They’ve succeeded in this, but comparisons with long-established competitors are inevitable. While solid, reliable, and stable, the UniFi UNAS Pro will take time to be competitive on the software front. If you’re deeply invested in the UniFi ecosystem, you’ll appreciate its ease of use and integration. However, outside of a UniFi network, it may feel feature-light compared to alternatives. The pricing is competitive for a launch product at $499, and while it’s not the best NAS on the market, it’s the most user-friendly and UniFi-ready. It will likely satisfy many users’ needs. I can certainly see this being integrated into existing UniFi networks as a 2nd stage backup alongside their already existing 3rd party NAS solution, with the potential to graduating to their primary storage as Ubiquiti continue to evolve this platform above and beyond the fundamentals their have nailed down in the UNAS Pro system.

• Approx. Price: $499 / £400

• Specs: ARM Cortex-A57 quad-core CPU, 8 GB RAM, seven 2.5″/3.5″ SATA bays, 1×10GbE SFP+ and 1×1GbE.

• Why It Stands Out: Exceptional price-to-performance for pure storage needs. Lacks advanced multimedia or container apps but ideal for high-speed backups in a rackmount setup.

BUILD QUALITY - 10/10

HARDWARE - 7/10

PERFORMANCE - 7/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.2

PROS

Nails down the fundamentals of NAS Storage very well
Easy to use GUI and well suited in the UniFi Ecosystem/UX
Complete Offline Use is supported
Use of a UI account is NOT compulsory
Excellently deployed Snapshot Features
10GbE out-the-box
Open HDD Compatibility, but also 1st party options too
Backup and Restoration Options Nailed down perfectly
Very power efficient and CPU/, Memory utilization rarely high
Compact, Quite and well designed chassis
The LCD controls are completely \'different level\' compared to other brands in the market
Promised competitive pricing
FAST deployment (3-5mins tops)
Reactive Storage expandability and easy-to-understand storage failover options
Mobile app deployment is intuitive/fast
Feels stable, secure and reliable at all times
Performance is respectable (considering SATA Bay count and CPU) but also sustained performance is very good
Single screen dashboard is clear and intuitive
Ditto for the native file explorer

CONS

7 Bays is a bit unusual, plus feels like the existing UNVR with different firmware
Additional App installation (eg. \'Protect\') not currently supported. So no container support for 3rd party apps
Network Controls are limited
Works at it\'s best in an existing UniFi managed network, feels a little limited in \'standalone\'
Multiple storage pools not supported (nor is RAID 0)
Lack of Scheduled On/Off
Lack of redundant PSU
Only 1 10Gb port and 1x 1GbE, no USBs for expanded storage or an expansion

Asustor Flashstor 12 Gen 1 (Compact NVMe NAS)

The Asustor Flashstor Gen 2 12-Bay NAS is a robust and versatile solution for users with demanding storage needs. Its combination of high-performance hardware, extensive connectivity options, and compact design makes it a standout choice for content creators, small businesses, and enthusiasts. With dual 10GbE ports, USB 4.0 connectivity, and support for up to 12 M.2 NVMe drives, it offers exceptional speed and scalability. While the device has a few quirks, such as its mixed PCIe slot speeds and lack of M.2 heat sinks, these are manageable with proper planning and aftermarket solutions. The Flashstor Gen 2 excels in raw performance, handling intensive workflows with ease and maintaining low noise levels even under load. Its power efficiency and robust thermal management further enhance its appeal for 24/7 operation. For users prioritizing hardware capabilities and performance, the Flashstor Gen 2 delivers on its promises. While its complexity may deter less experienced users, those with the technical expertise to configure and optimize the system will find it a valuable addition to their workflow.

• Approx. Price: $750 / £600

• Specs: Intel Celeron N5105, 12×M.2 NVMe slots, single 10GbE port, compact form factor.

• Notable Traits: High-density SSD storage in a small desktop chassis. Excellent value for SSD-heavy builds.

SOFTWARE - 6/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 10/10

PRICE - 7/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.0

PROS

Exceptional Performance: Dual 10-Gigabit Ethernet ports and USB 4.0 connectivity deliver fast and reliable data transfer speeds, ideal for 4K editing and collaborative environments.
Extensive Storage Options: Supports up to 12 M.2 NVMe SSDs, allowing for large-scale, high-speed storage arrays.
ECC Memory Support: Includes 16GB of DDR5-4800 ECC memory (expandable to 64GB), ensuring data integrity for critical applications.
Compact Design: Small footprint makes it perfect for workspaces with limited room.
Quiet Operation: Dual-fan system keeps noise levels low, even under heavy loads.
Flexible Connectivity: Features two USB 4.0 Type-C ports and three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports for direct storage access and peripheral integration.
Power Efficiency: Low power consumption (32.2W idle, 56W under load) makes it economical to run, even for 24/7 operation.
Thermal Management Enhancements: Dual fans and copper heat pipes efficiently dissipate heat, ensuring stable performance.
Support for Third-Party Operating Systems: Compatible with platforms like TrueNAS and Unraid for advanced customization.

CONS

Mixed PCIe Slot Speeds: Inconsistent PCIe bandwidth across M.2 slots complicates unified RAID configurations.
Lack of M.2 Heat Sinks: NVMe slots do not include heat sinks, requiring aftermarket cooling solutions for intensive workloads.
No Integrated Graphics: The AMD Ryzen V3C14 processor lacks integrated graphics, limiting hardware transcoding and multimedia capabilities.
Steep Price: The 12-bay model’s cost ($1,300–$1,400) and the six-bay version’s lack of ECC memory make them expensive compared to alternatives.

UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus

BOTTOM LINE – The UGREEN NASYnc DXP4800 Plus does not feel ‘finished’ yet and still needs more time in the over, but UGREEN have been very clear with me that this product is not intended for release and fulfilment till summer 2024 and improvements, optimization and product completion is still in progress. Judging the UGREEN NAS systems, when what we have is a pre-release and pre-crowdfunding sample, was always going to be tough. The DXP4800 PLUS is a very well put-together NAS solution, arriving with a fantastic launching price point (arguably even at its RRP for the hardware on offer). UGREEN has clearly made efforts here to carve out their own style, adding their own aesthetic to the traditional 4-bay server box design that plagues NAS boxes at this scale. Equally, although they are not the first brand to consider Kickstarter/Crowdfunding for launching a new product in the NAS/personal-cloud sector, this is easily one of the most confident entries I have seen yet. The fact that this system arrives on the market primarily as a crowdfunded solution (though almost certainly, if successful, will roll out at traditional retail) is definitely going to give users some pause for thought. Equally, the UGREEN NAS software, still in beta at the time of writing, although very responsive and nailing down the basics, still feels like it needs more work to compete with the bigger boys at Synology and QNAP. Hardware architecture, scalability, and performance are all pretty impressive, though the performance of the Gen 4×4 M.2 NVMe slots didn’t seem to hit the numbers I was expecting. Perhaps a question of PCIe bottlenecking internally, or a need for further tweaking and optimization as the system continues development. Bottom line, with expected software updates to roll out closer to launch and fulfillment, such as an expanded App center and mobile client, the UGREEN DXP4800 Plus is definitely a device worth keeping an eye on in the growing Turnkey and semi-DIY NAS market. As an alternative to public cloud services, this is a no-brainer and worth the entry price point. As an alternative to established Turnkey NAS Solutions, we will hold off judgment till it is publicly released.

• Approx. Price: $595 / £475

• Specs: Intel Pentium Gold 8505 (6-thread), 8 GB DDR5, 4×SATA + 2×M.2 slots, 1×10GbE and 1×2.5GbE, plus HDMI, USB-C, USB-A, and SD reader.

• Why It’s Attractive: Well-rounded design with rich connectivity and media support, undercuts most rivals on price and features.

SOFTWARE - 6/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 6/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 8/10

7.6

PROS

Exceptional Hardware for the Price
4 HDDs + 2x Gen 4x4 M.2 in 1 box under $400
Good Balanced CPU choice in the Pentium Gold 8505
10GbE and 2.5GbE as standard
An SD Card Slot (wielrd rare!)
10/10 Build Quality
Great Scalability
Fantastic Mobile Application (even vs Synology and QNAP etc)
Desktop/Browser GUI shows promise
Established Brand entering the NAS Market
Not too noisy (comparatively)
Very Appealing retail package+accessories

CONS

10GbE Performance was underwhelming
Crowdfunding choice is confusing
Software (still in Beta) is still far from ready 22/3/24
non-UGREEN PSU is unexpected

TerraMaster F4-424 Max / F6-424 Max

The TerraMaster F4-424 Max is a robust 4-bay NAS system that offers a powerful mix of features and flexibility for a wide range of tasks. Powered by the Intel i5-1235U CPU with 10 cores and 12 threads, the F4-424 Max excels at resource-intensive applications such as Plex media streaming, 4K hardware transcoding, and virtual machine hosting. Its dual M.2 NVMe slots running at PCIe Gen 4 speeds significantly improve storage performance, especially when used for caching, while the two 10GbE ports offer high-speed networking environments, allowing for 20Gbps throughput via link aggregation.

In terms of software, TOS 6 brings notable improvements, although it still lags behind the more polished ecosystems of Synology DSM and QNAP QTS. That said, TerraMaster’s continuous software evolution with each new version of TOS ensures that users have access to more robust tools and security features. For its price point of $899.99, the F4-424 Max is a compelling option for those seeking high-performance NAS solutions with scalability in mind. While the Pro model offers competitive performance, the Max takes it a step further with advanced networking, making it ideal for environments where speed is a priority.

• Approx. Price: $675 / £550 (F4-424 Max, during sale) – $899 / £700 (F6-424 Max, regular)

• Specs: Intel Core i5-1235U (10-core), 8 GB RAM, dual 10GbE ports, dual M.2, with 4 or 6 SATA bays depending on model.

• Why It Helps: The F4-424 Max frequently drops below the $800 mark in promotions, offering unusually strong CPU performance and dual 10GbE at a mid-range price point.

SOFTWARE - 6/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.2

PROS

Powerful Hardware: Intel i5-1235U with 10 cores and 12 threads for resource-heavy tasks.
Dual 10GbE Ports: High-speed networking capabilities with link aggregation for up to 20Gbps, ideal for large file transfers.
PCIe Gen 4 NVMe Support: Two M.2 NVMe slots offering exceptional performance for caching or additional high-speed storage.
Efficient Cooling: The large 120mm fan ensures quiet and effective cooling, making it suitable for home and office environments.
Improved TOS 6 Software: Enhancements in GUI, backup tools, and overall security bring TOS closer to its competitors.

CONS

Higher Price Tag: At $899.99, it’s more expensive than TerraMaster’s other models, which may deter budget-conscious buyers.
No PCIe Expansion: Lack of a PCIe slot limits potential for future upgrades, such as adding 10GbE cards or more M.2 drives.
Presentation: The software has improved a lot, but still feels inconsistent in places compared with alternatives from brands such as Synology and QNAP.

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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.

Buy the UGREEN DH4300 on Amazon @409	Buy the UGREEN DH4300 on UGREEN.COM	Buy the UGREEN DH4300 on B&H
	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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If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

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