Reviewing the Beelink ME Mini NAS – Flashy Brilliance

The Beelink ME Mini NAS is a compact, six-slot network-attached storage solution aimed squarely at home users seeking a quiet, efficient, and flexible storage platform without the cost or complexity of traditional full-size NAS systems. Measuring just 99mm in each dimension and built with a minimalist cube design, the unit is designed to blend into home environments such as living rooms, bedrooms, or home offices. At its core is the Intel Twin Lake N150 processor, a 4-core, 4-thread CPU with a 6W TDP and a burst clock of up to 3.6GHz, paired with 12GB of soldered LPDDR5 4800MHz memory. This combination targets scenarios such as home media streaming, light file serving, or soft routing, rather than heavy enterprise workloads.

The ME Mini supports six M.2 2280 SSD slots, delivering a maximum theoretical storage capacity of 24TB. This includes one Gen 3 x2 slot (designed for the OS) and five Gen 3 x1 slots for storage expansion.

These SSD slots are actively cooled via an integrated heatsink and top-mounted silent fan, with thermal pads pre-attached for single-sided SSDs. Network connectivity includes dual Intel i226-V 2.5GbE ports and Wi-Fi 6 via an M.2 AX101 module, offering options for wired link aggregation or wireless deployment. Designed to support operating systems such as Unraid, OpenMediaVault, and TrueNAS, the ME Mini provides sufficient hardware for media servers like Plex or Jellyfin, personal backup, or even entry-level virtualization tasks. With a built-in power supply and no reliance on bulky external adapters, the device prioritizes simplicity and space efficiency.

Beelink ME Mini NAS Review – Quick Conclusion

The Beelink ME Mini NAS stands out as a compact, energy-efficient, and well-balanced storage solution tailored for home users seeking quiet and capable performance without the complexity of larger NAS systems. With support for six M.2 NVMe SSDs—one at Gen 3 x2 and five at Gen 3 x1—it offers up to 24TB of storage in a 99mm cube form factor, complete with an internal power supply and silent fan-assisted cooling. Its Intel Twin Lake N150 CPU and 12GB of LPDDR5 memory provide enough processing headroom for tasks like 4K media streaming, personal backups, and soft routing, while dual 2.5GbE LAN ports and Wi-Fi 6 expand its deployment options. Though the fixed memory and limited PCIe bandwidth on most slots constrain scalability, the thermal efficiency, low power draw (as low as 6.9W idle), and reliable Crucial SSD options make it a compelling value proposition. It’s not aimed at high-performance or prosumer use, but for users building a quiet, tidy, and effective DIY NAS at home, the ME Mini delivers far more than its size suggests.

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Beelink ME Mini NAS – Design and Storage

Visually, the Beelink ME Mini sets itself apart from other mini NAS systems with its symmetrical cube-shaped design, measuring 99x99x99mm. Available in three color variants—Pearl White, Midnight Grey, and Peacock Blue—the device adopts a subtle, neutral aesthetic intended to fit into typical home environments without drawing unnecessary attention. The enclosure features rubber feet for vertical stability and ventilation grilles located at both the top and bottom, supporting a passive vertical airflow design that assists with heat dissipation.

Despite its small footprint, the chassis houses an integrated power supply unit (PSU), which eliminates the need for bulky external power bricks and simplifies cable management—an uncommon but notable design feature in NAS devices of this size.

Storage capacity is a central feature of the ME Mini, with support for up to six M.2 SSDs in 2280 format, totaling a maximum of 24TB. These slots are all positioned internally in a dual-sided configuration—three on each internal face—and interface via PCIe Gen 3. Five of the slots operate at Gen 3 x1 bandwidth, while one (typically slot 4) operates at Gen 3 x2, recommended for installing the OS. The use of M.2 NVMe SSDs enables dense storage with minimal thermal output compared to 3.5” drives, which aligns with the ME Mini’s aim of delivering high-capacity, low-noise storage for homes. There is also a 64GB eMMC module included by default, recommended for lightweight OS installations or router-based platforms.

Internally, the layout is deliberately engineered to optimize thermal contact between the SSDs and the large aluminum heatsink at the center of the chassis. Each M.2 SSD slot is lined with a pre-applied thermal pad to ensure direct contact with the heatsink, enhancing passive cooling performance. This configuration is most effective with single-sided SSDs, though there is still clearance for some double-sided modules.

The passive heat management is further augmented by a silent fan located at the top, which provides active airflow without introducing noticeable noise—recorded at just 31–34 dBA during idle operation and up to 40 dBA under heavy load.

The ME Mini’s storage design is not intended for hot-swapping or tool-less drive changes, a reflection of its focus on home and small office environments where drives are installed once and left in place. While this may limit flexibility for enterprise workflows, it benefits reliability and aesthetics, especially considering the internal PSU, which would otherwise be challenged by fluctuating thermal loads from frequent disk changes.

The result is a closed, compact system that maximizes storage density while maintaining a fanless aesthetic from the exterior.

For users opting for pre-configured models, Beelink offers bundles that include Crucial P3 SSDs—either one 2TB unit or two 2TB units—depending on the chosen configuration. This co-branding with Crucial ensures a known level of SSD endurance and performance, contrasting favorably with many competing budget NAS options which often use generic or unverified storage media. The factory pairing also ensures that one of the SSDs is installed in the Gen 3 x2 slot, delivering better system responsiveness and transfer speeds for OS-hosted operations such as Plex metadata handling, RAID cache, or VM images.

Beelink ME Mini NAS – Internal Hardware

The internal hardware of the Beelink ME Mini centers around the Intel Twin Lake N150 processor, a 4-core, 4-thread chip based on Intel’s 10nm architecture. With a base TDP of 6W and burst frequency of up to 3.6GHz, it is positioned as a power-efficient solution for NAS tasks that include multimedia playback, basic file sharing, and light application hosting.

While it does not support hardware transcoding at the same level as higher-tier Intel core chips with Quick Sync, the N150 performs adequately for 4K playback in Plex and other media servers when transcoding is avoided. In real-world use, the CPU averaged 60–75% utilization during simultaneous dual 2.5GbE access and SSD activity, indicating a solid baseline for single-user or family scenarios.

Complementing the CPU is 12GB of LPDDR5 memory, soldered directly to the board and clocked at 4800MHz. While the memory is non-upgradable, the capacity is sufficient for running lightweight NAS OS environments, containers, or even some virtual machines.

Unlike most mini PCs that cap out at 8GB in similar thermal envelopes, Beelink’s decision to include 12GB offers a practical boost for users running multiple services, such as a media server alongside a VPN container or light file indexing applications. The absence of SO-DIMM slots means this cannot be expanded further, which may deter power users seeking a more scalable system, but the default capacity fits the ME Mini’s home-use intentions well.

The overall thermal design pairs the CPU and SSDs with a centrally-mounted metal heatsink that acts as both a structural element and a cooling component. The silent fan located above the heatsink assists with vertical airflow, helping to maintain internal component temperatures during prolonged operation. During extended thermal tests—such as 24-hour idle and active file transfer sessions—surface temperatures peaked between 48°C and 60°C, particularly at the base where the PSU and networking ports reside.

While the design keeps the main components within reasonable thermal ranges, there is a potential thermal buildup at the bottom under sustained load, suggesting an optional future design revision could include a base fan.

Beelink ME Mini NAS – Ports and Connections

Despite its compact dimensions, the Beelink ME Mini includes a wide array of ports suited for both networking and peripheral connectivity. On the networking side, the unit features two 2.5GbE LAN ports (Intel i226-V), located at the rear, which support link aggregation or failover configurations. These enable transfer rates well above standard gigabit networking, although in practice, real-world throughput tends to be limited by SSD performance or PCIe lane constraints. During bandwidth testing, combined throughput between the LAN ports peaked around 580–600MB/s easily.

As much as many of us would want 10GbE – at this scale of CPU/Lanes, Price and just HEAT – I can understand why its absent here. That said, I do want to mention that the system includes onboard Wi-Fi 6 (via Intel AX101 module) and Bluetooth 5.2, expanding its use cases to wireless media streaming, mobile backups, and wireless NAS deployment without consuming physical LAN ports. More importantly though, UnRAID recently announced that in their latest update, you can now use wireless adapters (see below) – which, alongside UnRAID’s lightweight ‘on RAM’ deployment, makes it bloody IDEAL for using on the Beelink ME Mini

In terms of USB connectivity, the ME Mini provides a balanced selection across both older and high-speed standards. The rear I/O panel houses a USB 2.0 port (480 Mbps), while the front features one USB 3.2 Gen 2 port (10Gbps) and a USB Type-C port (also 10Gbps). This offers sufficient bandwidth for attaching external storage, keyboard/mouse input for system setup, or USB-based backup devices. While a higher count of USB 3.0+ ports might have benefitted users with multiple external drives, the available ports are positioned logically and suit the intended home-focused workflows.

Display output is provided via a single HDMI port located on the rear, which supports resolutions up to 4K at 60Hz. Although display output isn’t central to most NAS workflows, this port enables users to connect the system to a monitor or TV for initial OS installation, dashboard display, or media playback when used with platforms like LibreELEC or Kodi.

However, as noted during hands-on testing, functionality via HDMI may vary depending on the operating system installed—some headless NAS platforms may not fully support graphical output. Nevertheless, for users experimenting with hybrid HTPC/NAS setups or running Linux-based OS variants with a GUI, the HDMI port remains a useful inclusion.

Beelink ME Mini NAS – Performance and Power/Heat/Noise Testing

In testing, the Beelink ME Mini demonstrated respectable throughput for a system of its class, especially when factoring in its compact size, low power draw, and passively biased thermal design. Using Unraid and TrueNAS Core for performance benchmarking, sequential read and write speeds from the five PCIe Gen 3 x1 slots averaged around 740MB/s read and 544MB/s write under repeated 1GB test files. These numbers are typical for Gen 3 x1 lanes and reflect near-maximum lane saturation, suggesting minimal internal throttling under standard conditions. The Gen 3 x2 slot, intended for the operating system, provided higher performance—averaging 1.1GB/s read and approximately 960MB/s write when paired with the bundled Crucial P3 SSD.

Transfer speeds between SSDs installed in Gen 3 x1 and Gen 3 x2 slots were tested in both directions and maintained averages of around 590–600MB/s. These figures reflect the limitations of internal bandwidth allocation rather than SSD performance. Even so, for most home NAS scenarios such as 4K media playback, multi-user access to stored documents, or photo libraries, the bandwidth is more than sufficient. It’s worth noting that SSD cooling remained effective during prolonged access, with only modest thermal variation even under full-speed transfers across all six drives.

Thermal behavior during sustained load was closely monitored using a HIKMICRO thermal imaging camera. With all six SSDs installed and periodic access maintained over a 24-hour period, temperatures peaked at 48–51°C at the top panel and 58–60°C at the base, where most of the PSU and networking activity is concentrated. Running the same tests with the case removed saw temperatures settle slightly lower—around 49–51°C across the board—confirming the effectiveness of the internal heatsink and fan assembly. However, the bottom of the unit exhibited more thermal accumulation due to the lack of active ventilation underneath, pointing to an area for potential design refinement.

In terms of power consumption and noise, the ME Mini is especially frugal. With no SSDs installed, the device idled at 6.0–6.9W. When populated with six SSDs and left idle, it drew approximately 16.9W. During peak activity—dual LAN ports active, CPU load above 70%, and all drives in use—power draw peaked between 28W and 31W. These are competitive numbers even among ARM-based NAS devices, and particularly impressive for an x86-based solution with full M.2 NVMe storage.

Acoustic output was also controlled, with idle operation measured at 31–34 dBA and full load peaking at just under 40 dBA—quiet enough for placement in shared living spaces without distraction.

While performance is clearly limited by the Gen 3 x1 interface speeds on most slots, the device’s thermal and power efficiency arguably matter more for its intended audience. This NAS isn’t designed for high-throughput, multi-client virtualization tasks or heavy 10GbE video editing pipelines. Instead, it excels in delivering balanced, stable, and low-noise performance across general-purpose NAS workloads. For users building a Plex server, family backup archive, soft router, or even an experimental home lab appliance, the ME Mini offers just enough headroom to handle real-world demands without overwhelming complexity or cost.

Beelink ME Mini – Performance and Environmental Metrics (Over 3 Days)

Beelink ME Mini NAS Review – Verdict and Conclusion

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Why is PLEX Increasing Prices and Changing their Software Services?

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

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

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

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

Could PLEX Have Approached Funding and Sustainability Better?

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

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

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

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

What Else is Changing in Plex?

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

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

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

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

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

Are We Seeing the End of PLEX on the Horizon?

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

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

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

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

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

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