Choosing the right NAS enclosure matters whether you're protecting family photos, building a home media server, or provisioning storage for a small office. This roundup compares proven enclosures across price, performance, software, and expandability. Recommendations are based on hands-on testing, real-world benchmarks, expert analysis, and user feedback.
Methodology
We tested candidate enclosures for a mix of home, prosumer, and small-business use cases. Our process combined lab benchmarks and real-world checks:
- Performance: Sequential read/write and large-file transfer tests over 1GbE/2.5GbE/10GbE where supported. Transcoding checks with Plex/Emby where applicable.
- Feature completeness: Available ports (10GbE, 2.5GbE, USB), NVMe caches, expanded bays, and hardware acceleration (NPU, transcoding).
- Software & ecosystem: Stability and features of vendor OS (Synology DSM, TerraMaster TOS, UGREEN NASync) and mobile/remote access apps.
- Usability: Drive installation, web UI setup, noise and power draw in typical home environments.
- Support & reliability: Warranty length, compatibility lists, and observed firmware maturity.
We weighted real-world experience and software ecosystem more heavily than raw specs—because a great NAS is as much about the OS and reliability as it is about CPU and ports.
Entry-Level 1-Bay NAS
Compact, affordable single-bay NAS designed for personal backups and remote access. Offers basic app-driven features, straightforward setup, and a small footprint for a bedroom or home office. Best for single-drive private cloud and light media streaming.
The 1-bay entry NAS is ideal for people who want a simple private cloud without breaking the bank. It uses a quad-core ARM CPU with a small NPU and supports 2.5" SATA drives up to 8TB, automatic photo organization, and remote access through the vendor app. Setup is tool-free and it includes USB-C host support for quick external backups. Expect limited multitasking and no RAID redundancy, so pair it with regular backups for the best data safety.
Pros: very affordable, easy setup, minimal footprint. Cons: single-bay limits redundancy and performance under heavy load.
2-Bay Multimedia NAS
A strong 2-bay option for home multimedia: Intel quad-core CPU, 2.5GbE networking, and 4GB RAM make it capable of 4K transcoding and multi-user streaming. Good balance of price and features for families and media enthusiasts.
This 2-bay NAS delivers a compelling mix of features for its price. Equipped with an Intel x86 quad-core CPU, hardware-level 4K H.265 decoding, and 2.5GbE LAN, it handled simultaneous media streams and Plex transcodes well in our tests. The OS offers AI-assisted photo organization and mobile management, plus tool-free drive trays for quick installs. Noise is low (rated around 19 dB(A)), making it suitable for living spaces. The unit supports TRAID and CloudSync for flexible redundancy and cloud sync options.
Pros: excellent media performance for the price, quiet operation, easy install. Cons: fewer bays than larger systems and limited enterprise features.
UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus
A premium 4-bay desktop NAS with an Intel Pentium 5-core CPU, 8GB DDR5, included 128GB SSD, and 10GbE connectivity. Built for power users who need fast local transfers, virtualization, or multi-stream 4K workflows.
The UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus is clearly aimed at power users and small offices. Its Intel Pentium Gold 8505 5-core CPU, 8GB DDR5, and onboard 128GB SSD deliver snappy UI response, VM-friendly performance, and excellent caching. The inclusion of a 10GbE port alongside 2.5GbE gives it headroom for high-bandwidth workflows—backing up large photo/video libraries or serving multiple simultaneous clients. Hardware features include two M.2 NVMe slots and 4K HDMI output for local media playback or direct GUI access. The vendor's AI-driven photo app and private-cloud features are convenient, though the software ecosystem is less mature than long-established brands.
Pros: excellent connectivity and CPU power, NVMe slots, SSD included. Cons: newer OS maturity and vendor support may lag established rivals.
Synology DS725+
A polished 2-bay prosumer NAS with Synology's DSM, strong app ecosystem, and expansion capability. Offers high sustained throughput and feature-rich services for backups, virtualization, and surveillance—good long-term investment for power users.
Synology's DS725+ nails the balance between hardware and software. The enclosure supports Synology DSM—arguably the most mature NAS OS—bringing robust file services, snapshots, Btrfs support, and an extensive app center for backups, virtualization, and surveillance. Performance is strong for a 2-bay unit with sequential read/write throughput suited to multi-user home or small-office workloads; you can expand storage with the official expansion unit. Synology's 3-year warranty and proven update cadence make this a safer long-term buy. Downsides are a higher price compared to bare-bones alternatives and fewer raw CPU cores than some high-end alternatives, but the software experience more than makes up for it.
Pros: best-in-class OS, strong feature set, expandability. Cons: higher cost vs basic enclosures.
Comparison & Key Differences
- Entry-Level 1-Bay NAS (Best Budget Pick, $89.99): Cheapest, simplest private cloud. Best for single-user backups and light remote access. No RAID redundancy.
- 2-Bay Multimedia NAS (Best Value, $249.99): Strong multimedia/transcoding performance, 2.5GbE, quiet operation—great for families and media streaming.
- UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus (Premium Choice, $629.99): High-connectivity premium 4-bay with 10GbE, SSD included, NVMe caching—best for prosumers and small offices needing speed.
- Synology DS725+ (Editors Choice, $519.99): Polished software experience, reliable updates, and expandability—best long-term investment and broadest app ecosystem.
Which is best overall?
- For most users who value a reliable OS, long-term support, and versatile features, the Synology DS725+ is the best overall choice. Its software ecosystem delivers more real-world value than raw specs alone.
Alternatives that excel in specific areas:
- Best budget: the single-bay entry unit is unbeatable for price and simplicity.
- Best value for media: the 2-bay multimedia NAS provides excellent performance for streaming and transcoding at a modest price.
- Best for raw speed and expandability: the UGREEN 4-bay offers 10GbE and NVMe slots for demanding workflows.
Final Recommendation
Our picks reflect a blend of hands-on performance testing, software ecosystem evaluation, and long-term reliability. If you want a single recommendation for broad use—home, prosumer, or small office—go with the Synology DS725+ for its mature OS, robust feature set, and expandability. If budget is the primary constraint, the compact entry-level 1-bay NAS is an excellent, affordable private-cloud starter. For media-focused homes that need strong 4K transcoding without spending on a premium 4-bay, the 2-bay multimedia NAS hits the sweet spot. And if you need raw throughput, NVMe caching, and 10GbE, the UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus is the premium choice.
Whichever enclosure you choose, prioritize: durable hard drives (buy from the vendor compatibility list), regular backups (off-site or cloud), and firmware updates. These practices have more impact on long-term data safety than any single spec sheet. Our recommendations are based on extensive testing, expert review comparisons, and synthesis of user feedback to help you pick the best NAS enclosure for your needs.