The Best Network Attached Storage (NAS) Devices

Buffalo's LinkStation 210 is a classic entry‑level NAS: one bay with a 4TB drive included and a focus on straightforward setup. It stands out for affordability and simplicity — plug it into your router and you get a subscription‑free personal cloud accessible to Windows and macOS devices. Setup is beginner‑friendly and Buffalo provides US‑based support. Technical limits are obvious: a single bay means no RAID redundancy, modest CPU performance, and fewer advanced apps than higher‑end vendors. For households wanting a low‑cost central backup location or simple media sharing without managing multiple drives, this is an attractive option. If you plan to protect against drive failure, run heavy media transcodes, or need multi‑user performance, a multi‑bay, RAID‑capable NAS will be a better long‑term choice.

Pros:

• Drives included — low initial cost and simple setup.
• Good for single‑user backups and basic media streaming.
• Subscription‑free personal cloud and 24/7 support.

Cons:

• Single bay: no redundancy.
• Limited advanced features and modest hardware performance.
• Not designed for power users or multi‑user heavy workloads.

The MINISFORUM N5 Pro is a premium, performance‑first NAS that reads more like a compact server than a typical consumer NAS. With a 12‑core/24‑thread Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370, up to 96GB DDR5 support, native MinisCloud OS, multiple M.2 and U.2 options, and 10GbE/5GbE networking, it targets professionals who need high concurrency, fast transcoding, and AI‑assisted media processing. It supports up to very large raw capacities and includes PCIe expansion for further network or acceleration upgrades. In testing, the N5 Pro excels at simultaneous transcoding, multi‑VM use, and handling large photo/video libraries with fast thumbnails and semantic search. Drawbacks: it's expensive, power consumption and fan noise are higher than mainstream consumer NAS units, and the MinisCloud ecosystem is newer than Synology/QNAP’s mature DSM/QTS/QuTS environments. Also note the system disk uses one M.2 slot by default (which can affect M.2 availability).

Pros:

• Exceptional raw CPU performance and expansion capability.
• Best for heavy transcoding, virtualization, and AI workloads.
• Large capacity and enterprise‑class connectivity options.

Cons:

• High price and higher power/noise profile.
• Newer ecosystem; learning curve and occasional software rough edges.
• One M.2 slot occupied by system disk out of the box.

This 4‑bay NAS delivers an impressive blend of features for its price: 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, a 2.5GbE port, 4K HDMI output, and AI photo album features that auto‑classify and deduplicate images. It supports large capacities (up to 120TB diskless) and positions itself as a cost‑effective alternative to big‑brand NAS devices. In hands‑on use the unit proved responsive for typical home office and media‑server tasks — fast file transfers over 2.5GbE, smooth 4K direct playback through the HDMI out, and intuitive mobile/desktop apps for remote access. For value‑minded buyers you get features commonly found on pricier systems: solid RAM, accelerated networking, and intelligent photo management. Caveats: the software ecosystem is younger than Synology or QNAP’s long‑standing platforms, so some advanced apps or third‑party integrations may be missing. Drive compatibility should be verified against the vendor list.

Pros:

• Excellent feature set for the price: 4 bays, 8GB RAM, 2.5GbE, HDMI.
• Good media and photo management capabilities, beginner‑friendly setup.
• Strong capacity ceiling for future growth.

Cons:

• Software ecosystem less mature than Synology/QNAP.
• Drives not included; check compatibility list before buying.
• Support and long‑term updates vary by vendor.

Synology’s DS925+ strikes the balance most consumers and small teams need: predictable performance, mature software, and a rich ecosystem of apps. The 4‑bay chassis with dual 2.5GbE provides fast network transfers and redundancy options; the platform supports virtualization, advanced file services, snapshot replication, Surveillance Station, and Synology Photos with robust backup tools. In testing, the DS925+ delivered consistent sustained throughput suitable for multi‑user file access and media streaming, and DSM’s polished UI made administrative tasks straightforward. Synology’s attention to data protection (Btrfs snapshots, integrated backup workflows) and a three‑year hardware warranty also add confidence for long‑term storage. The DS925+ is pricier than basic consumer boxes, but it earns that premium through software, reliability, and expandability — our top pick for general‑purpose NAS use.

Pros:

• Best‑in‑class software (DSM), rich backup and photo tools.
• Dual 2.5GbE, strong multi‑user performance and expandability.
• Reliable, well‑documented platform with broad drive compatibility and support.

Cons:

• Higher price than entry models; drives not included.
• Power users needing extreme raw CPU throughput for many VMs or 8K real‑time workloads may prefer server‑class options.