This might be the world's smallest NAS, but it's also not strictly a NAS, at least not until you invest in some optional accessories. Unfortunately the result isn't a favorable comparison against even the simplest NAS we've tested. However, if you're looking for something to tinker with, the ZimaBoard 2 might be for you.
The Asustor Lockerstor 2 Gen2+ AS6702T v2 impresses with dual 5 Gbps Ethernet and solid build quality, making it a great choice for NAS enthusiasts. With space for four NVMe drives and user-friendly software, it delivers excellent performance and expandability, though its price is steep compared to newer models.
The TerraMaster F4-425 Pro is a minor update to the F4-425 Plus that has been given the faster Intel Core 3 N350 CPU. It ships with TOS 7, which besides an update to Linux kernel 6.12, has been given some AI features with the addition of OpenClaw.
The most potent NAS we've tested to date in terms of processing performance featuring Core Ultra Series 2, alongside strong network throughput options. With OCuLink eGPU expandability and local AI, you'd better have deep pockets, as it comes with a price that matches its features and performance.
The Asustor AS1202T is a budget friendly NAS that delivers surprisingly good storage performance while being quiet and power efficient. It does have some interesting quirks though and it might also be a sign of things to come considering component pricing trends.
The DH2300 is the first two-bay NAS we've tested since 2022, and Ugreen's first low-cost NAS built around an 8-core Arm chip from Rockchip. It's the most power efficient NAS we've tested, and can stream high definition HDR content too, but how does it stack up in terms of performance?
The TerraMaster F4-425 Plus is a complete overhaul of its previous chassis design. There's support for up to three M.2 NVMe drives now and you also get a new Intel N150 CPU with 16 GB RAM and dual 5 Gbps Ethernet. Additionally, all USB ports are 3.2 Gen 2 with 10 Gbps transfer rates.
The Asustor Nimbustor 4 Gen2 AS5404T is built around the older Intel Celeron N5105, but how much of a difference does that really make? This is also the first NAS we've tested with fully working SMB multichannel, which offers a strong performance boost in some scenarios.
The TerraMaster F4 SSD is the most compact NAS we've tested to date, featuring an exclusively M.2 SSD drive setup, which could be ideal if you need to carry a lot of data around with you.
QNAP's TS-432X is powered by a rather uncommon Arm SoC which is made by an Amazon subsidiary. With dual 2.5 Gbps ports, a 10 Gbps SPF+ port and a PCIe x4 expansion slot, it has a lot going for it, but does it offer competitive performance?
If you're ready to invest in a high-performance NAS, the TerraMaster F4-424 Max is a compelling option. With dual 10 Gbps network interfaces, a fast processor, and two PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe drive slots, it delivers impressive hardware for the price.
A book sized NAS that not only fits eight M.2 SSDs, but also offers 10 Gbps Ethernet to make the most out of the drives. On top of that, it's extremely quiet during operation and boasts a compelling feature set.
The TerraMaster F4-424 is the first Intel Processor N-series NAS we've tested and it proves to be a pretty competent mainstream consumer NAS. Not only does it have two 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports, but also a pair of NVMe slots and upgradable RAM.
TerraMaster's D8 Hybrid combines hard disk drives and M.2 NVMe drives in a USB Type-C connected DAS that can also be used to add more drives to a NAS. Thanks to the 10 Gbps USB interface, it is able to outperform any Gigabit Ethernet NAS.
Ugreen is joining the NAS market with no less than six new storage appliances. We take a closer look at the mid-range NASync DXP4800 Plus model with an Intel Pentium Gold 8505 CPU, 8 GB of DDR5 RAM, 10 Gbps Ethernet and support for dual NVMe drives amongst other impressive features.
The Synology DS923+ is a notable upgrade to the DS920+ when it comes to data transfers, which are the main dish for a NAS server. Besides higher transfer speeds, it can utilize NVMe drives as storage, and it comes with up to 32 GB upgradeable ECC memory, so your data is protected. The only downgrade is in the multimedia section.
The Asustor Lockerstor 2 Gen2 AS6702T is a high-performance NAS, offering two drive bays and four M.2 slots. It operates silently and power consumption is low, thanks to the efficient Intel Celeron N5105 CPU.
The Asustor Drivestor 4 (AS1104T) is a highly affordable NAS with some features that are usually only found in much more expensive products, including storage expansion and a 2.5 GbE port. It is suitable for home users who need something reliable and user-friendly without it breaking the bank.
The Asustor Drivestor 4 Pro AS3304T isn't quite as affordable as the DS420j, but compared to the latter, it most notably has a 2.5 GbE port, twice the RAM, and storage expandability through USB 3.0 ports. However, don't expect transfer rates over USB 3.0 to be high, and the weak CPU will also set performance limits.
The Synology DS1520+ is ideal for small offices or enthusiast users in need of more storage space. Should your storage requirements dramatically increase, it also provides huge expandability options. We also took a look at the new DSM 7.0 operating system and were seriously impressed.
The Asustor Lockerstor 4 (AS6604T) is a high-performing, expensive 4-bay NAS that operates quietly. It packs capable hardware, including a highly efficient Intel Celeron CPU and two 2.5 Gbit Ethernet ports. It can also take two fast NVMe drives for caching.
The Synology DS1621+ is an expensive high-performance 6-bay NAS server ideal for business environments. Its main asset is the huge total storage capacity with two optional expansion units. On the other hand, the lack of an embedded GPU means this is not the best NAS for multimedia applications.
The QNAP QGD-1602P is an innovative product, a NAS and managed PoE switch in a single package. It is expensive, but offers numerous features and uses hardware capable of coping with demanding scenarios. Finally, its build quality is astonishing—this product is built like a tank.
The TD2 Thunderbolt 3 Plus offers plenty of features at a good price. Overall performance is good as well, and the option to cheaply increase the storage through USB 3.1 ports is great. If you require speedy external storage, make sure to pair it with two SSDs to get the most out of it.
The Synology DS920+ is a solid NAS server with lots of features and options for users who can pay its high asking price. Upgrades over the older DS918+ are not significant, though. Besides a stronger SoC and faster RAM, the rest of the hardware is about the same. HDMI and 2.5 Gbit Ethernet ports would have made a nice addition.
