The DS218+ NAS versus DS216+II – Synology Plus Series NAS Comparison

• Both units cab be used as a fantastic Plex Media Server
• Serve as a cross-platform service – bridging connections and transfers of files between Mac and Windows systems over the network
• Heavily support backups, archiving, remote replication and comprehensive snapshot technology meaning you will have an equal amount of backup options whichever you go for. As well as migration, connection and interaction with existing cloud services like dropbox, Google Drive, ElephantDrive and Synology C2
• Create a comprehensive Surveillance solutions, supporting multiple IP cameras and even arriving with some licences included

So, regardless of whether you buy the Synology DS218+ or the DS216+II, you have a very solid NAS to build from.

Synology DS218+ NAS, Why should you buy it?

The DS218+ NAS was released in September 2017 and arrived alongside a number of high-profile Diskstation NAS. Check out our unboxing below:

What are the Pros and Cons of the Synology DS218+?

DESIGN – I absolutely love this new chassis. Robbie on our YouTube channel, when asked to compare it with the DS216+ case, described it as comparing the new Robocop movie with the older one. Much more modern shape and design, a good mix of sharp edges with all the curves in the right places

FEATURES – On a hardware level, you are going to be hard pushed to find a better 2 bay in this price range. Only the Synology DS718+ gives you better hardware options, but at a price of just £280+ without VAT, this is hard to beat

PERFORMANCE – Featuring a great J series CPU from intel in Dual Core and 2GB of memory, this unit can perform all of the very latest applications from synology in DSM 6.2

VALUE – Synology have really turned a corner on their NAS series with this upgrade to the DS218+ flagship home two bay NAS. This is a worthy successor to the DS216+II and highly recommended.

DESIGN – Still features that odd removable front panel, instead of lockable trays.

FEATURES – Just one LAN port mans that link aggregation is not supported

PERFORMANCE – That dual core CPU, though an x86 chip that is highly suitable as a plex media server, is just a little underwhelming for creating even a single standalone VM use.

VALUE – If you reduce the size of your hard drives for this NAS by even 1TB each, you can afford the more powerful DS718+

Synology DS216+II NAS, Why should you buy it?

The Original Synology DS216+ was released in January 2016 and was almost immediately compared with the DS716+. Later that year however, due to CPU shortages, a new and improved version of this device was released – The Synology DS216+II. Below was our response at the time:

What are the Pros and Cons of the Synology DS216+II?

DESIGN – Clean design, Metal and in keeping with the rest of the Synology 2 Bay Series 

FEATURES – Good solid Synology NAS with all the support you would expect from their PLUS series. 

PERFORMANCE – Excellent Read and Write transmission speeds via a single LAN port as well as AES-NI Encryption and 4K support is a bonus. 

VALUE – For the money, you are getting a well-rounded NAS and most certainly on of the leaders of the 2 BAY NAS market today.

FEATURES – The inclusion of USB 2.0 and only 1 gigabit LAN port is a little underwhelming. 

PERFORMANCE – Though the performance figures are very good for a 2 Bay devices, you may see occasional performance dips when accessing excessive media streams and with Plex. 

VALUE – Lack of HDMI port may put off media users to a lesser degree

Should you buy the Synology DS218+ or the DS216+II – Conclusion

Choosing between them ultimately comes down to that CPU and that ability to upgrade that memory. The CPU in both is very similar (though the DS218+ J3355 CPU is far more efficient and gives you more in the grand scheme of things) and if you have a choice between these and DS218+ you need the NAS for more than just media – Go for the DS218+.

Still not convinced? Below are the specifications and how they compare:

CPU
Synology NAS Model	Synology DS216+II NAS	Synology DS218+ NAS
Where to Buy?	£250+ ex.VAT	£280+ ex.VAT
CPU Model	Intel Celeron N3060	Intel Celeron J3355
CPU Benchmark	989	1313
CPU Architecture	64-bit	64-bit
CPU Frequency	Dual Core 1.6 burst up to 2.48 GHz	Dual Core 2.0 burst up to 2.5 GHz
Hardware Encryption Engine	YES	YES
Hardware Encryption Engine (AES-NI)	YES	YES
Hardware Transcoding Engine	H.264 (AVC), H.265 (HEVC), MPEG-2 and VC-1; maximum resolution: 4K (4096 x 2160); maximum frame rate per second (FPS): 30	H.264 (AVC), H.265 (HEVC), MPEG-2 and VC-1; maximum resolution: 4K (4096 x 2160); maximum frame rate per second (FPS): 30
Memory
System Memory	1 GB DDR3	2 GB DDR3L
Memory Module Pre-installed	N/A	2GB (1 x 2GB)
Total Memory Slots	1	2
Memory Expandable up to	N/A	6 GB (2 GB + 4 GB)
Storage
Drive Bays	2	2
Maximum Drive Bays with Expansion Unit	7 – But cannot be added to the RAID. Independant Storage	7 – But cannot be added to the RAID. Independant Storage
M.2 Drive Slots	N/A	N/A
Compatible Drive Type* (See all supported drives)	3.5″ SATA HDD 2.5″ SATA HDD 2.5″ SATA SSD	3.5″ SATA HDD 2.5″ SATA HDD 2.5″ SATA SSD
Maximum Internal Raw Capacity	20 TB (10 TB drive x 2) (Capacity may vary by RAID types)	20 TB (10 TB drive x 2) (Capacity may vary by RAID types)
Hot Swappable Drive
External Ports
RJ-45 1GbE LAN Port	1	1
USB 2.0 Port	2	0
USB 3.0 Port	1	3
eSATA Port	1	1
USBCopy	YES	YES
File System
Internal Drives	Btrfs EXT4	Btrfs EXT4
External Drives	Btrfs EXT4 EXT3 FAT NTFS HFS+ exFAT*	Btrfs EXT4 EXT3 FAT NTFS HFS+ exFAT*
Notes	exFAT Access is purchased separately in Package Center.	exFAT Access is purchased separately in Package Center.
Appearance
Size (Height x Width x Depth)	165 mm x 108 mm x 233.2 mm	165 mm x 108 mm x 232.2 mm
Weight	1.25 kg	1.30 kg
Others
System Fan	92 mm x 92 mm x 1 pcs	92 mm x 92 mm x 1 pcs
Fan Speed Mode	Cool Mode Quiet Mode	Full-Speed Mode Cool Mode Quiet Mode
Noise Level*	18.2 dB(A)	19.3 dB(A)
Scheduled Power On/Off	YES	YES
Wake on LAN/WAN	YES	YES
Power Supply Unit / Adapter	60W	60W
AC Input Power Voltage	100V to 240V AC	100V to 240V AC
Power Frequency	50/60 Hz, Single Phase	50/60 Hz, Single Phase
Power Consumption*	17.40 W (Access) 7.40 W (HDD Hibernation)	17.23 W (Access) 5.4 W (HDD Hibernation)
Warranty	2 Years	2 Years

Hardware Specifications – Differences in Blue

DSM Specifications

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