Unboxing The Synology DS218PLAY 4K Multimedia NAS for Home

The New Synology 4K 2-Bay DS218play NAS for 2017 is available ā€“ Is it worth your data?

DS218play 2-Bay NAS

The Synology ā€˜playā€™ series has got a little bigger with the release of the new Synology DS218play NAS, hot on the heels of the release of itā€™s 4-Bay big brother (the DS418Play) this is the latest in a long line of 2-Bay multimedia specialized Network Attached Storage devices from Synology and arriving at a modest Ā£190+ without VAT, it is easy to see why it is appealing. But does this 4K NAS actually deliver?

Costing around Ā£40-50 more than the DS218J and DS118, does this latest Synology NAS deserve your attention?

What are the specifications of the DS218play NAS and what can it do?

Synology DS218play side vent
Synology DS218play side vent

Arriving with an impressive and budget-friendly set of internal specifications, they have really crammed in a number of more modern features than previous play series NAS devices. The CPU is a new and improved 64bit ARM based chip that can transcode 4K media, as well as arrives in quad-core, at 1.4Ghz per core ā€“ twice that of the older DS216play.

Model Synology DS218play
Price Ā£200+ ex.VAT
CPU Model Realtek RTD1296
CPU Architecture 64-bit
CPU Frequency Quad Core 1.4 GHz
Hardware Encryption Engine 256 YES
Hardware Encryption Engine (AES-NI) NO
Hardware Transcoding Engine 10-bit H.265 (HEVC), MPEG-4 Part 2, MPEG-2, VC-1; maximum resolution: 4K (4096 x 2160); maximum frame rate per second (FPS): 30
System Memory 1 GB DDR4

DS218play 2-Bay NAS 5

Also, the new DS218play arrives with DDR4 memory. This is fast becoming a standard of a number of Synology NAS and something that QNAP and the like could learn from. At 2133Mhz, compared with the 1800Mhz od the DDR3 of the older unit, it is certainly a welcome addition. Alongside 4K transcoding, this CPU also has a hardware encryption engine supporting live 256-bit encryption. Though both these features were present in the older unit, they are performed bigger and better on this new device. Of course, there is more to this device than just multimedia. Like many Synology NAS, this device also supports many other Synology NASĀ features, such as:

  • Arrives in a plastic compact chassis, thereby reducing power consumption, noise and heat
  • Arrives DLNA certified, so you can stream your content to your Smart TV, Xbox One, PS4, Sonos and more

  • Supports JBOD (Just a bunch of Drives), RAID 0 (combine both HDD/SSD drives into a single large drive of storage, RAID 1 (your data is copied across two drives, so you always have a complete, up to the millisecond backup) and SHR (Synology Hybrid RAID ā€“ all the benefits of RAID 1, but with the ability to mix drives. Very handy years down the line)
  • Includes Synology Diskstation Manager (DSM) 6.1 (6.2 in beta) FREE ā€“ lots of apps, access, functionality and intuitively designed software options for homeĀ and business
  • Connect withĀ iOS and Android mobile applicationsĀ ā€“ DS File, DS Video, DS Photo and DS Music available FREE

  • Compatible with Windows, Android and Mac
  • More than movies, host an iTunes server for audio device access
  • POwer enough to support apps, including mail and business servers that provide excellent CRM and CMS systems
  • Set up tasks and schedules for downloading files and in popular formats such as BT, NZB, HTTP, FTP and more

What are the specifications and hardware of the Synology DS218play NAS?

Synology DS218play inside
Synology DS218play inside

The chassis has barely changed since the release of the older DS216play. It is still a trayless design, so no hot swapping. Not a huge issue in multimedia NAS use, but still a little annoying.

Synology DS218play ports
Synology DS218play ports

Likewise, though there are dual USB 3.0 ports for backing up and making external drives network accessible, there is only the 1x LAN RJ45 port ā€“ which is a little disappointing given that the DS418play arrives with 2x. Given the growing size of 4K multimedia, you would think the ability to uplaod files at twice the speed would be a very welcome treat (hence itā€™s inclusion in the 4-Bay) and therefore a bit of a missed opportunity in the DS218play NAS. That said, both the chassis and the internal hardware all add up to a remarkably quiet and low power device that can playback both HD and 4K Media very well. However if you are looking for a NAS that performs well in transcoding in Plex and more dense 4K/1080p transcoding, then perhaps you should move up to the DS718+ NAS.

What is included with the Synology DS218play NAS?

DS218play 2-Bay NAS 3

Included in the retail box are the standard accessories you would expect with a Synology Diskstation NAS. Once you remove the boxes that are covered in Synology logos, you find:

  • The Synology DS218play NAS Server
  • 2.5ā€³ and 3.5ā€³ screws for HDD/SSD
  • Rear mounting screws for the chassis
  • A mounting bracket
  • 1x RJ45 LAN cable
  • 1x 90w PSU
  • Instructions and first-time setup guide
  • Synology C2 Cloud trial (the official Synology Cloud service for your backups off-site)

Synology DS218play scale

The device can be set up with a single HDD/SSD, but works best with two drives inside (WD Red, Seagate Ironwolf or HGST NAS Deskstar v.2) as then you can enable that RAID 1 or SHR enviornment. Later this month I will be comparing the DS218play and DS216play to see which NAS deserves your data, but even at this early stage, it is easy to say that the DS218play is a better NAS in almost every single way. Unless you see the DS216play from Synology in a Black Friday Deal with more than Ā£40-50 off, I would certianly go for the more recent and capable DS218play NAS.

When is the Synology DS218play going to be released and where can I buy it?

 

As always, we recommend nascompares.com, the NAS Experts, for buying your first, second or tenth NAS device and they are already taking orders on theĀ new DS218play. With over 20 years of experience in data storage, build and test services included free, cost-effective worldwide shipping, pre and post technical support and a multitude of ways to get in touch with them 24Ɨ7, it really is a no-brainer. Arriving at aroundĀ Ā£190+ ex.VAT, they hope to see a release of this item before the end of the year.

The Synology DS218play 4K Multimedia NAS 2-Bay is Available to Buy NOW

Synology DS218PLAY

  • Release Date ā€“Ā End of October 2017
  • Price ā€“Ā Ā£190+ ex.VAT
  • Realtek RTD1296 Quad-Core 1.4GHz CPU
  • 1GB of DDR4 Memory
  • 2x USB 3.0
  • 4K and HD Multimedia Playback and Transcoding

 


šŸ“§ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER šŸ””


    šŸ”’ Join Inner Circle

    Get an alert every time something gets added to this specific article!


    Want to follow specific category? šŸ“§ Subscribe

    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,Ā 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.

      By clicking SEND you accept this Privacy Policy
      Question will be added on Q&A forum. You will receive an email from us when someone replies to it.
      šŸ”’Private Fast Track Message (1-24Hours)

      TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions
      If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a ā˜• Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  
       
      Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US
      Ā Ā Ā Ā 
       
      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.

      ā˜• WE LOVE COFFEE ā˜•

       
      locked content ko-fi subscribe