Synology BeeDrive Review – Bit Different?
Synology has been one of the biggest names in the world of storage for both home and business users for well over 20 years, and although they have been predominantly associated with network-attached storage, they have occasionally dabbled in alternative storage mediums. In just the last 5 to 6 years, we have seen them explore the world of routers, hard drives, SSDs, and surveillance cameras, and now they have rolled out a new external SSD backup device- the Synology BeeDrive. Designed for and targeted at no-nonsense, beginner-level local backups, the BeeDrive stands in stark contrast to the majority of Synology solutions in their portfolio. They’re attempting to find a middle ground between the convenient and easy backup processes found in the likes of Google Drive and Dropbox, alongside the ease of Apple Airdrop file transfers, while avoiding the complexity of network-attached storage. It’s a big undertaking and one that more serious storage veterans may scorn as overly simplistic at best, or limiting at worst. But what about the target audience of comparatively inexperienced storage users? How will they find the Synology BeeDrive? Let’s review this comparatively new backup system and help you decide if it deserves your data.
Synology BeeDrive Review – Quick Conclusion
The Synology BeeDrive is a well-made product that aligns with Synology’s style. Its software is excellent, the build quality is top-notch, and its operation is incredibly user-friendly. Despite its robust software capabilities, including support of multiple clients and versions, customization of file synchronization and backups, and the Synology BeeDrop functionality, the BeeDrive might appear under-featured when compared to Synology’s own NAS servers. However, the need for a connected PC client for backup and synchronization applications, although crucial for the BeeDrop feature, might make long-term operations of the drive less smooth for some. Despite the clear differentiation in target audiences for these products, Synology’s reputation in the NAS world makes comparison inevitable, even for entry-level users. The BeeDrive might seem simplistic at launch, but perhaps long-term integration with Synology’s ecosystem will alter this perception. If you’re looking for simple, uncomplicated local backups between your client hardware, the BeeDrive could be a suitable, low-impact alternative to a NAS. For everyone else, a Synology Value Series box with a couple of drives might be a more evolved storage solution.
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Synology BeeDrive Review – Retail Packaging
The packaging for the Synology BeeDrive is definitely aimed more at off-the-shelf purchases than exclusively e-retail. Arriving in a fantastic compact box, the BeeDrive is a modest and small-footprint storage device that weighs less and is smaller than the majority of external hard drives we have reviewed so far.
The box contains a fairly standard cardboard framework and the drive includes the expected accessories that you would find with most external drives. There’s the Synology BeeDrive itself, available at launch in one-terabyte and two-terabyte capacities, an external USB C to USB C cable, a USB C to A adapter, and a first-time setup manual. All software that is included with the Synology BeeDrive, which is arguably the main selling point of this drive, can be found online and is downloadable via multiple 3D barcodes and Synology’s own website.
As you would expect, the quality of all of the components included is pretty high and although they aren’t really anything special, they are all branded appropriately much like any Synology product. Aside from the USB cable being a little short, I can’t really fault the accessories. The USB type A adapter clicks in neatly and firmly too.
Given the price tag that the Synology BeeDrive arrives at, with the 1TB at approximately $139 and the 2TB at $199, I would certainly expect a high production quality, and this does not disappoint. However, it also does not blow the mind.
Synology BeeDrive Review – Design
The first thing that you notice about the Synology BeeDrive external SSD is that it is fantastically small and light. Synology has continued to leverage the improved storage capacity per cell and the result is that this drive is clearly using a very small form M.2 NVMe SSD drive inside. At the time of writing, I was unable to identify the SSD that is being used inside the Synology BeeDrive, but I will dismantle the drive later and update this review and the YouTube video accordingly once identified. Indeed, identifying the SSD inside the Synology BeeDrive was challenging, even utilizing tools such as Crystal Disk Mark.
The only physical connection on the Synology BeeDrive is a USB type C connector at the base of the device which serves as both the data transfer and power supply for this drive. It is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface which means that it can achieve speeds of 1,000 megabytes per second, thanks to the internal NVMe inside. Likely, this SSD could achieve higher speeds outside of this external enclosure, but that would require utilization of more modern USB Gen2x2 connectivity, USB 4, or Thunderbolt interface, which would increase the base price and limit the number of users able to take advantage of these higher performing interfaces.
The design of the Synology BeeDrive is quite slick and tremendously understated. But then again, the market is not exactly short of modest and slickly designed external SSD drives in 2023. So what exactly sets the Synology BeeDrive apart from other USB drives on the market, which are perhaps a little bit more affordable?
What Makes the Synology BeeDrive Any Different from a Normal External SSD?
When it was first revealed that Synology was rolling out external SSDs into their portfolio, the big question for many was what exactly they were bringing to this type of storage that didn’t already exist from numerous external USB SSDs in the market from the likes of Seagate, WD, SanDisk, and Sabrent. Right now, you can pick up a 1TB external hard drive for about $40, a 5 gigabit external SSD for about $80, and a 10 gigabit external USB SSD for about $99. With the Synology 1TB BeeDrive SSD arriving at a suggested $130, what exactly is Synology doing differently from what these other drives offer?
Much like the bulk of Synology products, the real appeal of the Synology BeeDrive lies in the software. Despite Synology NAS hard drives having comparatively lower hardware specifications in the market, it’s the DSM software that sets them apart from others and what carries the premium price tag for the majority of Synology products. The same is very much true of the Synology BeeDrive, thanks to the inclusion of Synology-designed backup, sync, and live drop functionality being presented in an incredibly user-friendly and near-seamlessly integrated fashion.
Upon connecting the Synology BeeDrive to your local PC and installing the software, an array of backup, synchronization, and live file drop services become available across multiple devices. It enables synchronization and backup of files from up to five different devices to the BeeDrive. The software provides several customization options to fine-tune your backups. These include maintaining up to five versions of a given backup file, allowing reversion to older versions if needed, and file format and size policies to ensure non-essential bulky files are excluded while crucial files and folders are backed up. The software also supports one or two-way synchronization, allowing you to decide whether files in multiple locations are mirrored or if one device is designated as the primary creation point and the other as the backup.
“BeeDrop” is another impressive feature that allows quick transfer of files from your connected iOS or Android mobile device to your desktop. This function, reminiscent of Apple AirDrop, facilitates seamless and wireless transfer between all your devices. While other third-party applications or chat or synchronization platforms offer similar services, these generally require you to utilize third-party storage and cloud providers, raising questions about the security of your data during and after the file exchange.
The BeeDrive software for mobile services is available on both Android and iOS. However, desktop client support is currently limited to Windows systems, with plans for Mac OS support expected later. While the BeeDrive provides a range of impressive features, one significant limitation is that it needs to be connected via USB to a PC client device when in operation. Unlike Wi-Fi supported external drives that run on battery power, such as the WD wireless passport drive from 2018, the Synology BeeDrive can only operate when connected to a computer. The computer then communicates with connected clients via its network adapter/LAN.
Despite this, there are some advantages to the BeeDrive system. For example, for those who frequently work off-site (such as at photo shoots, video production on location, creating reports at a client’s office, or while traveling), the BeeDrive provides an automated means to back up data upon return to your office. By simply connecting the BeeDrive to your main machine, all backups and synchronization will occur automatically. Furthermore, the BeeDrive supports up to five PC client devices. Users who frequently move between different Windows machines may find the BeeDrive useful not only for carrying data between these different client machines but also for live synchronization upon connection with each of them. This creates a portable master drive that constantly syncs with multiple systems in a nearly seamless manner. Cross-platform support already exists with the Synology BeeDrive having both iOS and Android support. This is further enhanced with support for converting HEIC to JPEG inside the BeeDrive and its software, allowing seamless image transfer and viewing between these different client profiles.
However, it must be acknowledged that the BeeDrive is best suited to those who prefer hardware to handle all the data management with minimal input by the end user. While utilizing a network attached storage device does have a steeper learning curve and requires your NAS system to either be on an intelligent schedule or on 24/7, NAS systems still offer significantly more capability than this type of entry-level backup solution. The BeeDrive should not be seen as a replacement for owning your own private NAS server. The Synology BeeDrive has only recently been launched, and Synology will likely improve its integration into their ecosystem. Therefore, it might seem premature to evaluate this product in its initial state, when it’s very likely that we’ll see this device’s capabilities expand, particularly in terms of support for the Mac platform and integration with the Synology NAS DSM platform. If the Synology BeeDrive could be connected to a Synology system with the proprietary Synology B application, it could offer a less resource-intensive way to backup and synchronize files and folders on your client devices than existing solutions like Synology Drive or Hyper Backup.
It might also prove beneficial to allow connected client devices to have sync and backup privileges with the Synology BeeDrive, which would be managed and safeguarded by the technology NAS, thus ensuring these client devices do not have access to the larger long-term storage array. Although the BeeDrive is a well-made device with a promising software package, it may not appeal to established Synology NAS users and appears to be targeting more entry-level, hassle-free storage users.
It’s worth noting that the BeeDrive is not Synology’s first venture into wireless storage backups. About a decade ago, they introduced the Synology DS213 Air, a traditional 2x NAS device with DSM and RJ45 connectivity, and a built-in wireless adapter. Though Synology never followed up on this product, one could argue that the BeeDrive is aimed at the same user base, albeit its requirement for a connected PC client might dilute this argument.
Synology BeeDrive Review – Review Conclusion
The Synology BeeDrive is a well-made product that aligns with Synology’s style. Its software is excellent, the build quality is top-notch, and its operation is incredibly user-friendly. Despite its robust software capabilities, including support of multiple clients and versions, customization of file synchronization and backups, and the Synology BeeDrop functionality, the BeeDrive might appear under-featured when compared to Synology’s own NAS servers. However, the need for a connected PC client for backup and synchronization applications, although crucial for the BeeDrop feature, might make long-term operations of the drive less smooth for some. Despite the clear differentiation in target audiences for these products, Synology’s reputation in the NAS world makes comparison inevitable, even for entry-level users. The BeeDrive might seem simplistic at launch, but perhaps long-term integration with Synology’s ecosystem will alter this perception. If you’re looking for simple, uncomplicated local backups between your client hardware, the BeeDrive could be a suitable, low-impact alternative to a NAS. For everyone else, a Synology Value Series box with a couple of drives might be a more evolved storage solution.
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