How New Synology NAS Product Refreshes Work?

What Are Synology NAS Product Refreshes and Why Do They Matter?

When Synology introduces a new wave of NAS devices, it’s easy to assume that each new model is a significant leap forward. However, many of these launches are better classified as product refreshes, not entirely new product lines. This distinction matters. A refresh typically reuses a core hardware platform—such as the chassis, CPU, or layout—but includes modest updates like better network interfaces, more memory, or small component shifts. In 2025, Synology rolled out one of its broadest refresh cycles in years, affecting models across their two-bay, four-bay, five-bay, and eight-bay portfolios. Understanding what a refresh actually is helps users make more informed decisions, especially when evaluating whether to upgrade or wait.

Synology refreshes its products for a few practical reasons. First, component availability and pricing change over time. CPUs and other hardware elements that were once expensive or reserved for high-tier models often become more affordable, making them suitable for use in lower-tier devices. For example, the AMD V1500B processor, once exclusive to mid-tier and enterprise NAS systems, has trickled down into several 2025 refreshes like the DS925+ and DS1525+. Similarly, market-wide transitions—such as the shift from 1GbE to 2.5GbE—are reflected in these updates, allowing Synology to modernize existing models while keeping their manufacturing costs and prices relatively stable.

One of the key things that sets a refresh apart from a brand-new NAS model is Synology’s commitment to product tier consistency. Devices like the DS725+, DS425+, or DS1825+ aren’t being built to reinvent the wheel. Instead, they exist to preserve the price-to-performance balance that their predecessors established in the Synology product lineup. By holding onto the same CPU, expanding RAM slightly, and upgrading network ports from 1GbE to 2.5GbE, Synology keeps these NAS solutions within their traditional target audience—be it home users, prosumers, or small businesses. The physical design and key feature sets are familiar, and that’s deliberate. Refreshes aim to improve what already works, not redefine the category.

It’s also worth recognizing that Synology’s product refreshes are not aimed at recent buyers. If you just picked up a DS723+ or DS923+ last year, you are not the intended audience for the DS725+ or DS925+. Instead, these refreshes are aimed at users still running a DS216+, DS416, or DS1813+—users who are five to ten years deep into their existing systems. For them, the new hardware represents a meaningful leap forward, even if it looks modest on paper. When you compare a DS916+ to a DS925+, the differences in memory, CPU threads, M.2 caching, and DSM features become much more pronounced.

Pricing also plays a central role in Synology’s refresh strategy. For the most part, Synology tries to keep prices stable across generations, despite inflation and rising manufacturing costs. For example, the DS425+ and DS225+ refreshes, though modest in their hardware upgrades (mainly 2.5GbE LAN replacing 1GbE), still aim to hit the same price points as their DS423+ and DS224+ predecessors. This can make refreshes seem less appealing to new buyers comparing specs on a chart, but it serves long-term users who value Synology’s software ecosystem, consistent performance, and extended support.

One notable outlier in Synology’s refresh strategy is the continued use of the Intel Celeron J4125 processor, particularly in models like the DS425+, DS225+, and DS625slim. Despite Synology’s tendency to update hardware every 2–3 years based on market trends and component availability, the J4125—originally launched in 2019—feels increasingly outdated in 2025. Intel itself has moved away from the Celeron/J-series naming convention entirely, transitioning to more efficient and capable platforms like Alder Lake-N and N-series processors. This shift highlights just how long in the tooth the J4125 has become. With no support for newer instruction sets, lower efficiency compared to modern equivalents, and limited future compatibility, its continued presence in refreshed Synology NAS models stands in stark contrast to the broader trend of hardware advancement. While Synology has prioritized price consistency and DSM support, the persistence of this older CPU dampens the appeal of these refreshes for new buyers who expect more current internals at a similar price point.

Another important factor is Synology’s software-first development model. Their NAS hardware isn’t meant to push technical limits but rather serve as a stable, reliable platform for DSM (DiskStation Manager). That’s why even in refreshes, the focus is on compatibility and long-term support over flashy specs. Synology has made this clear through product cycles like the DS1825+, which retains the same CPU as the DS1821+ but gains 2.5GbE and better memory configuration—supporting the increasing demands of DSM applications without needing an overhaul of the entire system.

In summary, a product refresh in Synology’s ecosystem is not a groundbreaking redesign, but a thoughtful, incremental update within an established product profile. These refreshes ensure the long-term viability of key NAS tiers while adapting to evolving market standards like 2.5GbE, more demanding software workloads, or new expansion options. For long-time users, they offer an accessible upgrade path. For newcomers, they may seem underwhelming on paper. But in either case, they represent a balancing act between hardware, price, and software synergy, which has long been Synology’s model—whether you agree with it or not.

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      21 thoughts on “How New Synology NAS Product Refreshes Work?

      1. Great video. I am looking to replace my 5 year old Netgear ReadyNAS 204 with a new Synology 923+ or 1522+. I am primarily using it as a file server but in the future I would probably also use at for automatic backup of our 3 desktop PC’s and 2 laptops.

        hould I consider anything other than these 2?

        It will be connected to a 10 BGit network.
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      2. I keep looking at the Synology option, but the drive compatibility aspect just make me go meh. So still on QNAP using WD Red Pro and Red NVME. DS1621+ of interest.
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      3. I understand why they would limit the HDD’s/SSD’s compatibility to avoid misuse but they could at least allow CMR NAS and Enterprise WD and Seagate drives. Btw starting and shutting down a nas everyday what does it do to the disks? Does it prolong the life of the components? Even though they are designed to run 24/7
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      4. Be clear on the SSD storage pools, its not that other units do not support it, they do… Rather, this is just fleecing customers – Synology don’t want to enable on other models, as they want you to believe its “unique” to certain models an encourage you to buy the newer model, and throw the old one out (Yeah, great environmentally-friendly move there!
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      5. Synology Hyper Backup doesn’t even support OneDrive natively. DSM and Synology apps seem consistent, but there also seems to be a walled garden that limits what you can do with a Synology NAS.
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      6. Umm I hate to say it but your wrong on both accounts of BTRFS and encryption. I just got their lowest end current model the ds223j and i have both of these options. I however didnt enable encryption as it will make transfering data slower and im not worried about my NAS getting stolen.
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      7. Thanks for the video. I am using Exos 14TB hdd in my new DS1522+ system hope that’s okay. I got that incompatibility warning as well but ignored it.
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      8. I have a Synology DS918+, but the way I’ve always tried to use it is to basically make my setup idempotent as it were. What I mean is everything I host on there, I just host it with Docker using Docker Compose, so if I ever got another NAS, or built my own server – whether it was Unraid, TrueNAS Scale, or just plain Debian, I ought to be able to just install Docker on it, then copy my docker folder over to it (which contains the docker-compose.yml and all the persistent storage for my containers), then run: docker-compose up -d, and all my stuff should basically just work, without being dependent on a particular operating system or vendor.

        The only “first party” Synology things I use tend to be monitoring and backup. I do use Hyper Backup to backup my important stuff to Backblaze B2, but I’m wondering if Hyper Backup makes a backup that only a Synology NAS could read. If my NAS died would be be able to recover my data without buying another Synology NAS?
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      9. Great overview mate. My only gripe, as always, is no DTS support on video station. I have to transcode my videos before putting them up on the Nas. Why don’t they simply charge the user a fee for a license to which I am willing to pay? Being I don’t use Plex, does Plex play DTS videos on a Synology NAS? Thanx Robbie & G’day! ????????????????????
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      10. I’m somewhat of a novice and this may be a dumb question, but HDDs seem like plug and play hardware, why would some drives not be compatible with Synology NASes?
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