Best NAS for Under $499

Best NAS You Can Buy Right Now (Mid-2025) for Under $499 As of mid-2025, the sub-$499 NAS market is more competitive than ever, with several brands offering systems that deliver strong hardware, dedicated operating systems, and multiple drive bays within a modest budget. For home users, prosumers, and small teams looking to centralize data, manage […]

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Latest Prime Day Deals
USA DEALS
Synology 4-Bay DiskStation DS923+ => -20% $479.99
Synology 2-Bay DiskStation DS723+ => -20% $359.99
Synology RT2600ac 4x4 dual-band Gigabit Wi-Fi router => -20% $119.99
Synology WRX560 - Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router => -20% $175.99
NETGEAR Nighthawk WiFi 6 Router (RAX120) => -52% $216.99
Seagate IronWolf ST16000VN001 16 TB => -20% $425.93
Western Digital 6TB WD Black => -24% $189.00
Western Digital 8TB WD Red Plus => -18% $122.99
Western Digital 20TB WD Red Pro => -36% $319.99
Samsung 990 PRO NVme M.2 => -55% $129.99
UK DEALS
QNAP TS-464-4G => -19% £559.00
QNAP TS-464-8G => -£30 voucher
Seagate IronWolf, 2TB, NAS drive => -18% £63.23
WD Red Plus 6TB NAS drive => -10% £124.99
WD Red Plus 1TB NAS drive => -17% £47.99
WD Red SN700 4TB NVMe SSD => -28% £309.99
Seagate IronWolf, 8TB => -25% £147.90
Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1 TB PCIe NVMe => -40% £42.99
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NEWS

Week 27 Tech Roundup – Encrypted Portable SSDs, AI-Driven NAS Kits, DRAM Milestones, PCIe Gen5 Breakthroughs, and NAS Case Innovations [2025-07-04 11:14:18]
Week 26 Tech Roundup – Compact NAS Launches, microSD Express Speeds, NAND Forecasts, and Synology’s Global Release [2025-06-27 13:31:03]
Week 25 Tech Roundup – DDR4 Sunset, Wi-Fi 7 Home Routers, 2nm SRAM, and Next-Gen Storage [2025-06-20 11:33:14]
NEW UniFi NAS - What Comes Next in 2025/2026? ZFS, NVMe, More Racks [2025-06-16 10:50:32]
NEW UniFi NAS - What Comes Next in 2025/2026? [2025-06-13 13:34:23]
Week 24 Tech Roundup – U.S. Semiconductor Expansion, HBM4 Milestone, AM5 Motherboards, and More [2025-06-13 12:25:30]
Week 23 Tech Roundup – AI NAS, Docker Security, Sustainable RAM, and Next-Gen Storage [2025-06-06 12:04:31]
NEW UniFi NAS - What Comes Next in 2025/2026? [2025-06-12 15:00:03]
Week 22 Tech Roundup – Wi-Fi 7 for All, 100TB HDD Ambitions, Edge AI NAS, PCIe 5.0 Breakthroughs & NAS OS Upgrades [2025-05-30 10:49:04]
Synology Explain WHY They Changed Drive Support and Verification in 2025 NAS [2025-06-01 08:38:24]

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Synology DS1825+ vs DS1821+ NAS

Synology DS1825+ vs DS1821+ NAS Comparison – Get It Right, FIRST TIME! When Synology releases a new NAS in its “Plus” lineup, users often expect a blend of practical improvements, long-term support, and a reasonable upgrade path from the previous generation. The Synology DS1825+ arrives in 2025 as the official successor to the 2020/2021-released DS1821+, […]

LATEST COMMENTS

https://craftdrillclicker.com/ [REPLY]
Who cares! Its the product that we buy not the name. Plus they have been in business for a decade..... [REPLY]
Very great review, but some erroneous technical information: - USB4 is up to 40Gbps per port (not 20Gbps) - The N5 Ryzen 7 255 is 8C/16t Zen 4 (not Zen 5 [REPLY]
antalya nakliye [REPLY]
I am interested in this also, but fir Proxmox and/or Hyper-v [REPLY]
"Two USB4 ports (with Alternate Mode DisplayPort 2.0 support) are located on the rear panel, each capable of delivering up to 20 Gbps" Are the USB4 port [REPLY]
If I buy the m.2 drive with heatsink, will it fit? [REPLY]
Hi there to all, for the reason that I am genuinely keen of reading this website’s post to be updated on a regular basis. It carries pleasant stuff. [REPLY]
Well, I did, but apparently my pihole still catches everything... sorry, that's not as easy a fix to do... [REPLY]
This webpage is soooo good! Thanks a bunch! (I deactivated my adblocker for you) [REPLY]
Thats a laptop cpu. A processor designed for a mobile device put into a desktop device, never intended to be moved or go mobile. A desktop device needs a [REPLY]
Has anyone tested 24TB drives? I have the WTR Pro and it does NOT support 24TB drives and support is non-committal. [REPLY]
Seems strange that you make no mention of the DisplayPort connector, just the HDMI [REPLY]
I really enjoyed trading this article. I think the refurbished Minisforum units are an excellent value. [REPLY]
Rob, love your work, but the links are $h!t. Looks to me like it's not actually available .... [REPLY]
Not if you create a RAID or zfs pool with the 4 NVMe's, use that as fast storage and the HDD for the cold store. [REPLY]
I have mine on order and I figure we are going to be hit with the import tax regardless of where we buy. Shipping is due 10th July and I'm looking forward [REPLY]
partally Seagate and Toshiba [REPLY]
Second that. This NAS is ideal for a Proxmox+TrueNAS setup but will largely depend if the SATA can do passtrough. I have ordered mine in the hope that it d [REPLY]
What about passthrough ? Did you check if it’s at least easily doable for the disk controller and the NVMes ? [REPLY]

Synology DS1525+ vs DS1522+ NAS

Synology DS1525+ vs DS1522+ NAS Comparison – Get It Right, FIRST TIME! With the arrival of the Synology DS1525+ in 2025, many users are now weighing it against its immediate predecessor, the DS1522+, released in 2022. On the surface, both NAS units share the same 5-bay form factor, nearly identical chassis design, and very similar […]

I went to Synology HQ and Asked About Hard Drives…

Synology Explain WHY They Changed Drive Support and Verification in 2025 NAS During a recent visit to Taipei for Computex 2025, I took the opportunity to visit Synology’s headquarters and speak directly with company representatives about one of the most discussed and divisive topics in the NAS community today — the company’s increasingly strict stance […]

Minisforum MS-R1 POWERHOUSE ARM Mini PC

Minisforum Reveal the MS-R1 PCIe Gen4 ARM Mini PC At Computex 2025 in Taipei, Minisforum introduced the MS-R1 — a new class of mini PC that marks a distinct departure from its usual reliance on x86 architecture. This compact system is built around the ARM-based CIX P1 processor, an emerging 12-core chip aimed at redefining […]

The Synology RS2825RP+ Rackstation NAS Revealed

Synology Launches RS2825RP+ RackStation NAS for Business Deployments As Synology continue its large-scale refresh of its solution portfolio, it is finally time to start talking about rackmount solutions! Although many were waiting on the RS1225+, it looks like the brand wants to ‘go big’ with the Synology RS2825RP+ 16 Bay, expandable 10GbE equipped and 25G […]

The Synology DS425+ NAS Revealed

Synology DS425+ NAS Revealed The Synology DS425+ arrives as part of the company’s 2025 refresh of its popular DiskStation NAS lineup, positioned as a 4-bay solution for prosumers, content creators, and small business users who demand reliable private cloud functionality, media handling, and data protection tools—all in a desktop-friendly chassis. Succeeding the widely adopted DS423+, […]

Synology DS725+ NAS Revealed

Synology DS725+ Expandable 2-Bay NAS Revealed The Synology DS725+ enters the scene as part of the company’s 2025 refresh to its Plus Series lineup, targeting power users, small businesses, and edge deployments that require compact, capable storage solutions without stepping into rackmount or enterprise territory. As a successor to the DS723+, it introduces several meaningful […]

Zimaboard 2 Review

The Zimaboard 2 Single Board Server Review – The Best Yet? In an increasingly saturated market of single-board computers and compact servers, the ZimaBoard 2 arrives with a clear goal: to offer an affordable, x86-powered, DIY-friendly alternative that bridges the gap between embedded systems and full-blown home servers. Developed by IceWhale, a brand that has […]

Synology DS925+ vs DS923+ NAS

The Synology DS925+ versus Synology DS923+ – Buy OLD or BUY New? Every few years, when Synology chooses to refresh several of its popular devices—updating a number of its hardware features—new buyers and those looking to upgrade have a choice to make. Is it nobler in the mind to purchase the more affordable and already […]

Synology DS1525+ NAS Released (in the East)

The Synology DS1525+ NAS is Confirmed and Just Overshadowed the DS925+ The Synology DS1525+ NAS represents a significant evolution in the brand’s 5-bay desktop series, bringing forward a more scalable, performance-focused solution aimed at both advanced home users and professional environments. Positioned as a more powerful and versatile alternative to the recently launched DS925+, the […]

Minisforum MS-A2 Review – The MS-01 Killer?

Minisforum MS-A2 PC Review The Minisforum MS-A2 is the latest entry in Minisforum’s growing lineup of workstation-focused mini PCs. First shown at CES 2025, the MS-A2 builds on ideas introduced in earlier models like the MS01 and MS-A1 but shifts toward an AMD platform, offering users a choice between two high-end Ryzen 9 CPUs. Rather […]

Synology DS925+ NAS Released

Synology DS925+ NAS Officially Launches in Eastern Markets – Full Specs and Features Confirmed UPDATE 3rd May 2025: The Synology DS925+ NAS is Now Released, and I have made a YouTube Video Review here, and a written DS925+ NAS here ORIGINAL ARTICLE BELOW: Following early retailer listings and semi-official leaks earlier this year, the Synology […]

Buy a NAS Now or Not? – LET’S TALK TARIFFS BABY (sigh)

The U.S. Tariffs and Their Looming Impact on NAS and Storage Tech The United States has recently announced a sweeping set of import tariffs on goods from nearly every major trading partner in the world. This policy shift, driven largely by the country’s growing trade deficits with nations like China, the European Union, Vietnam, and […]

CHEAP 10GbE Adapter for Synology DS923+, DS1522+, DS723+, DS1522+ NAS – Should You Buy?

How to Upgrade Your Synology to 10GbE Cheaper with the Xikestor SKN-A113-Mini The XikeStor SKN-A113-Mini is a third-party 10GbE network adapter designed as a budget-friendly alternative to the official Synology E10G22-T1-MINI adapter for select NAS models, including the DS923+, DS723+, DS1522+, and RS422+. While both adapters provide similar networking capabilities, the XikeStor comes at a […]

You NEED A NAS – Time To Ditch the Cloud

You NEED A NAS Drive – And Here Is Why In today’s digital world, data storage plays a crucial role in both personal and professional environments. Many individuals and businesses rely on cloud storage for convenience, but it’s not always the best option. While cloud services provide accessibility and automation, they come with limitations, including […]

Lincstation S1 NAS Review

The Lincstation S1 NAS Review – REAL Turnkey UnRAID NAS? The network-attached storage (NAS) market continues to expand, with an increasing number of brands stepping into the space with new and innovative solutions. One such emerging brand is Lincplus, known for its affordable tech offerings, including the Lincstation N1 released in 2024. Now, they are […]

UnifyDrive UP6 NAS Revealed – The Most Powerful Portable NAS in the World?

The UnifyDrive UP6 NAS – Coming Soon! The UnifyDrive UP6 is a portable network-attached storage (NAS) device that merges robust performance with portability. Designed for professionals, creatives, and remote workers, it caters to those who require high-speed data management and advanced functionality in a compact, mobile form factor. Building on the foundation of the UnifyDrive […]

Minisforum N5 Pro NAS Revealed

Minisforum N5 Pro NAS – Is it too Early for NAS of the Year? With so many mini PC brands trying to break their way into the network-attached storage NAS market, it takes a lot for any one of them to really stand out against the established players in the private server solutions market. However, […]