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A Compact NAS for Four Hard Drives
The DS425+ is a part of Synology’s “Plus” series, offering a 4-bay format that supports both 2.5″ and 3.5″ drives, along with two additional NVMe slots. It targets advanced users and small setups looking for a standalone, quiet, and functional NAS. The design and hardware offer no surprises: the chassis remains compact (166 × 199 × 223 mm), cooling is managed by two 92 mm fans, and it continues to use an external power supply. This is standard for Synology—well-built, yet risk-averse.
An Outdated Processor
Under the hood, Synology has repurposed the Intel Celeron J4125 quad-core 2 GHz processor, previously used in the DS423+. This CPU, first released in 2019, is starting to show its age. It’s adequate for backup, file sharing, or certain DSM applications like Drive or Surveillance Station, but it struggles with tasks like transcoding or more demanding activities. The RAM starts at 2 GB (upgradable to 6 GB) without ECC, which feels insufficient for 2025, especially for a product expected to remain reliable for several years.
Slightly Improved Networking
The only significant new hardware feature is the addition of a 2.5 Gb/s Ethernet port, alongside a standard 1 Gb/s port. This is a small improvement on paper, but the lack of dual 2.5 Gb/s connectivity limits the options for aggregated links or high-speed redundancy. Compared to competitors that have offered multi-Gigabit capabilities for some time, this step seems both late and limited by marketing decisions. The unit also includes two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports.
Increasingly Restrictive Disk Compatibility Policy
The most controversial aspect is the disk compatibility. Synology now mandates the use of “certified” proprietary disks (HAT3300, SNV3400, etc.). Installing DSM or creating volumes with third-party disks that aren’t approved is no longer possible. Even popular options like IronWolf or WD Red are excluded. This limitation forces users to purchase more expensive Synology hardware or face software restrictions. It’s a deliberate move, supposedly to ensure reliability and support, but it significantly restricts user freedom.
We also plan to publish several reviews of NAS devices from other brands, including QNAP and UGREEN, in the coming days and weeks, to see if the grass is greener on the other side.
The DS425+ is expected to be available soon at an undisclosed price.