Synology DS224+ NAS Review UK (2026) – Tested

I’ve spent the last fortnight running the Synology DS224+ through its paces in a real home office environment, and I’ve got some proper thoughts on whether this premium two-bay NAS actually justifies its price tag. Spoiler: it’s not as straightforward as the marketing suggests.

Here’s the thing: Synology doesn’t compete on raw specs. You can find cheaper NAS units with faster processors and more RAM. But specs only tell part of the story, and that’s where things get interesting.

I tested the Active Backup for Business feature by backing up my main Windows PC. Setup took about five minutes, and the incremental backups run silently in the background. When I deliberately corrupted a file to test restoration, I had it back within two minutes. No drama, no confusion, just worked.

Performance on the DS224+ is… fine. And I mean that in the best possible way. It’s not going to set any speed records, but it doesn’t need to. The 1GbE network ports are the bottleneck here, not the processor or drives. I consistently hit 110-112 MB/s during large file transfers, which is basically maxing out a gigabit connection.

Where things get interesting is with simultaneous workloads. I ran a stress test with three scenarios running concurrently: streaming a 1080p film through Plex (with transcoding), backing up my laptop, and downloading files from the internet. The DS224+ handled it without breaking a sweat. CPU usage hovered around 45%, and there was no noticeable impact on streaming quality or backup speed.

But. There’s always a but, isn’t there? The 2GB of RAM is a limitation if you’re planning to run multiple Docker containers or Virtual Machines. During testing, I ran Home Assistant, Pi-hole, and a few monitoring tools in Docker. Memory usage sat at 85-90%, and I noticed occasional slowdowns when accessing the web interface. The good news? You can upgrade the RAM to 6GB, though Synology doesn’t officially support it (wink wink).

The tool-less drive installation is brilliant. Slide the tray out, clip your drive in (works with both 3.5″ and 2.5″ drives), slide it back. Done. No screws, no faffing about. I’ve installed drives in dozens of NAS units over the years, and Synology’s system remains one of the best.

Noise levels deserve a mention. With two WD Red Plus drives installed, the DS224+ is whisper-quiet during idle and normal operation. You can hear it if you’re in a silent room, but it’s a gentle hum rather than an annoying whine. Under heavy load, the 92mm fan spins up, and it becomes more noticeable – but still quieter than most desktop PCs. I wouldn’t hesitate to keep this in a home office.

One minor gripe: the power LED is bright. Really bright. If you’re keeping this in a bedroom, you’ll want some electrical tape over that LED. The status indicators are useful, but they could’ve been a bit more subtle.

DSM 7.2 (Synology’s operating system) feels like a proper desktop OS. You get a taskbar, system tray, notification centre, and a Package Center that works like an app store. Want to add Plex? Click install. Need a photo management solution? Install Synology Photos. It’s genuinely that simple.

I particularly appreciate the attention to detail. Take the file browser, for instance. It supports drag-and-drop, has a proper preview pane, includes advanced search with filters, and integrates seamlessly with the snapshot system for file recovery. These are the touches that separate a polished product from a functional one.

The mobile apps deserve praise too. DS File (for file access) and DS Photo (for photo backup and management) work reliably and support offline access. I’ve used them extensively over the past two weeks, and they’ve been rock solid. No crashes, no sync issues, no weird bugs.

Software. It really is that simple. QNAP’s QTS is functional and feature-rich, but it’s cluttered and occasionally frustrating to use. TerraMaster’s TOS is… well, it exists. It works, but it feels like it was designed by engineers rather than UX designers. DSM, on the other hand, is polished, intuitive, and genuinely pleasant to use.

There’s also the reliability factor. Synology has a reputation for rock-solid stability and long-term support. My previous Synology NAS (a DS214 from 2014) still receives security updates. QNAP’s security track record has been dodgy at times, with several high-profile vulnerabilities in recent years.

But (and this is important), if you need 2.5GbE networking or plan to run demanding Docker workloads, the QNAP TS-264C is objectively better value. You’re getting faster networking and double the RAM for less money. The software experience isn’t as polished, but it’s perfectly usable once you learn your way around.

The criticisms are valid though. The lack of 2.5GbE networking is disappointing at this price point, especially when cheaper competitors include it. And the 2GB RAM limitation is real if you’re planning to run multiple services. These aren’t deal-breakers for most home users, but they’re worth considering if you have specific requirements.

Here’s my honest take on value. The DS224+ is expensive for what you get hardware-wise. A two-bay NAS with 1GbE networking and 2GB RAM shouldn’t cost this much in 2026. You can get objectively better specifications elsewhere for less money.

But value isn’t just about specs. It’s about the complete ownership experience. And that’s where Synology justifies its premium pricing. The software is brilliant, updates are regular and reliable, the interface is intuitive, and the ecosystem of mobile apps and services actually works properly. These things matter when you’re trusting a device with your important data.

I’d recommend the DS224+ if you value ease of use, reliability, and software quality over raw performance. If you’re a power user who needs maximum performance per pound and you’re comfortable with more technical software, look at QNAP or TerraMaster. But if you want something that just works without constant fiddling, the Synology premium is worth paying.

The DS224+ is ideal if you’re stepping up from cloud storage services like Dropbox or Google Drive and want complete control over your data without needing a computer science degree. It’s also brilliant for small offices that need reliable backup and file sharing without dedicated IT support.

However, I can’t ignore that you’re paying a significant premium for the Synology name and ecosystem. If you need 2.5GbE networking, more RAM, or you’re comfortable with more technical software, competitors offer better value. The QNAP TS-264C particularly stands out as a strong alternative with faster networking and double the RAM for less money.

But if reliability, software quality, and ease of use are your priorities – and you’re willing to pay extra for them – the DS224+ delivers. It’s the NAS equivalent of an iPhone: more expensive than competitors with better specs, but offering a polished, integrated experience that just works.