First-Time NAS Buyer – 4-Bay NAS for Family Use (Backups + Photos/Videos) - Printable Version +- ASK NC (https://ask.nascompares.com) +-- Forum: Q&A (https://ask.nascompares.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=1) +--- Forum: Before you buy Q&A (https://ask.nascompares.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=2) +--- Thread: First-Time NAS Buyer – 4-Bay NAS for Family Use (Backups + Photos/Videos) (/showthread.php?tid=12058)

First-Time NAS Buyer – 4-Bay NAS for Family Use (Backups + Photos/Videos) - whC - 06-03-2025 Hi everyone, I'm a first-time NAS buyer and would love some advice from the community. Use Case: Home use for 4 users (family) Need to back up multiple devices: Laptops (macOS + Windows) iPads Android mobile phones Expecting a large amount of photos and videos from mobile devices Would like to centralize everything in one place, with access for everyone Prefer a 4-bay NAS running RAID 5 for a balance of storage and redundancy Nice-to-Haves: Some form of local AI/photo recognition or indexing would be great Easy-to-use mobile backup options Prefer not to rely too heavily on cloud-based services Open to exploring new brands like Zettlab or Ugreen, in addition to the usual Synology/QNAP/etc. Questions: What NAS models would you recommend for a setup like this? How well do newer brands (like Zettlab/Ugreen) hold up in terms of reliability, software ecosystem, and support? Would the Ugreen DXP4800 be sufficient for my needs, or would the DXP4800 Plus be a better long-term choice given my use-case? Are there any hidden pitfalls or things I should know before choosing a NAS for this kind of use? I do have access directly to purchase from China retailers (Taobao).  Is there a difference in the version or there is only one version for all markets? Really appreciate any insights—thanks in advance!