Purchase

[Enquiries]

Watched your revivew betwen Synology DS233j and TerraMaster F2-212. (May have erred on names, but doing this from memory.) Before watching I was ready to purchase the Synology “j”. But then you almost talked me into the TM. What would be a good compromise? I want the software of Synology because of Face rconigtion, and the expansion and back up abilites of the TM.

From Canada

Dave
b.dave@mac.com

[ed]

If you want a balance between Synology's software (especially face recognition) and TerraMaster’s expansion options, the best compromise would be the Synology DS224+.

The DS224+ is a step up from the DS223j, offering:

Better performance with an Intel CPU (vs. the weaker ARM in the "j" series).
Support for Synology Photos with Face Recognition (which the "j" models lack).
Expandable RAM, making it more future-proof.
Full support for Synology apps, including snapshots and Hyper Backup.
The F2-212 from TerraMaster has better hardware for the price but lacks Synology’s refined software and AI-powered photo management. If face recognition and ease of use are a priority, go with the DS224+.

Your $400 budget might be a bit tight for both the NAS and drives, but if you can stretch it slightly, the DS224+ with an 8TB drive would give you the best of both worlds.