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[Enquiries]

Hi!
I'm looking into purchasing a NAS solution for my home.
I want to use it for devices backup, picture gallery with face recognition and occasional 4k HDR media consumption.
Could You please help me choose a right device for me?
I've been looking at Synology DS224+, Ugreen DXP2800, as they go for around the same price here in Norway.
In the above price range i also have:
Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro Gen 2
Qnap TS-264 or 253B-4G
NAS marker is very confusing for me. I'm more than okay to build one my use, but i prefer turnkey solutions, as it won't burn much of my time to set everything up. Thank You in advance!

[ed]

Thanks for getting in touch — and you're definitely not alone in feeling that the NAS market can be confusing, especially with so many overlapping models. Based on what you’re looking to do — device backups, photo storage with face recognition, and occasional 4K HDR playback — you're right in the sweet spot for a good entry-level 2-bay system.

Here’s a breakdown of the models you mentioned, and which I’d recommend based on your needs and price range (200–400 EUR without drives):

1. Synology DS224+
Strengths: Very user-friendly, excellent photo management with Synology Photos (face recognition, shared albums, etc.), rock-solid backup tools, great mobile apps.

Limitations: No hardware 4K HDR transcoding, so Plex will not be ideal for 4K streaming unless you direct-play the files (which is fine on a supported client like an Apple TV or Shield).

Verdict: Best choice for backups, photos, and ease of use. Not ideal for Plex 4K if you need transcoding, but great otherwise.

2. UGREEN DXP2800
Strengths: Newer brand but strong hardware (N100 CPU), can handle 4K Plex playback better than Synology in most cases. Open OS support expected down the line.

Limitations: Early-stage software — not as polished or proven as Synology or QNAP. Long-term support still unclear.

Verdict: Best for value and performance, especially for 4K media. Less mature for photo apps and backup tools compared to Synology.

3. Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro Gen 2
Strengths: Good balance of price and features, ADM OS is stable and supports 4K media fairly well.

Limitations: Photo and backup apps are decent, but not as advanced or polished as Synology’s.

Verdict: Solid all-rounder, better than Synology for media, not as good for backup/photo tasks.

4. QNAP TS-264 or TS-253B-4G
TS-264: Very capable, especially for Plex, with hardware transcoding. 2.5GbE networking is a bonus.

TS-253B: Older, slower CPU — I’d avoid it at this stage unless it’s heavily discounted.

Verdict: TS-264 is one of the best Plex-capable 2-bay units in this budget range, and still good for backups and photos with some extra configuration.