First-Time NAS Buyer – 4-Bay NAS for Family Use (Backups + Photos/Videos)

[whC]

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:

1. What NAS models would you recommend for a setup like this?
   
2. How well do newer brands (like Zettlab/Ugreen) hold up in terms of reliability, software ecosystem, and support?
   
3. Would the Ugreen DXP4800 be sufficient for my needs, or would the DXP4800 Plus be a better long-term choice given my use-case?
   
4. Are there any hidden pitfalls or things I should know before choosing a NAS for this kind of use?
   
5. 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!