6 hours ago
Thanks for sharing your requirements! Based on your needs, here’s a simple and cost-effective recommendation that balances performance and price:
Recommended NAS Models
Synology DS224+
Why It’s Great:
Perfect for light home use like storing and sharing photos, videos, and 4K movies.
Supports iPhone’s Live Photos via the Synology Photos app for seamless uploads.
Easy to set up and manage, even for first-time NAS users.
Affordable, especially during Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals.
Performance: Ideal for your usage of 1–2 devices accessing the NAS at the same time.
Synology DS723+
Why It’s Great:
More powerful than the DS224+, offering better future-proofing if your needs grow.
Allows for upgrades like NVMe SSD caching for faster file access and supports more intensive apps.
Handles multiple devices or larger 4K libraries with ease.
Considerations: It’s pricier than the DS224+, so only consider this if you want more flexibility or plan to expand your NAS use later.
Storage Drives
For your 4TB requirement:
HDDs for Storage:
2x 4TB Seagate IronWolf or WD Red Plus in RAID 1. This will give you 4TB of usable storage with redundancy for data safety.
Do You Need SSDs?
For light home usage, SSD caching (M.2 NVMe or 2.5” SATA SSD) is not necessary.
HDDs alone will handle your requirements well. If you do plan to enable caching for faster access, choose an NVMe SSD compatible with your NAS model.
Recommendation Based on Budget
If cost is the main concern, go with the Synology DS224+.
If you want better future-proofing and flexibility, the DS723+ is worth the extra investment.
Features for Live Photos and Media Sharing
The Synology Photos app on the DS224+ or DS723+ is ideal for iPhone users, with full support for Live Photos and easy media organization.
Both Synology models allow seamless sharing across Android/iOS devices, Windows laptops, and Android TVs.
Conclusion
The Synology DS224+ is my top pick for your needs: affordable, capable, and ideal for home use. Pair it with two 4TB HDDs for redundancy, and you’re set. No need for SSDs unless you want to upgrade later for faster performance.
Recommended NAS Models
Synology DS224+
Why It’s Great:
Perfect for light home use like storing and sharing photos, videos, and 4K movies.
Supports iPhone’s Live Photos via the Synology Photos app for seamless uploads.
Easy to set up and manage, even for first-time NAS users.
Affordable, especially during Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals.
Performance: Ideal for your usage of 1–2 devices accessing the NAS at the same time.
Synology DS723+
Why It’s Great:
More powerful than the DS224+, offering better future-proofing if your needs grow.
Allows for upgrades like NVMe SSD caching for faster file access and supports more intensive apps.
Handles multiple devices or larger 4K libraries with ease.
Considerations: It’s pricier than the DS224+, so only consider this if you want more flexibility or plan to expand your NAS use later.
Storage Drives
For your 4TB requirement:
HDDs for Storage:
2x 4TB Seagate IronWolf or WD Red Plus in RAID 1. This will give you 4TB of usable storage with redundancy for data safety.
Do You Need SSDs?
For light home usage, SSD caching (M.2 NVMe or 2.5” SATA SSD) is not necessary.
HDDs alone will handle your requirements well. If you do plan to enable caching for faster access, choose an NVMe SSD compatible with your NAS model.
Recommendation Based on Budget
If cost is the main concern, go with the Synology DS224+.
If you want better future-proofing and flexibility, the DS723+ is worth the extra investment.
Features for Live Photos and Media Sharing
The Synology Photos app on the DS224+ or DS723+ is ideal for iPhone users, with full support for Live Photos and easy media organization.
Both Synology models allow seamless sharing across Android/iOS devices, Windows laptops, and Android TVs.
Conclusion
The Synology DS224+ is my top pick for your needs: affordable, capable, and ideal for home use. Pair it with two 4TB HDDs for redundancy, and you’re set. No need for SSDs unless you want to upgrade later for faster performance.