10 hours ago
Hi Henning, thanks for your message. You’re right — DSM 7.3 will likely be the last major version for the DS218+, so upgrading now makes sense. Based on your needs for faster performance, more bays, and surveillance support, here’s how your three options compare:
1. Synology DS225+ – This is the entry-level 2-bay model from 2025. It’s small and efficient but not a big jump from your DS218+. It would work fine for backups and light media use, but it won’t feel much faster in daily use.
2. Synology DS725+ – This is the best balance for you. It has two main drive bays plus two M.2 NVMe slots, which you can use for SSD caching or additional storage (once Synology enables that fully). It uses a modern processor with better support for multiple surveillance cameras and faster multimedia streaming.
3. Synology DS925+ – This 4-bay model is ideal if you want RAID 5 protection and space to grow. It’s significantly faster than your DS218+, supports more simultaneous streams, and can handle 4K transcoding better. It’s also future-proof for DSM updates and expansion units like the DX525.
If your budget allows (around £600–£700 diskless), the DS925+ is the best long-term choice. It gives you the performance boost, 4 bays for proper RAID protection, and room for future upgrades.
If you prefer to stay smaller and save a bit, the DS725+ is the smart middle ground, but if you plan to grow your storage and keep this for many years, go for the DS925+.
1. Synology DS225+ – This is the entry-level 2-bay model from 2025. It’s small and efficient but not a big jump from your DS218+. It would work fine for backups and light media use, but it won’t feel much faster in daily use.
2. Synology DS725+ – This is the best balance for you. It has two main drive bays plus two M.2 NVMe slots, which you can use for SSD caching or additional storage (once Synology enables that fully). It uses a modern processor with better support for multiple surveillance cameras and faster multimedia streaming.
3. Synology DS925+ – This 4-bay model is ideal if you want RAID 5 protection and space to grow. It’s significantly faster than your DS218+, supports more simultaneous streams, and can handle 4K transcoding better. It’s also future-proof for DSM updates and expansion units like the DX525.
If your budget allows (around £600–£700 diskless), the DS925+ is the best long-term choice. It gives you the performance boost, 4 bays for proper RAID protection, and room for future upgrades.
If you prefer to stay smaller and save a bit, the DS725+ is the smart middle ground, but if you plan to grow your storage and keep this for many years, go for the DS925+.