The Synology DiskStation DS220+ is one of the very best enclosures you can buy in 2022, but it’s not the best for everyone. Should you require a slightly faster processor and the ability to install M.2 SSDs for caching, you’ll want to consider the DS720+ instead. Here’s all you need to know about the two NAS in our in-depth DS220+ vs. DS720+ guide.
Best home NAS
Synology DiskStation DS220+
- The same excellent DSM OS
- Intel Celeron J4025 processor
- Upgradable RAM
- More affordable
- No 2.5 or 10 Gb LAN ports
- No M.2 SSD slots for cache
Synology DiskStation DS220+ is a fantastic two-bay NAS with a powerful Intel processor and upgradable RAM. This is a great value NAS for the home with the ability to transcode 4K media through Plex.
Better specs
Synology DiskStation DS720+
- The same excellent DSM OS
- Intel Celeron J4125 processor
- Upgradable RAM
- Two M.2 slots
- No 2.5 or 10 Gb LAN ports
- More expensive
The DS720+ is very much like the DS220+ but with an addition of two M.2 slots for using SSDs as cache drives and a slightly faster Intel Celeron processor. If you need a little more from a NAS, this is the better choice.
If all you need is a NAS that can do a bunch of tasks, go with the Synology DiskStation DS220+. Want a slightly faster processor and M.2 SSD slots for installing NVMe drives to load cache onto? The Synology DiskStation DS720+ may be the better option here.
Synology DiskStation DS220+ is a brilliant home NAS
I rate the Synology DiskStation DS220+ as the best NAS for a few good reasons. It has more than enough bays for most home use, you can upgrade the RAM from 2GB to 6GB of DDR4. It runs an exceptionally good NAS operating system in the form of DiskStation Manager. And it has two 1Gb LAN ports that can be linked up.
| Synology DiskStation DS220+ | Synology DiskStation DS720+ | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Celeron J4025 (2 cores, 2.9GHz) | Intel Celeron J4125 (4 cores, 2.7GHz) |
| RAM | 2GB DDR4 (max 6GB) | 2GB DDR4 (max 6GB) |
| Drive bays | 2x (SSD/HDD) | 4x (SSD/HDD) 2x M.2 slots |
| Capacity | 36TB | 36TB |
| Expansion support | ❎ | ❎ |
| Cooling | 1x 92mm fan | 1x 92mm fan |
| Ports | 2x 1Gb LAN 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 | 2x 1Gb LAN 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 |
| PCIe slots | ❎ | ❎ |
| Power draw | ~14.69W | ~14.69W |
| Dimensions | 165 x 108 x 232.2 mm | 165 x 108 x 232.2 mm |
| Weight | 1.30 kg | 1.30 kg |
| Price | $300 | $400 |
It’s not only just about specifications, however. The DS220+ is easy to set up and is small enough that you can fit it inside the crampest shelving under your TV. What makes it truly special is the array of apps and support services that can be loaded onto this enclosure.
From Plex Media Server to virtual machines and website hosting, you can do almost anything on the DS220+. The Intel Celeron processor will be able to handle a fair amount of processes before you start to encounter some sluggish performance and the price makes this NAS one to strongly consider.
Synology DiskStation DS720+ has better specs
But what if you required a little more from the processor and wanted to give the NAS enclosure a small boost in performance through caching? That’s precisely where the Synology DiskStation DS720+ comes into play. This is a monstrous two-bay NAS with some killer specifications.
Synology swapped out the Intel Celeron J4025 in favor of the Celeron J4125, which may not seem like a considerable improvement in terms of model numbers, but the latter is a quad-core CPU. The additional two physical cores allow it to process faster than the J4025.
Then there are the two M.2 slots. These are vital in scenarios where files are accessed frequently and you want to improve overall performance with an NVMe SSD or two. It’s priced a little higher than the DS220+, but you do get some more advanced features with the same two drive bays.
Synology DiskStation DS220+
The Synology DiskStation DS220+ is the company’s mid-range enclosure and is perfect if you’re just starting out with your first NAS.
Synology DiskStation DS720+
Synology took what was great about the DS220+ and cranked it all up to 11, including additional M.2 slots and a better processor.
