Synology DS225+ Review: A Timid Evolution of an Entry-Level NAS

Technical Specifications

The Synology DS225+ is a 2-bay NAS system designed to accommodate both 3.5" and 2.5" SATA drives, supporting maximum capacities of 20TB per drive (40TB total). At its heart is the Intel Celeron J4125 processor, a quad-core chip launched in 2019 with a base frequency of 2.0 GHz and burst capabilities up to 2.7 GHz. The system comes equipped with 2GB of DDR4 RAM as standard, though this can be expanded to 6GB via an accessible SO-DIMM slot—a useful upgrade for users planning to run multiple services simultaneously.

Network connectivity is enhanced by the inclusion of a 2.5GbE Ethernet port alongside a traditional 1GbE port. This dual-port configuration allows for improved throughput compared to standard gigabit connections, though it falls short of the dual 2.5GbE setup found in some competing models. Two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports provide additional connectivity for external drives or other peripherals. The DS225+ supports a comprehensive range of RAID configurations including Synology's proprietary Hybrid RAID (SHR), RAID 0, RAID 1, and JBOD, with support for both Btrfs and ext4 file systems.

Power consumption remains reasonable at 10W during idle operation and peaks at around 20W under load. The unit measures 165mm (H) x 108mm (W) x 232.2mm (D) and weighs just 1.3kg, making it a compact solution that won't dominate desk space. A single 92mm fan provides cooling, and in practice, the DS225+ operates quietly enough for office environments. Synology backs the hardware with a standard 3-year warranty, with the option to extend coverage to 5 years.

Design and Build Quality

Opening the packaging reveals a familiar Synology aesthetic—practical rather than premium. The DS225+ sports a plastic chassis that feels functional but unremarkable. While this keeps costs down and weight minimal, it does lack the solid, reassuring heft of metal-bodied alternatives from brands like QNAP or the newer UGREEN models. The front panel can be removed without tools to reveal the drive bays, which themselves feature a tool-free mounting system. Installation of drives is genuinely straightforward: slide the caddy out, mount your drive using the provided screws (or tool-free clips for 2.5" SSDs), and slide it back in.

The front of the unit features a single status LED and power button, keeping the design clean and minimalist. Around back, you'll find the two Ethernet ports, USB connections, the external power adapter socket, and a Kensington lock slot. Ventilation appears adequate, with the 92mm fan drawing air through the chassis. In our testing, temperatures remained well within acceptable limits even during sustained file transfers.

One notable omission compared to more recent competitor models is the lack of M.2 NVMe slots for SSD caching. While not essential for all users, the ability to add fast SSD cache can significantly improve performance in certain workloads, particularly when dealing with large numbers of small files or running virtual machines. The absence of this feature on the DS225+ means users seeking this functionality will need to look elsewhere or opt for a higher-tier Synology model.

Software: DSM Remains the Star

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If there's one area where Synology consistently excels, it's software. DiskStation Manager (DSM) 7.3 is the operating system that powers the DS225+, and it remains the most polished, feature-rich NAS OS on the market. From the moment you boot up the device, setup is guided by an intuitive wizard that walks you through network configuration, user account creation, and storage volume setup. Even users completely new to NAS devices should find the process manageable.

DSM's interface resembles a desktop operating system, complete with a taskbar, desktop icons, and windowed applications. This makes navigation intuitive for anyone familiar with Windows or macOS. The Package Center provides access to hundreds of first-party and third-party applications covering everything from media serving (Plex, Emby, Jellyfin) to surveillance systems, backup solutions, and even Docker container support. Synology Photos offers excellent photo management with facial recognition and automatic organization. Synology Drive provides Dropbox-like file synchronization across devices. Surveillance Station can handle multiple IP cameras for home or small office security.

One significant improvement in DSM 7.3 is the removal of previous restrictions on using non-Synology-certified hard drives. Earlier versions would display persistent warnings when using drives that hadn't been "approved" by Synology—a practice that frustrated many users who preferred to select their own storage hardware. With DSM 7.3, these restrictions have been lifted, giving users greater freedom in their drive selection.

Advanced users will appreciate features like Snapshot Replication for point-in-time backup and recovery, extensive user permission controls, LDAP integration for enterprise environments, and comprehensive logging and monitoring tools. The DSM interface is also responsive and accessible via web browser on any device, with dedicated mobile apps available for iOS and Android for on-the-go management.

Performance: Adequate but Unexceptional

Performance testing of the DS225+ reveals a device that handles basic NAS duties competently without setting any records. Sequential read speeds peaked at approximately 282 MB/s, while sequential writes topped out around 217 MB/s when connected via the 2.5GbE port to a compatible host. These figures represent a noticeable improvement over standard gigabit Ethernet (which caps theoretical throughput at around 125 MB/s), but they're not dramatically different from what you'd see with a well-tuned gigabit connection.

The Intel Celeron J4125 processor, now dating back to 2019, shows its age in more demanding workloads. While perfectly adequate for file serving, light media streaming, and running a handful of background services, the CPU can struggle when tasked with multiple simultaneous demanding operations. Transcoding multiple 4K video streams, for example, would likely prove challenging—and is further hampered by Synology's decision to disable hardware transcoding capabilities on this model despite the J4125 technically supporting Intel Quick Sync Video.

The 2GB of RAM included as standard is frankly insufficient for anything beyond the most basic usage scenarios. Users planning to run multiple Docker containers, virtual machines, or heavy surveillance workloads should budget for a RAM upgrade. Thankfully, the SO-DIMM slot is easily accessible, and upgrading to 6GB is straightforward for anyone comfortable opening the chassis.

We also noticed that SMB multichannel—a feature that should theoretically allow the bonding of multiple network connections for improved throughput and redundancy—appeared non-functional during our testing. This may be addressed in future DSM updates, but at launch, users shouldn't expect to leverage both Ethernet ports simultaneously for improved performance.

For typical home and small office use cases—file storage, Time Machine backups, personal cloud storage, photo library management—the DS225+ delivers perfectly adequate performance. It's when you start pushing into more advanced territory that the aging hardware begins to show its limitations.

Pricing and Value Proposition

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The Synology DS225+ carries an MSRP of €350, with pricing in other markets landing around £299 in the UK and $349 in the US. This positions it firmly in the entry-level to mid-range territory for 2-bay NAS devices. However, the value equation becomes complicated when you consider what the competition offers at similar price points.

UGREEN, a relatively new entrant to the NAS market, offers devices with significantly more modern hardware—including more recent processors, greater RAM capacity out of the box, M.2 NVMe slots for SSD caching, and dual 2.5GbE ports—at comparable or even lower prices. TerraMaster and QNAP also offer compelling alternatives with superior hardware specifications. What you're paying for with Synology isn't cutting-edge hardware; it's the DSM software ecosystem and the company's reputation for reliability and support.

For users who place a premium on software polish, extensive app support, regular security updates, and a proven track record of long-term device support, the Synology premium may well be justified. DSM truly is exceptional software, and for many users, the peace of mind that comes with Synology's ecosystem is worth the higher price of entry. However, for users comfortable with slightly less polished interfaces or those planning to run their own services via Docker anyway, the hardware limitations of the DS225+ are harder to overlook.

It's also worth noting that you'll need to factor in the cost of drives. With 2-bay configurations, most users will want to run some form of redundancy (RAID 1 or SHR), which means purchasing two drives of equal capacity. For a complete setup with, say, two 4TB drives, you're looking at a total investment of £450-500 or more depending on the drives selected.

Final Verdict: Incremental Evolution When Revolution Was Needed

The Synology DS225+ is undeniably a capable NAS device. It performs the core functions of network-attached storage reliably, runs Synology's excellent DSM operating system, and benefits from the company's extensive app ecosystem and strong support. However, describing it as anything more than an incremental update to the DS224+ would be generous.

Apart from the addition of a single 2.5GbE Ethernet port, the two devices are virtually identical. The DS225+ still relies on the same aging Intel Celeron J4125 processor from 2019, ships with the same inadequate 2GB of RAM, and retains the same plastic chassis. More frustratingly, Synology has actually removed hardware transcoding support that was present in earlier models—a backwards step that limits the device's media serving capabilities.

When we look at what competitors like UGREEN are delivering—more powerful processors, more RAM, M.2 slots, dual 2.5GbE ports—at similar or lower price points, the DS225+ begins to feel like a half-hearted effort. It's as if Synology is coasting on the strength of its software while neglecting the hardware that underpins the user experience.

For existing Synology users invested in the ecosystem, or for those who place paramount importance on software quality and support, the DS225+ remains a viable option. DSM is genuinely excellent, and that counts for a lot. But for new buyers evaluating the market, it's worth seriously considering whether the Synology software premium justifies accepting hardware that feels a generation behind the competition.

We hope that Synology will take note of the competitive landscape and invest more substantially in hardware evolution for future iterations. The NAS market is becoming increasingly competitive, and resting on the laurels of software excellence alone won't be enough to maintain market leadership. The DS225+ is a competent NAS—but in 2025, "competent" feels like setting the bar too low.

Rating: 3.5/5

• Design: 3.0/5 - Functional but unremarkable plastic chassis
• Features: 4.5/5 - DSM software ecosystem remains excellent
• Value: 3.0/5 - Hardware feels dated for the price point