Synology
The Synology DiskStation DS223j is a compact, diskless two‑bay NAS aimed at budget‑conscious home and small‑office users. It runs Synology’s DSM OS, offers RAID 1 redundancy, and provides basic file storage and backup capabilities with low power consumption.
Pros
Cons
Current
$194.99
Average
$191.29
Lowest
$151.99
Highest
$209.72
Lower = better sales rank
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From Expert Reviews
Praised by Experts
Criticized by Experts
From User Reviews
Users Love
Users Complain About
Best For
Home users who want a low‑cost, one‑time solution to replace cloud storage; beginners entering the NAS space who value Synology’s DSM ecosystem; small offices needing centralized file storage and backup with basic user access controls; data hoarders with up to 20‑40 TB of files who prioritize cost‑efficiency over high performance.
Not Ideal For
Power users or media enthusiasts requiring hardware transcoding, high RAM, or fast multi‑gigabit networking; environments where silent operation is critical (due to fan noise); users needing hot‑swap drive bays or tool‑less drive installation; intensive workloads such as heavy virtualization or large‑scale media streaming.
Expert Opinion
Professional reviewers, such as Android Police, view the DS223j as a solid successor to the DS220j, highlighting the faster Realtek quad‑core CPU and the polished DSM experience. While they commend its ease of setup and software ecosystem, they note the lack of tool‑less drive bays and limited media‑streaming capability, positioning it as ideal for basic file storage rather than demanding workloads.
What Users Say
Everyday users appreciate the straightforward setup, reliable file access, and the ability to replace cloud storage costs with a one‑time purchase. Common praise centers on easy drive migration and the fun of extending functionality via DSM packages. Recurring complaints focus on the noisy fan during spin‑down, limited RAM, lack of auto‑updates, and difficulties with H.265 video playback and drive replacement.
Common Complaints
Loud fan noise during hibernation, high idle RAM usage, absence of automatic DSM updates, inability to smoothly stream H.265 video, and the inconvenience of manually installing or replacing drives without hot‑swap capability.
What People Are Saying
“airplane noise”
“Easy setup and migration”
How It Compares
vs. TerraMaster F2-212
Advantages
Disadvantages
Choose the DS223j if you need a mature DSM ecosystem and reliable support; choose the TerraMaster F2‑212 if you want a cheaper unit with easier drive installation and can tolerate a less refined OS.
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