Synology BeeStation 4TB
Score: 48/100Synology DS118
Score: 61/100Rankings
The Synology DS118 is a compact single-bay NAS that delivers 4K transcoding and a full DSM feature set while consuming very little power. It is ideal for home users and small offices that value quiet operation and security, but its fixed RAM and lack of RAID limit heavy workloads.
The BeeStation BST150-4T is a plug-and-play personal cloud NAS with built-in 4 TB storage and on-device AI for photo organization. It excels in simplicity and privacy but offers no RAID, media server functions, or expandability.
| Attribute | | Synology DS118 |
|---|---|---|
4 TB | 16 TBbest | |
1best | 1best | |
1 Gbpsbest | 1 Gbpsbest | |
4best | 4best | |
1 GBbest | 1 GBbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 7.85 Wbest | 9.4 W |
3 yearsbest | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 0.82 kg | 0.7 kgbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | Synology DS118 |
|---|---|---|
Security(1) | ||
OS Compatibility | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM) |
Performance(2) | ||
CPU Model | Realtek RTD1619B | Realtek RTD1296 Quad-Core |
Power Consumption (Active) (W) | 7.85 W | 9.4 W |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (kg) | 0.82 kg | 0.7 kg |
Power Supply Type | 36W AC adapter | External |
Storage & Capacity(2) | ||
Maximum Raw Capacity (TB) | 4 TB | 16 TB |
Supported Drive Types | 3.5" HDD | SATA HDD, SATA SSD |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the BeeStation for its ultra-simple QR-code setup, AI-driven photo organization, and solid SMB file sharing performance, but criticize the lack of media server functions, iSCSI, and extensibility.
Everyday users love the quick setup, AI photo tagging, and subscription-free private cloud, while common complaints focus on the absence of media streaming, audible HDD noise, and the fixed 4 TB limit.
Professional reviewers praised the DS118 as the most impressive compact NAS from Synology, highlighting its quad-core ARM processor that brings 4K transcoding and surveillance capabilities typically reserved for higher-end models.
Everyday users appreciate the straightforward setup, reliable 4K transcoding, silent operation, and the small, unobtrusive design, though they note the limited RAM and missing Plex support.
“Set up in under 5 minutes-just scan, plug in, and go.”
“Wish it could stream movies-I expected Plex support.”
“I love the private, subscription-free cloud and AI photo tagging.”
