
Synology DS220j
Score: 50/100Synology 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 DS220j is an entry-level two-bay NAS delivering a full DSM experience, solid performance for its price, and a broad app ecosystem, ideal for home users and small offices.
| Attribute | ![]() | Synology DS118 |
|---|---|---|
32 TBbest | 16 TB | |
2best | 1 | |
1 Gbpsbest | 1 Gbpsbest | |
4best | 4best | |
0.512 GB | 1 GBbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 12.46 W | 9.4 Wbest |
2 yearsbest | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 0.88 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 | DSM | Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM) |
Performance(3) | ||
CPU Model | Realtek RTD1296 | Realtek RTD1296 Quad-Core |
System Memory (GB) | 0.512 GB | 1 GB |
Power Consumption (Active) (W) | 12.46 W | 9.4 W |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (kg) | 0.88 kg | 0.7 kg |
Power Supply Type | External 60W adapter | External |
Connectivity(1) | ||
Supported Network Protocols | SMB, AFP, NFS, FTP, WebDAV, CalDAV, iSCSI, SSH, SNMP, OpenVPN, L2TP, PPTP | iSCSI |
Storage & Capacity(4) | ||
Maximum Raw Capacity (TB) | 32 TB | 16 TB |
Drive Bays | 2 | 1 |
RAID Support | SHR, RAID 0, RAID 1, JBOD, Basic | None |
Supported Drive Types | 3.5" or 2.5" SATA HDD/SSD | SATA HDD, SATA SSD |

Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).

Professional reviewers praised the DS220j for its polished DSM operating system, impressive read/write speeds for a budget unit, straightforward setup, and comprehensive app ecosystem, while noting its hardware limitations such as a single LAN port, modest 512 MB RAM, and lack of HDMI or multi-gigabit networking.
Everyday users appreciate the DS220j's ease of use, low power consumption, and ability to serve as a reliable home cloud and media server, but many echo concerns about limited RAM, lack of HDMI, and the need to purchase drives separately.
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.