Synology DS223
Score: 61/100Synology DS223j
Score: 49/100Rankings
The DS223 is a compact 2-bay NAS that offers a rich DSM software suite, low power draw and quiet operation, targeting home users and small offices needing reliable backup and media streaming.
The DS223j is a compact, entry-level 2-bay NAS powered by a quad-core Realtek processor and 1 GB RAM, offering quiet operation, low power draw, and the full DSM ecosystem for home or small-office use.
| Attribute | | Synology DS223j |
|---|---|---|
36 TBbest | — | |
2best | 2best | |
1 Gbpsbest | 1 Gbpsbest | |
4best | 4best | |
2 GBbest | 1 GB | |
| ↓ lower better | 17.343 W | 16.31 Wbest |
| ↓ lower better | 14.6 dBbest | 18.2 dB |
2 yearsbest | 2 yearsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | Synology DS223j |
|---|---|---|
Performance(3) | ||
System Memory (GB) | 2 GB | 1 GB |
Power Consumption (Active) (W) | 17.343 W | 16.31 W |
Noise Level (dB) | 14.6 dB | 18.2 dB |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (kg) | 1.28 kg | 0.88 kg |
Power Supply Type | 60W | External 60W adapter |
Connectivity(2) | ||
Supported Network Protocols | SMB1/2/3,NFSv3/v4/v4.1,iSCSI,FTP,HTTP/HTTPS,SNMP,LDAP,CalDAV,WebDAV | SMB, AFP, NFS, FTP, WebDAV, CalDAV, iSCSI, Telnet, SSH, SNMP, PPTP, OpenVPN™, L2TP |
USB Ports | 3 | 2 |
Storage & Capacity(2) | ||
RAID Support | RAID 0,RAID 1,Basic,JBOD,SHR | SHR, Basic, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1 |
Supported Drive Types | 3.5" SATA HDD,2.5" SATA SSD | 3.5" SATA HDD, 2.5" SATA SSD (optional holder) |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers describe the DS223 as an ideal entry-level NAS that prioritises reliability, a rich DSM software ecosystem and low noise over raw processing power, while noting limitations in transcoding and virtualization.
Everyday users praise its effortless backup setup, quiet operation and intuitive DSM interface, but note the limited RAM and modest CPU for heavier workloads.
Professional reviewers praise the DS223j for its whisper-quiet operation and energy efficiency, noting that the Realtek processor and 1 GB of RAM are adequate for light file serving, backup, and media indexing, but recommend higher-end Synology models for Docker, VMs, or heavy transcoding.
Everyday users consistently highlight the silent operation, straightforward setup, and low power draw as major positives, while noting the modest 1 GB RAM, lack of hot-swap capability, and limited performance for demanding applications.
“Perfect for home backups - set it and forget it”
“DSM is the best NAS OS out there - so many apps and easy to use”
“Very quiet and small - fits on my desk without any noise”
