Synology DS223j 2-bay
Score: 70/100Synology DS118
Score: 61/100Rankings
The DS223j is a compact, diskless two-bay NAS that delivers the full DSM experience, RAID 1 redundancy and low power draw. It's ideal for basic file storage and backup, though its single-gigabit port and limited RAM keep it from handling demanding media tasks.
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.
| Attribute | | Synology DS118 |
|---|---|---|
— | 16 TBbest | |
2best | 1 | |
1 Gbpsbest | 1 Gbpsbest | |
4best | 4best | |
1 GBbest | 1 GBbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 16.31 W | 9.4 Wbest |
| ↓ lower better | 18.2 dBbest | — |
2 yearsbest | — |
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(2) | ||
CPU Model | Realtek RTD1619B | Realtek RTD1296 Quad-Core |
Power Consumption (Active) (W) | 16.31 W | 9.4 W |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (kg) | 0.87 kg | 0.7 kg |
Power Supply Type | 60W AC adapter | External |
Connectivity(2) | ||
Supported Network Protocols | SMB,NFS,AFP,FTP,WebDAV,iSCSI,CIFS,HTTP/HTTPS,SNMP,LDAP,CalDAV,Kerberos | iSCSI |
Link Aggregation Support | false | true |
Storage & Capacity(3) | ||
Drive Bays | 2 | 1 |
RAID Support | RAID 0,1,Basic,Hybrid RAID,JBOD | None |
Supported Drive Types | 3.5" SATA HDD,2.5" SATA SSD | SATA HDD, SATA SSD |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers view the DS223j as a solid successor to the DS220j, highlighting the faster Realtek quad-core CPU and polished DSM experience, but note the lack of tool-less drive bays and limited media-streaming capability.
Everyday users appreciate the straightforward setup, reliable file access, and the ability to replace cloud storage costs with a one-time purchase, while recurring complaints focus on the noisy fan during spin-down, limited RAM, and difficulties with H.265 video playback.
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.
“airplane noise”
“Easy setup and migration”
