Synology DS223j
Score: 49/100Synology 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 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 | 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 DS223j | 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) | 0.88 kg | 0.7 kg |
Power Supply Type | External 60W adapter | External |
Connectivity(1) | ||
Supported Network Protocols | SMB, AFP, NFS, FTP, WebDAV, CalDAV, iSCSI, Telnet, SSH, SNMP, PPTP, OpenVPN™, L2TP | iSCSI |
Storage & Capacity(3) | ||
Drive Bays | 2 | 1 |
RAID Support | SHR, Basic, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1 | None |
Supported Drive Types | 3.5" SATA HDD, 2.5" SATA SSD (optional holder) | SATA HDD, SATA SSD |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
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.
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.
