Synology DS223jFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 23 mentions across 12 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment35%
PROS 35%
CONS 65%

Rank based on 23 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a cheap first NAS or an offsite/remote backup target for another NAS
  • Your use case is mainly file and photo storage with light indexing, not heavy transcoding
  • You're fine settling for 1080p playback rather than guaranteed smooth 4K seeking

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need reliable 4K Plex playback with fast seeking
  • You want it as your sole primary NAS with room to grow
  • You're bothered by inconsistent or unofficial Plex support on its ARM CPU

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
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Easy setup and intuitive DSM software
Synology DS220
Easy setup and intuitive DSM software
2Mid
Ugreen DH4300
Easy setup for beginners
Ugreen DH4300
Easy setup for beginners
3Mid
Synology DS920
Long-term reliabilityNetworking speed beyond 1GbpsPlex and media handling improved by SSD cacheFan noiseCPU thermal and virtualization limitsMixed value of RAM/SSD upgrades for basic use
Synology DS920
Long-term reliability
Networking speed beyond 1Gbps
Plex and media handling improved by SSD cache
Fan noise
CPU thermal and virtualization limits
Mixed value of RAM/SSD upgrades for basic use
4Premium
Synology DS1821
Expandable storage capacityReliability and data recoveryEase of use / DSM interfaceDrive compatibility alerts and vendor lock-inWeak Plex transcodingExpensive proprietary RAM
Synology DS1821
Expandable storage capacity
Reliability and data recovery
Ease of use / DSM interface
Drive compatibility alerts and vendor lock-in
Weak Plex transcoding
Expensive proprietary RAM
5
OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual
Bus-Powered FlexibilityCompact, Portable DesignDrives Readable If Enclosure FailsNoisy Drive ActivityAbrupt Unmount SoundRAID 1 Doesn't Boost Read Speed
OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual
Bus-Powered Flexibility
Compact, Portable Design
Drives Readable If Enclosure Fails
Noisy Drive Activity
Abrupt Unmount Sound
RAID 1 Doesn't Boost Read Speed
Best value
6Budget
Synology DS118
Sufficient for backups, streaming, and surveillanceEasy setup for beginnersGood value versus higher-tier modelsNo drive redundancyConfusing entry-level lineup overlapMissing vibration dampers
Synology DS118
Sufficient for backups, streaming, and surveillance
Easy setup for beginners
Good value versus higher-tier models
No drive redundancy
Confusing entry-level lineup overlap
Missing vibration dampers
7Mid
Synology DS923
Great for Time Machine and photo backupLong-term reliabilitySolid upgrade from older/competing NASRAID is not a backupDrive/component lock-in and costNoise and power draw
Synology DS923
Great for Time Machine and photo backup
Long-term reliability
Solid upgrade from older/competing NAS
RAID is not a backup
Drive/component lock-in and cost
Noise and power draw
8Mid
Ugreen DXP6800 Pro
Dual 10GbE and Thunderbolt connectivityStrong hardware for the priceExpandable and third-party OS friendlySoftware stability issuesFan noise at idleNVMe/PCIe lane limitations
Ugreen DXP6800 Pro
Dual 10GbE and Thunderbolt connectivity
Strong hardware for the price
Expandable and third-party OS friendly
Software stability issues
Fan noise at idle
NVMe/PCIe lane limitations
9Premium
Ugreen DXP6800
Flexible RAID and third-party OS supportStrong hardware specs vs competitorsCapable for video editing workflowsInconsistent idle fan noiseUGOS software immaturityReal-world transfer speed issues
Ugreen DXP6800
Flexible RAID and third-party OS support
Strong hardware specs vs competitors
Capable for video editing workflows
Inconsistent idle fan noise
UGOS software immaturity
Real-world transfer speed issues
10Premium
Synology DS1621+
Highly expandable hardwareHigh throughput with 10GbE and cacheStrong VM and app supportNo hardware transcoding for 4KConfusing cache setup guidanceConsumer NVMe cache reliability risk
Synology DS1621+
Highly expandable hardware
High throughput with 10GbE and cache
Strong VM and app support
No hardware transcoding for 4K
Confusing cache setup guidance
Consumer NVMe cache reliability risk
You are here
31Budget
Synology DS223j
Good low-cost entry NASSolid offsite/remote backup deviceContinued DSM software updatesSlow performance and data transferInconsistent or unofficial Plex supportDesign and support longevity concerns
Synology DS223j
Good low-cost entry NAS
Solid offsite/remote backup device
Continued DSM software updates
Slow performance and data transfer
Inconsistent or unofficial Plex support
Design and support longevity concerns

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Good enough for basic storage and backup duties. Multiple users note the DS223j handles everyday tasks like file storage, photo indexing, and running several DSM apps at once without issues, memory usage staying reasonable even under load. It's frequently chosen as a first NAS or as a remote/offsite Hyper Backup destination for a more powerful primary NAS, with some praising its low price as a strong entry point into the Synology ecosystem.

Performance complaints are common and sometimes severe. Several buyers describe the unit as surprisingly slow, with poor data transfer speeds that they feel don't justify its price, and one reviewer returned it after a year of frustration compared to higher-tier models. Others report CPU maxing out during video indexing or AI photo tasks, and only 1GB of RAM is cited as a slowdown factor, reinforcing that this is a budget-tier device with real limits.

Plex and 4K playback are inconsistent pain points. Users report 4K video freezing when seeking forward, with 1080p working fine, suggesting the box may be better suited to lower resolutions despite one update claiming 4K Plex now works. Confusion persists over whether Plex is officially supported on the ARM CPU and Package Center, with forum reports of poor Plex performance versus the non-j DS223 that shares the same CPU.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?