Synology organizes its product lineup using a clear naming convention: the first one or two numbers indicate the year of release, and the letters at the end denote the series/capability.
Here is a breakdown of the major, currently relevant Synology NAS models categorized by their target audience.
1. The “Plus” Series (The Standard for Pros/Home Labs)
These are the most popular models. They feature Intel or AMD processors, support Btrfs file systems, virtualization (Docker/Container Manager, Virtual Machine Manager), and hardware transcoding.
- 2-Bay: DS224+ (The go-to for home backups and media streaming).
- 4-Bay: DS423+ (Compact, high-performance, supports M.2 NVMe SSD cache).
- 5-Bay: DS1522+ (Highly expandable; features an upgradeable PCIe slot for 10GbE).
- 6-Bay: DS1621+ (The enthusiast favorite; powerful Ryzen CPU, great for small business).
- 8-Bay: DS1821+ (The “gold standard” for home-lab power users).
2. The “J” Series (Budget/Entry-Level)
These models are designed for simple file storage and basic photo backups. They lack advanced features like Docker, Virtual Machine Manager, and Btrfs (meaning no self-healing or advanced snapshots).
- 2-Bay: DS223j (The most basic, affordable model for simple file serving).
- 4-Bay: DS423 (Technically not “J,” but the entry-level 4-bay for basic users).
3. The “Value” Series (The Middle Ground)
These sit between the J-series and the Plus-series. They often support Btrfs but lack the high-performance processors of the Plus line.
- DS223: Features a slightly better CPU than the J-series and supports more advanced filesystem features.
4. Rackmount Units (Business/Enterprise)
These are designed to be mounted in server racks. They are categorized by their depth and expansion capabilities.
- RS822+ / RS822RP+: Compact 4-bay rackmount units.
- RS1221+ / RS1221RP+: Powerful 8-bay units with high-performance CPUs.
- SA/FS Series: High-end, enterprise-grade storage (e.g., SA3400D, FS3400 all-flash arrays).
5. Specialized Series
- BeeStation: A “plug-and-play” device designed for users who find traditional NAS interfaces too complex. It is essentially a pre-configured, simplified Synology box.
- DiskStation (DS): Desktop tower models.
- RackStation (RS): Rackmount models.
- FlashStation (FS): All-Flash (SSD only) enterprise models.
Quick Reference Guide: How to Read the Model Numbers
If you are looking at a model and aren’t sure what it is, use this cheat sheet:
| Suffix | Meaning | Typical Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| + (Plus) | Performance | Enthusiast, Home Lab, Small Business |
| J | Junior | Simple File Storage, Basic Backup |
| xs/xs+ | Extreme Scale | Large Enterprise |
| RP | Redundant Power | Enterprise (Has dual power supplies) |
| play | Media | Older series optimized for video transcoding |
Which one should you choose?
- For Home/Media: Get a DS224+ or DS423+.
- For Homelab/Virtualization: Get a DS1522+ or DS1821+.
- For absolute beginners: Get a BeeStation.
- For simple photo/file backup: Get a DS223j.