New Synology DS225+ NAS Server (vs. DS224+): A Simple 2.5Gbps Upgrade

Today, Synology announced the availability of its 2025 2-bay Plus DiskStation NAS server, the DS225+, for the US market.

Considering the 2024 model year DS224+, the release of this new version is somewhat unexpected. All other previous 2025 Plus servers, including the DS925+, DS425+, DS725+, DS1825+, and DS1525+, are refreshed versions of those released at least two full years earlier.

Let’s find out more!

Synology DS225+: The same server now with a 2.5Gbps port

As the name suggests, the DS225+ is a dual-bay NAS server in Synology’s DS2xx Plus lineup, which is a step up from non-Plus servers, such as the DS223. The new server is stated to replace the DS224+ as an incremental upgrade and has one feature that sets it apart from its predecessor: like other 2025 Plus models, it now features 2.5Gbps network connectivity.

In return, also like other 2025 models, it comes with a significant caveat: it requires Synology-approved storage. Generally, you won’t be able to use it with third-party drives. As a result, it’ll be a significantly more expensive server to operate, considering Synology drives are priced noticeably more than third-party counterparts.

That aside, the new server is practically identical to the DS224+. The two share the same processing power and hardware design. You simply can’t tell them apart from their appearances. The table below shows the hardware specifications of the two.

Synology DS225+ vs. DS224+: Hardware specifications

The two servers share identical appearances from all angles. You have to pay attention to note the DS225+’s 2.5Gbps port (LAN 1).

	DiskStation DS225+	DiskStation DS224+
CPU	Intel Celeron J4125 64-bit 4-core 2.0 (base) / 2.7 (burst) GHz
Stock memory	2GB DDR4 non-ECC (onboard)
Max memory	6 GB (2GB + 4 GB via a slot)
Support Drive Type	3.5″ SATA HDD, 2.5″ SATA SSD
Compatible Drive	Synology-approved only	Synology-approved, Third-party
Supported RAID type	Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), Basic, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1
Hot-swappable drive	Yes
External port	2x USB 3.0 Gen 1
Storage expansion	None
System fan	1 x (92 x 92 x 25 mm) (replaceable)
File System	Internal: Btrfs, ext4 External: Btrfs, ext4, ext3, FAT32, NTFS, HFS+, exFAT
Dimensions	165 x 108 x 232.7 mm
Weight	2.9 lbs (1.3 kg)
Network Ports	1x 2.5Gbps 1x Gigabit	2x Gigabit
Link Aggregation	No	Yes
Wake on LAN/WAN	Yes
Scheduled power on/off	Yes
Networking protocol	SMB, AFP, NFS, FTP, WebDAV, CalDAV, iSCSI, Telnet, SSH, SNMP, and VPN (PPTP, OpenVPN, L2TP)
M.2 Slot	None
10Gbps Upgrade	None
AC input power voltage	100 V to 240 V AC
Included camera licenses (Surveillance Station)	2
Warranty	3-year	2-year
US Launch Price (diskless)	$399.99	$310

A frill-free, advanced dual-bay server

As a dual-bay server, the DS225+ can host up to 40TB of raw storage—currently, Synology-branded hard drives are limited to 20TB each.

However, for data protection via RAID 1 or SHR, you’ll get only half of that for usage. It’s worth noting that this dual-bay Plus lineup doesn’t support storage expansion. As a result, from a storage capacity perspective, this server, along with the rest of the lineup, is suitable only for those with modest storage needs.

That said, thanks to the 2.5Gbps port, the DS225+ is poised to be the fastest Synology dual-bay fixed-storage server to date. The actual numbers are to be determined, but it will likely offer at least twice the speed of the DS224+ or the DS223.

Other than that, thanks to DSM 7, you can expect a similar experience from it compared to other Synology NAS servers.

Among other things, you can expect the following:

• Synology Chat: A Slack-like chat system with a back-end server and front-end applications via desktop and mobile apps. It works exceptionally well as a collaboration tool for a small office.
• Download Station: A well-designed self-download app that can download files from any source. It also has a powerful torrent search engine.
• Synology Drive: A must-have app that turns the server into a personal cloud and allows you to sync, share, and back up data between multiple devices. It’s like Dropbox, but much better and free.
• Snapshot Replication: A crucial app for data security. It includes the shadow copy backup (snapshots) and replication functions. The former can automatically save a version of the data according to a schedule, allowing you to restore it to a specific point in the past. The latter can automatically replicate the data in real-time to a different location, such as an external drive. The two keep data safe even when accidentally deleted, damaged, or altered.
• Active Backup Suite: This versatile backup app automatically backs up files stored on the server to multiple destinations, including USB drives and various online storage services, such as Google Drive, Amazon Drive, and Microsoft Azure, among others.
• Surveillance Station: This app turns the server into a comprehensive surveillance system when coupled with supported IP cameras. Note that the server includes only two camera licenses— additional licenses cost extra, unless you use Synology cameras.

Additionally, the server also features Virtual Machine Manager and Plex Media Server apps. That said, for most home and small offices that need no more than 20TB of storage space, the DS225+ is a suitable network storage option.

Privacy and availability

The Synology DiskStation DS225+ is now available for purchase in the US, with a suggested retail price of $399.99 (diskless). I’m in the process of acquiring a unit to assess its performance in real-world usage. Check back soon for more, or you can get yours today. When you’re at it, make sure you get yourself some Synology-branded SATA hard drives or SSDs to match. You’ll need them!