Synology DS124 vs Synology DS423+ Black Friday 2026 Picks

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Synology DiskStation DS124 has 1 drive bay, while Synology DiskStation DS423+ has 4, making the DS423+ the stronger choice for growing storage needs. I researched and compared specs, reviews and owner feedback to identify which Synology NAS fits different home and small-office setups. The key trade-off is simple: the DS124 keeps storage and setup straightforward, while the DS423+ provides room for multiple drives, redundancy configurations and future expansion.

My pick for most people is Synology DiskStation DS423+ because its four bays offer more flexibility as photo, video and computer backups grow. Synology DiskStation DS124 makes sense for a smaller library or a first NAS where one drive is enough. The picks below cover seven models, from basic two-bay systems to expandable Plus-series units, so you can compare the capacity, hardware and use case that matter to you.

How We Picked

• Compared drive-bay counts and rated memory to show how each NAS supports storage growth and multiple workloads.
• Reviewed processor types, network ports and expansion features listed in Synology specifications.
• Considered owner feedback and product reviews for setup, backup, media and day-to-day home use.
• Prioritized distinct use cases so the list includes entry-level, two-bay, four-bay and expandable choices.
• Favored models with clear strengths for their intended users rather than treating every NAS as interchangeable.

Comparison Table

Product	Best for	Drive bays	Memory	Ethernet
Synology DiskStation DS124 1-Bay NAS Enclosure	Solo-user storage	1	1 GB	1 x 1GbE
Synology DiskStation DS223j 2-Bay NAS Enclosure	Basic home backup	2	1 GB	1 x 1GbE
Synology DiskStation DS224+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure	Two-bay media and backups	2	2 GB	2 x 1GbE
Synology DiskStation DS423 4-Bay NAS Enclosure	Four-bay home storage	4	2 GB	2 x 1GbE
Synology DiskStation DS423+ 4-Bay NAS Enclosure	Growing libraries and media	4	2 GB	2 x 1GbE
Synology DiskStation DS723+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure	Advanced two-bay expansion	2	2 GB ECC	2 x 1GbE

Best Picks Reviewed

#1

Synology DiskStation DS124 1-Bay NAS Enclosure

The Synology DiskStation DS124 1-Bay NAS Enclosure is the best simple NAS for solo users, with 1 drive bay and 1 GB of memory.

Best for: A first NAS or personal file backup

Drive bays

1

Memory

1 GB DDR4

Ethernet

1 x 1GbE

Processor

4-core, 1.7 GHz

Pros

• Compact, uncomplicated single-drive setup
• Synology DiskStation Manager software and backup tools
• Low hardware complexity for personal storage

Cons

• One bay limits capacity growth and drive redundancy
• 1 GB memory is modest for multitasking

Is the Synology DiskStation DS124 1-Bay NAS Enclosure worth buying on Black Friday 2026?

Yes. The Synology DiskStation DS124 1-Bay NAS Enclosure is a sensible pick for personal backups, file sharing and a small media library. The Synology DiskStation DS124 1-Bay NAS Enclosure's 1 drive bay keeps setup simple, but users needing drive redundancy or substantial future capacity should choose a multi-bay model.

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#2

Synology DiskStation DS223j 2-Bay NAS Enclosure

The Synology DiskStation DS223j 2-Bay NAS Enclosure is the best basic two-bay NAS for home backups, with 2 drive bays and 1 GB of memory.

Best for: Affordable home storage with two drives

Drive bays

2

Memory

1 GB DDR4

Ethernet

1 x 1GbE

Processor

4-core, 1.7 GHz

Pros

• Two-bay design supports a mirrored-drive setup
• Good fit for scheduled computer and phone backups
• Compact enclosure for home use

Cons

• Limited memory and processor headroom for heavier tasks
• One Ethernet port

Is the Synology DiskStation DS223j 2-Bay NAS Enclosure worth buying on Black Friday 2026?

Yes. The Synology DiskStation DS223j 2-Bay NAS Enclosure is a practical choice for basic file storage and backup across a household. Two bays offer more flexibility than a single-drive NAS, while its entry-level hardware is best suited to everyday tasks rather than demanding applications.

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#3

Synology DiskStation DS224+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure

The Synology DiskStation DS224+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure is the best two-bay performance pick for home media and backups, with a 4-core Intel processor.

Best for: A capable two-bay home media NAS

Drive bays

2

Memory

2 GB DDR4

Ethernet

2 x 1GbE

Processor

Intel Celeron J4125, 4-core

Pros

• Intel processor suits a wider range of home tasks
• Two Ethernet ports support network options
• Expandable memory, up to 6 GB

Cons

• Two bays provide less room to grow than four-bay models
• No built-in M.2 slots

Is the Synology DiskStation DS224+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure worth buying on Black Friday 2026?

Yes. The Synology DiskStation DS224+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure is a strong choice for buyers who want an Intel-based Synology NAS with two drives. The Synology DiskStation DS224+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure's 4-core processor and dual Ethernet ports suit home media and backup use, though its bay count limits later expansion.

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#4

Synology DiskStation DS423 4-Bay NAS Enclosure

The Synology DiskStation DS423 4-Bay NAS Enclosure is the best straightforward four-bay NAS for growing home storage, with 4 drive bays and 2 GB of memory.

Best for: Four-drive storage without the Plus-series focus

Drive bays

4

Memory

2 GB DDR4

Ethernet

2 x 1GbE

Processor

4-core, 1.7 GHz

Pros

• Four bays support a range of storage layouts
• Dual Ethernet ports
• Useful capacity headroom for backups and shared files

Cons

• Does not include the DS423+ M.2 slots
• Not the best fit for buyers prioritizing Intel-based applications

Is the Synology DiskStation DS423 4-Bay NAS Enclosure worth buying on Black Friday 2026?

Yes. The Synology DiskStation DS423 4-Bay NAS Enclosure is worth considering when storage capacity and four drive bays matter more than Plus-series extras. Dual 1GbE ports and 2 GB of memory cover common home storage needs, while demanding workloads favor a Plus model.

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#5 · Top pick

Synology DiskStation DS423+ 4-Bay NAS Enclosure

The Synology DiskStation DS423+ 4-Bay NAS Enclosure is the best overall NAS for most growing home libraries, with 4 bays and an Intel 4-core processor.

Best for: Flexible home storage, backups and media

Drive bays

4

Memory

2 GB DDR4

Ethernet

2 x 1GbE

Processor

Intel Celeron J4125, 4-core

M.2 slots

2

Pros

• Four bays allow room for storage growth
• Two M.2 slots support SSD cache configurations
• Dual Ethernet ports and Intel processor

Cons

• Memory starts at 2 GB
• Costs more in complexity and setup than a one- or two-bay NAS

Is the Synology DiskStation DS423+ 4-Bay NAS Enclosure worth buying on Black Friday 2026?

Yes. The Synology DiskStation DS423+ 4-Bay NAS Enclosure is a strong long-term home NAS, combining four drive bays, an Intel 4-core processor and two M.2 slots. Choose it for flexible storage and media features; a smaller model better fits a single-user backup setup.

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#6

Synology DiskStation DS723+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure

The Synology DiskStation DS723+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure is the best premium two-bay choice for advanced users, with 2 bays and a 2-core AMD processor.

Best for: Advanced users who want two-bay expansion options

Drive bays

2

Memory

2 GB DDR4 ECC

Ethernet

2 x 1GbE

Processor

AMD Ryzen R1600, 2-core

Maximum memory

32 GB

Pros

• ECC memory support and expansion headroom
• Optional 10GbE network upgrade
• Two M.2 slots for cache

Cons

• Two drive bays limit internal storage capacity
• Advanced features are excessive for basic backups

Is the Synology DiskStation DS723+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure worth buying on Black Friday 2026?

Yes. The Synology DiskStation DS723+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure suits advanced users who value ECC memory, memory expansion and optional 10GbE. The Synology DiskStation DS723+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure's two drive bays keep capacity more limited than four-bay alternatives, so choose it for its upgrade path rather than maximum drive count.

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What is the difference between Synology DS124 and DS423+?

Synology DiskStation DS124 has 1 drive bay, while Synology DiskStation DS423+ has 4 bays, an Intel 4-core processor and two M.2 slots. The DS124 is a compact personal NAS for one drive and straightforward file storage. The DS423+ is designed for a broader setup, with room to add drives and configure storage around a growing household or small office.

Both models run Synology DiskStation Manager and support common network storage and backup tasks. The right choice depends on capacity needs, not just the enclosure size: one bay suits a limited collection, while four bays provide more options for storage organization and redundancy. Skip it if you need drive redundancy: Synology DiskStation DS124's single bay cannot provide a multi-drive setup.

Is Synology DS423+ better than DS124 for home use?

Synology DiskStation DS423+ is the better home NAS for households with multiple devices, growing photo libraries or shared media, thanks to its 4 drive bays. Synology DiskStation DS124 is better for one person who wants central file storage without managing a larger multi-drive system.

The DS423+ also has dual 1GbE ports, 2 GB of memory and an Intel Celeron J4125 processor. The DS124 has one 1GbE port, 1 GB of memory and a 4-core processor running at 1.7 GHz. Choose based on the workload: the DS124 handles simpler storage, while the DS423+ offers more expansion choices and a wider feature set.

How many drives do Synology DS124 and DS423+ support?

Synology DiskStation DS124 supports 1 internal drive, and Synology DiskStation DS423+ supports 4 internal drives. Those bay counts set the main difference in how each model handles capacity growth and multi-drive storage configurations.

A single-bay NAS can keep files accessible over a network, but it does not offer internal drive redundancy. A four-bay NAS gives owners more options for arranging drives and replacing or adding capacity over time. Drive capacity and supported configurations depend on the installed drives and the chosen storage setup, so check Synology compatibility information before selecting disks.

Which Synology NAS is better for media and backups?

Synology DiskStation DS423+ is the better all-round pick for media and backups, with 4 bays, dual 1GbE and an Intel 4-core processor. The hardware and bay count give households more room to store files from computers, phones and media devices in one place.

Synology DiskStation DS224+ is a sensible alternative for buyers who want an Intel-based NAS but do not need four bays. Synology DiskStation DS124 suits one-user backups and a modest media library. For any model, consider the number of people accessing files, the size of the current library and how much storage growth the household expects.

Should I choose a two-bay or four-bay Synology NAS?

A two-bay NAS is a good fit for smaller libraries, while a four-bay NAS such as Synology DiskStation DS423+ gives growing collections more storage and configuration options. Synology DiskStation DS224+ is a capable two-bay choice for home use, and Synology DiskStation DS223j covers basic backups.

Consider four bays if several computers and phones need backups or if the NAS will hold a large shared library. Two bays make sense when a smaller enclosure and simpler setup matter more than expansion. Remember that drive redundancy is not a backup by itself: keep a separate copy of important files on another device or service.

Buying Guide

Choose the number of drive bays

Synology DiskStation DS124 has 1 bay, Synology DiskStation DS224+ has 2 and Synology DiskStation DS423+ has 4. Match the bay count to your storage growth and drive configuration needs, not only the files already on hand.

Match hardware to your workload

Synology DiskStation DS223j is designed for straightforward home storage, while Synology DiskStation DS224+ adds an Intel 4-core processor. Synology DiskStation DS423+ pairs four bays with Intel hardware for a more flexible household NAS.

Check memory and network ports

Synology DiskStation DS124 includes 1 GB of memory and one 1GbE port; Synology DiskStation DS423+ has 2 GB and two 1GbE ports. Higher memory and extra Ethernet ports help when the NAS serves more devices or tasks.

Plan for future expansion

Synology DiskStation DS423+ includes 2 M.2 slots, while Synology DiskStation DS723+ supports up to 32 GB of memory and an optional 10GbE upgrade. Select expansion features only when they support a real need in your setup.

Budget for drives and backups

Synology DiskStation DS124, Synology DiskStation DS224+ and Synology DiskStation DS423+ are NAS enclosures, so plan separately for compatible drives. Keep a second copy of important data outside the NAS to guard against accidental deletion or hardware failure.

FAQ

Is Synology DS124 good for a home NAS?

Yes. Synology DiskStation DS124 1-Bay NAS Enclosure is a good home NAS for personal file storage, basic backups and a small media collection. Its single drive bay keeps the setup simple, but users who need internal drive redundancy or more expansion should choose a two- or four-bay model.

Does Synology DS423+ support four hard drives?

Yes. Synology DiskStation DS423+ 4-Bay NAS Enclosure has four internal drive bays and supports a multi-drive storage setup. The exact usable capacity depends on the drives and storage configuration, so check Synology's compatibility information before purchasing drives for the enclosure.

Can Synology DS124 provide drive redundancy?

No. Synology DiskStation DS124 1-Bay NAS Enclosure has one internal drive bay, so it cannot create an internal multi-drive redundant configuration. Keep a separate backup copy of important files, or choose Synology DiskStation DS223j or another model with at least two bays.

Is Synology DS224+ a good alternative to DS423+?

Yes. Synology DiskStation DS224+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure is a good alternative when two bays are enough and an Intel processor is a priority. Synology DiskStation DS423+ 4-Bay NAS Enclosure is the better fit for buyers who value four bays, more storage growth and two M.2 slots.

Do Synology NAS enclosures include hard drives?

The Synology DiskStation DS124, DS223j, DS224+, DS423 and DS423+ models listed here are NAS enclosures; verify the specific listing's package contents before ordering. Plan for compatible drives separately, and confirm their support with Synology before building a storage pool.