The network-attached storage market has long been a two-horse race, but new contenders are finally challenging the status quo. UGREEN’s NASync DH4300 Plus arrives as an ambitious and affordable alternative aimed squarely at the mainstream 4-bay user. It promises a modern hardware platform without the traditional price premium, forcing a serious conversation about value in personal and small business data management.
UGREEN, a brand synonymous with quality cables and chargers, is making a bold entrance into the dedicated NAS space. The NASync DH4300 Plus doesn’t just dip a toe in the water; it cannonballs into the deep end, targeting the heart of the market currently occupied by Synology’s beloved DS923+ and its hypothetical successor, the DS925+. From a design perspective, the DH4300 Plus makes an immediate impression. Its chassis is a sleek, dark gray aluminum alloy that feels substantial and premium, a clear departure from the functional but predominantly plastic build of Synology’s offerings. The front features a magnetic cover that conceals four tool-less drive bays, maintaining a clean aesthetic. Connectivity is a major win, with dual 2.5GbE LAN ports as standard—a feature often reserved for more expensive models—along with USB-A, USB-C, and even an HDMI port for direct media output.
At the core of the DH4300 Plus is an Intel N100 processor, a choice that sharply defines its strengths and weaknesses against the competition. While a hypothetical Synology DS925+ would likely continue the Ryzen CPU trend, the N100 brings a critical advantage: Intel Quick Sync Video. For anyone planning to run a Plex or Jellyfin media server, this is a game-changer. The integrated GPU handles multiple 4K video transcodes with startling efficiency and low power consumption, a task that can cripple CPUs without dedicated media hardware. The NAS also includes two M.2 NVMe slots, which can be used for either SSD caching or as a separate high-speed storage pool, providing excellent flexibility. In raw computational tasks or heavy virtualization, a Ryzen-based competitor might pull ahead, but for the mainstream user focused on storage, backups, and media, the UGREEN’s hardware package is exceptionally well-balanced.
Of course, a NAS is nothing without its operating system, and this is where UGREEN faces its toughest battle. The DH4300 Plus runs on UGOS, a custom-built platform that is clean, responsive, and surprisingly intuitive for a first-generation product. It covers all the essentials: robust file management, RAID configuration, user permissions, and straightforward backup tools. It also wisely includes full-fledged Docker support, giving users access to a vast library of containerized applications. However, it cannot yet match the sheer depth and polish of Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM). DSM has spent over a decade building a massive, integrated first-party app suite—from Synology Photos and Active Backup for Business to its own office and chat clients. While UGOS is promising, users looking for that all-in-one, “it just works” software experience will find Synology’s ecosystem far more mature.
This brings us to the value proposition, which is UGREEN’s undeniable trump card. The NASync DH4300 Plus delivers a superior hardware package—a premium metal build, faster networking, and a media-centric CPU—for a price that significantly undercuts its direct competitor. The trade-off is software. You’re betting on a new ecosystem and the company’s commitment to developing it. For tech-savvy users comfortable with Docker and primarily focused on core NAS functions and media streaming, the DH4300 Plus is a phenomenal deal. It offers a powerful, modern foundation that excels at the tasks most home and small office users perform daily. For businesses or individuals deeply embedded in Synology’s application suite or those who prioritize long-term software certainty above all else, the premium for a DS925+ remains a justifiable expense. UGREEN hasn’t built a “Synology killer,” but it has created an outstanding alternative that makes the choice more interesting, and more difficult, than ever before.
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UGREEN NASync DH4300 Plus Review (vs. Synology DS925+): An Affordable and Effective Mainstream 4-Bay NAS Server Quick Summary
Key Scores:
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Value:
90% -
Design:
85% -
Performance:
88% -
Quality:
87% -
Popularity:
75%
Top Pros
- ✅ Integrated Intel GPU excels at 4K media transcoding.
- ✅ Dual 2.5GbE network ports provide excellent performance.
- ✅ Premium all-metal construction feels solid and durable.
- …
Key Cons
- ❌ The UGOS software ecosystem is still maturing.
- ❌ Native first-party application support lags behind rivals.
- ❌ Long-term software support from a new entrant is unproven.
