# Synology DS225+ Review: Hardware, Plex and Drive Policy > Review the Synology DS225+ CPU, Intel graphics, 2.5GbE, 6GB RAM ceiling, drive policy, Plex fit, limitations and current Amazon prices. - Canonical: https://cloudzat.com/synology-ds225-plus-review/ - Published: 2026-10-14 - Updated: 2026-10-14 - Author: Kayla Idayi - Site: https://cloudzat.com/ - LLM index: https://cloudzat.com/llms.txt ## Content [Home](https://cloudzat.com/)/Synology NAS/Synology DS225+ Review Synology NAS review and current prices DS225+ keeps the familiar Intel Celeron J4125 platform while adding a 2.5GbE port beside 1GbE. It is a compact backup, Photos and light media NAS, but its two-bay ceiling, 6GB maximum memory and lack of M.2 or expansion limit long-term growth. See prices and availabilityFind your best fit The short answer ## Who should buy the DS225+? Choose DS225+ for backups, file sync, Photos and direct-play media when a mirrored two-drive pool provides enough capacity. Its Intel integrated graphics can be useful for supported media workflows, but application and configuration support must still be verified. **What matters before buying:** DS225+ improves networking over DS224+ without changing the J4125 compute and memory ceiling. Buyers who expect more drives, heavy containers, large Photos libraries or major capacity growth should compare DS425+, DS725+ and DS925+ before committing. Shop the Synology DS225+ ## Synology DS225+ prices See prices for the two-bay DS225+ and compare them with other compact Synology NAS systems. Finding Amazon prices for these models... At a glance ## Which option makes sense for your setup? OptionBest forCheck before buying **DS225+**Compact backup, file sync and direct-play mediaFixed two bays, 2GB RAM and no M.2 slots **DS224+**Lower-cost alternative when 2.5GbE is not importantOlder model; check seller condition and DSM policy **DS425+**More usable RAID choices and four internal baysLarger enclosure and added drive costs Interactive decision tool ## DS225+ Workload Fit Checker Enter how you will use the NAS. The recommendation helps narrow the choices; always confirm exact hardware specifications, current compatibility and the final purchase price. Buying guide ## Everything to check before you buy Compare the actual hardware, software support and total configured cost. The recommendations below apply to the models named in this guide. ### DS225+ review: a sensible two-bay NAS for whom? Buy DS225+ when your priority is a compact DiskStation for computer backups, shared files, Synology Photos and light media serving. It uses an Intel Celeron J4125 and comes with 2GB RAM. Its distinguishing network change over DS224+ is one built-in 2.5GbE port alongside one 1GbE port. Two bays are also its main limitation. With two identical drives and single-drive redundancy, usable storage is approximately one drive's capacity before overhead. If a growing household or studio will need more than two internal disks, buy a four-bay NAS instead of planning an expansion unit that this model does not support. ### DS225+ versus DS224+: the money question The DS225+ and DS224+ have closely related J4125 compute capabilities, so upgrading an otherwise healthy DS224+ often provides little benefit unless the network has moved to 2.5GbE. A new buyer should compare the actual enclosure premium and warranty, not assume a “25” model is much faster at every task. The DS224+ has dual 1GbE; DS225+ provides one 2.5GbE and one 1GbE. Reaching higher transfer rates requires a compatible network switch or client and a storage workload that can sustain the speed. ### How much memory do you need? The DS225+ includes 2GB of non-ECC DDR4 and lists a 6GB supported maximum with the correct Synology expansion module. That is enough for straightforward backup and file-sharing uses, but it limits how many applications and containers you can run comfortably at once. For virtual machines, a growing Docker stack or heavier photo indexing, a DS925-series model with more memory headroom is often a better long-term purchase. Do not shop for a generic RAM stick simply because an Amazon listing names DS225+ as compatible. ### Plex playback versus transcoding The J4125 includes integrated graphics, which is an advantage to investigate if your setup needs hardware-assisted media conversion. However, Plex hardware transcoding depends on platform drivers, software version, codecs and whether your Plex setup supports it. Streaming a file directly to a compatible TV is much easier on the NAS than converting it live. Before buying, identify whether most clients can direct-play their videos. If regular remote conversion is essential, validate the current software support path, not an unqualified seller claim. ### Drive selection and the absence of M.2 slots DS225+ accepts two supported SATA drives but provides no internal M.2 NVMe slots. If fast SSD caching or NVMe pools are essential, this chassis is the wrong starting point. Use NAS-oriented CMR HDDs or suitable SATA SSDs according to Synology's exact compatibility information. For DSM 7.3 on 2025 Plus systems, Synology permits more third-party HDD/2.5-inch SATA flexibility than at launch; an unlisted product still differs from a verified drive. Verify drive model, warranty, power and acoustic requirements before buying. ### Real installed cost and backup plan A two-bay diskless NAS looks affordable until the two drives, a UPS and an independent backup destination are added. Choose drives with enough headroom for snapshots and future growth. RAID 1 or SHR redundancy helps you recover from a drive failure but not from deletion, theft or ransomware. When no exact DS225+ Amazon offer is eligible, look at DS224+ as a cheaper older alternative or DS425+ if four bays would solve the next problem before it arises. ## More Synology guides and comparisons [IronWolf Synology compatibility](https://cloudzat.com/seagate-ironwolf-synology-compatibility/)[IronWolf for DS925+](https://cloudzat.com/seagate-ironwolf-synology-ds925-plus/)[Seagate Exos Synology compatibility](https://cloudzat.com/seagate-exos-synology-compatibility/)[DS225+ vs DS224+](https://cloudzat.com/ds225-plus-vs-ds224-plus/)[Best drives for Synology](https://cloudzat.com/best-hard-drives-for-synology-nas/)[Best Synology NAS](https://cloudzat.com/best-synology-nas/)[Synology DS925+ Review](https://cloudzat.com/synology-ds925-plus-review/)[DS925+ vs DS923+](https://cloudzat.com/ds925-plus-vs-ds923-plus/) Common questions ## Common questions answered ### Does DS225+ support Plex hardware transcoding? The Intel Celeron J4125 includes integrated graphics, but actual Plex hardware transcoding depends on Plex Pass, codec support, DSM/package or container configuration and current software support. ### How much RAM can DS225+ use? Synology lists 2GB DDR4 non-ECC installed and a 6GB maximum using the D4NS01-4G expansion module. ### Does DS225+ have 2.5GbE? Yes. It has one 2.5GbE port and one 1GbE port. ### Does DS225+ support NVMe cache? No built-in M.2 slots are listed for DS225+, so it does not provide the internal M.2 cache path found on DS425+ and larger models. ### Can DS225+ use an expansion unit? No. It remains a two-bay system. ### Can I use WD Red or IronWolf drives? DSM 7.3 provides more flexibility for unlisted third-party HDDs on 2025 Plus models, but verify the exact drive against the current Synology list and understand that unlisted drives are not Synology-verified. ### Is DS225+ better than DS224+? It mainly adds 2.5GbE while retaining the J4125 and 6GB memory ceiling. The better purchase depends on price and whether multi-gig networking matters. ### Is two-bay SHR the same as RAID 1? With two equal drives, both provide one-drive fault tolerance and roughly one drive’s usable capacity, though SHR offers Synology-specific flexibility in broader upgrade scenarios. ### Is DS225+ suitable for Docker? It can run Container Manager workloads, but the 6GB memory ceiling and two-bay storage limit make it better for a small, deliberate container set than heavy consolidation. ### Who should buy a larger Synology instead? Choose a larger model when you need more than two drives, M.2 storage/cache, ECC memory, much more RAM, expansion units or many simultaneous services. ## Synology specifications and compatibility Specifications and compatibility guidance come from the Synology product and support documents linked below. Check current Amazon prices and the seller's description before ordering. A price marked as last checked on an earlier date may have changed. - [Synology current Plus-series comparison](https://www.synology.com/en-us/products/compare/DS225%2B/DS425%2B/DS725%2B/DS925%2B) - [Synology drive compatibility policies for 2025+ systems](https://kb.synology.com/DSM/tutorial/Drive_compatibility_policies) - [Synology Products Compatibility List](https://www.synology.com/compatibility) CloudZat may earn a commission on qualifying Amazon purchases. Prices and availability can change. Check the exact model suffix, included drives, seller, warranty, region and compatibility before ordering. --- Machine-readable alternate. Cite or link to the canonical Cloudzat URL above. For changing prices, availability, forecasts, compatibility, or calculator results, fetch the canonical page at answer time.