Synology has a new addition to its storage solutions family. It's the new DiskStation DS723+ , a compact storage device aimed at home and small business environments that has pleasantly surprised us with its incredible performance, but also with the expansion possibilities it offers in such a compact form factor.
If you want a NAS, let it be this
More and more advanced users are becoming interested in network-attached storage (NAS) systems, as their capabilities extend far beyond simply storing files accessible from anywhere in the world. Synology is one of the leading manufacturers in this sector, and its ecosystem of applications and devices is so extensive that it's very difficult to resist the temptation to get one. Well, with this new DS723+, it will be virtually impossible to look away.
Its compact design, excellent construction, and versatility when starting to use it make it a great option not only for home users, but also for small businesses that need a network storage unit with not too much storage but with a large number of tools.
What the DS723+ offers
This is a 2-bay NAS , meaning it has two slots to connect two hard drives to store all our data, but it also hides two NVMe Gen 3 drive slots in its lower section , allowing for faster file access, not only for caching but also as an independent storage unit to store files that require maximum speed.
These are the characteristics of the DS723+:
| CPU | AMD Ryzen R1600 |
| Frequency | 2-core 2.6 (base) / 3.1 (turbo) GHz |
| Architecture | 64-bit |
| Conference proceedings | 2 GB DDR4 (Pre-installed) |
| Memory slots | Maximum 2 x 16 GB drives (32 GB total) |
| Bays | 2 HDD |
| Possibility of expansion? | 5 extra bays with the Synology DX517 |
| NVMe slots | 2 slots for 2280 drives |
| Compatible units | 3.5 "SATA HDD 2.5 "SATA SSD M.2 2280 NVMe SSDs |
| Ethernet ports | 2 x RJ-45 1GbE LAN with Failover / Link Aggregation support |
| USB | 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 |
| PCIe expansion port | 1 x Gen3 x2 Network Upgrade Slot |
| Size | 166 mm x 106 mm x 223 mm |
| Weight | 1,51 kg |
| Energy consumption | 21,07W (Access) 8,62 W (HDD hibernation) |
Don't stay behind
One of the features we liked most about the Synology DS723+ is its impressive upgradeability. Beyond simply swapping hard drives (typical for NAS devices when expanding capacity), this unit allows you to connect two NVMe drives , providing a significant speed boost. However, it's important to note that the DSM operating system cannot be installed directly on these drives.
On the other hand, there's also the option to connect a 10GbE Ethernet module that significantly increases the NAS's access speed, allowing for extremely fast network connection speeds (given that it already has two integrated GbE ports). The PCIe connection slot is hidden under the screw-on cover located next to the Ethernet ports.
These details allow the system to be updated in the future, receiving great improvements in aspects such as disk reading performance and data transmission speed.
What can I do with this NAS?
The possibilities offered by Synology NAS are vast, but in this case, the excellent performance of the DS723+ allows us to bring a wide range of options to life with great performance. Below we will list many of the functions that we can keep running on the NAS:
Plex server
One of the most popular packages for Synology NAS devices is Plex, as it allows you to create a media server in just a few steps. The DS723+'s advantage is that its AMD Ryzen R1600 processor handles multimedia content with ease; however, the lack of integrated graphics could be a drawback when transcoding files. If you're a heavy Plex user, try selecting the direct playback option to avoid overloading the NAS, or you'll experience stuttering and buffering with native 4K content that needs to be downscaled. Overall, though, the system performs wonderfully.
Synology Drive
Imagine being able to set up your own cloud where you can store all your files, grant access to third parties, and even edit documents and slides remotely. You can do all of this with the Synology Drive suite, creating folders to manage with a team of collaborators and controlling access to other folders hosted on different Synology servers.
Synology Photos
Since Google Photos stopped offering unlimited free storage, many users have been looking for a reliable and secure way to store all their digital photos. Synology Photos offers just that, allowing you to store all your photos, organized chronologically , and enabling automatic backups from your phone so your photos are always safe on your NAS.
This tool allows you to store, categorize and share all your personal photos and videos, making it an incredible tool to keep all your memories well organized.
Synology Survival Station
Create your own video surveillance system using IP cameras that will store all captured footage on your NAS storage. This tool allows you to manage recordings, create your own monitoring panel, and generate smart alerts based on what's happening in front of the camera. Furthermore, you can include cameras that support the RTSP transmission protocol, so you can use many models on the market, and even an IP camera you already own.
Is the Synology DS723+ worth it?
Taking into account that its price is around 550 euros (without hard drives), the general trend when buying a NAS is that it is a significant investment. But taking into account the versatility and the long future that awaits you with its expansion possibilities, we believe that this is a unit that should be taken into account, whether you are a home user (advanced) or a small business.
Its excellent noise level, build quality, and incredible DSM operating system interface make this Synology drive an ideal NAS solution for all types of users.
This analysis is an article sponsored by Synology, which has given us the product so that we can test it and comment on its main novelties. You can read our editorial ethics in the link that we leave you below.