synology diskstation ds925 storage review

After six months, the Synology DiskStation DS925+ has proven to be one of the most quietly transformative tools in our workflow at Exhibit Magazine. It has streamlined how our video team moves terabytes of footage, how our photographers share their edits, and how the design desk accesses ready-to-publish visuals, all without the friction or downtime of cloud-based alternatives. It’s fast, reliable, and built for serious work, though its locked-down approach to drive compatibility and limited USB-C implementation still leave room for improvement. But in every practical sense, the DS925+ has justified its presence in our setup.

The Synology DS925+ is a compact powerhouse that delivers on performance, flexibility, and ease of use. It’s ideal for small and medium businesses and enthusiasts who want more control over their data without relying on the cloud. The upgraded networking, refined processor, and DSM ecosystem make it a worthy successor to the DS923+. However, the mandatory use of Synology-branded drives for new installs is a tough pill to swallow. For new users building a NAS from scratch, the added storage cost could be significant. But for those already in the Synology ecosystem, especially those migrating from an older unit, the DS925+ feels like a natural and valuable upgrade.

The expandable storage options provided by the DS925+ make it a great option for small businesses and home offices that need a fast, reliable network drive. However, Synology’s apps and documentation could be a lot simpler and more straightforward for first-time users.

The DiskStation DS925+ brings long-overdue connectivity upgrades, with the NAS getting 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports as standard. This is a big deal in and of itself, as every other NAS system in this category featured multi-Gigabit connectivity for a while now. There's also better internal hardware, and just like its predecessor, the DS925+ does a brilliant job as a Plex media server. You still get the best software feature-set in the industry, but this time around, there's a problem ? you'll need to use Synology's custom hard drives with the NAS, significantly limiting your choices in this area. Synology's anti-consumer behavior of late combined with the introduction of several new brands in this category means you have better options if you want a new NAS system. While the DS925+ is by no means a bad choice, I'd suggest taking a look at a few alternatives if you're in need of an upgrade.