Synology BeeStation 4TB review: This simplified NAS is amazing

Synology is aware of make an excellent NAS server, and its largest differentiator is not the {hardware} — its merchandise do not normally have the most effective {hardware} on this section — however the software program. The model’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) has the most effective interface mixed with a terrific set of utilities, and its this stage of polish and refinement that makes Synology the most effective NAS producer.But what if you happen to do not wish to get a full-fledged NAS, and are keen on a fundamental server simply to retailer your information, pictures, and movies? Previously, your possibility was to get one thing just like the DiskStation DS220j or the DS223j, add a tough drive, and set it up in your house community.There’s now a better method, due to the introduction of the BeeStation. Like the BeeDrive that debuted final yr, the BeeStation is a centralized storage answer that is aimed toward customers that do not wish to cope with the complexity of organising a NAS. It is just like WD’s My Cloud sequence in that regard; the BeeStation is actually an enclosure that homes a 4TB HDD, you join it by way of Ethernet to your router, and it then backs up information from numerous units in your house.The proven fact that it has an built-in HDD is an enormous deal, and the BeeStation could be very reasonably priced — the 4TB mannequin is obtainable for simply $199. I’ve been utilizing the BeeStation alongside my normal NAS servers — the DiskStation DS1522+ and the large DiskStation DS3622xs+. There are a number of limitations with the BeeStation; it is clearly not a full-fledged NAS, however if you happen to want a fundamental answer to retailer information, it could simply be what you are searching for.Synology BeeStation: Price and launch date(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Synology launched the BeeStation in choose Asian markets on January 31, and the product can be obtainable globally beginning March 6. At launch, the BeeStation is bought in a single variant with a 4TB HDD that retails for $199. Considering it has a HAT3300 drive that retails for $99 by itself, you are principally getting an excellent worth right here.Users in India can get their palms on the BeeStation proper now, with the server debuting for ₹21,000 ($253).Synology BeeStation: Specs(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The BeeStation is exclusive in that it has a tough drive built-in, however in any other case it shares numerous the identical {hardware} as its full-fledged NAS siblings. This is what you are getting: Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategorySynology BeeStationCPURealtek RTD1619BStorageSynology HAT3300-4T 4TB HDD, 5,400rpmRAM1GB DDR4, solderedEthernet1 x Gigabit EthernetPorts1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1System necessitiesWindows 10 (Build 17063 or above), Windows 11, macOS 12.3 or above, iOS 15 or above, Android 8 or aboveDimensions148 x 63 x 196mmWeight820gSynology BeeStation: Design(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The BeeStation has an unobtrusive design that does not appeal to numerous consideration — simply accurately. The design aesthetic is totally different to that of most DiskStation NAS fashions; there are not any vents on the aspect, and aside from a stylized BeeStation emblem, you do not get any branding in any way. The unit has passive airflow that is delivered by vents on the high, and there is not any energetic cooling.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)What you get right here is an enclosure to accommodate a 3.5-inch NAS arduous drive, and since there is not any want for detachable drives, it’s considerably smaller in dimension than most full-fledged NAS fashions. The design itself is smooth, and also you get a single LED that serves as a visible indicator to system standing.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The plastic chassis has good construct high quality, and there are rubber toes on the backside to make sure the BeeStation stays planted on a desk. There is not a lot else to speak about on this space, and whereas WD has trendy fashions within the My Cloud sequence that stand out, that is not the case right here, and I just like the subdued design.Synology BeeStation: Features and configuration(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The BeeStation is all about ease-of-use, so that you get a restricted set of options, and never a lot in the way in which of customizability. The server has a Gigabit Ethernet port on the again together with a USB-C and USB-A port, and similar to the model’s NAS servers, you possibly can simply switch information from an exterior drive to the BeeStation with relative ease. You additionally get the flexibility to make use of an exterior drive as a secondary information supply, however you possibly can’t use it to increase the storage of the BeeStation.The BeeStation makes use of a quad-core Realtek RTD1619B chip — the identical because the DiskStation DS223 — and also you get 1GB of DDR4 reminiscence. The arduous drive is the Synology Plus Series HAT3300-4T, and the 4TB drive connects over the same old SATA 6Gb/s interface and spins at 5,400rpm. It tends to get a bit noisy below load, however it is not rather more so than equal IronWolf or WD Red drives.Setting up the BeeStation is about as easy because it will get. All you could do is scan the QR code that is included within the package deal (it is also situated on the underside of the product), register with a Synology account, and join the Ethernet cable to your router. You’ll want to carry down the ability button for 4 seconds to instantiate the software program, and it is a great way to make sure that nobody can take management of the BeeStation remotely.As quickly as that is carried out, you may give your BeeStation a reputation, and get began with the product. There are cell apps that let you view the information saved on the BeeStation from wherever, and you may entry the online interface by going to portal.bee.synology.com. You’ll want the online interface to ask members of the family to make use of the BeeStation — you possibly can have as much as 9 complete customers — arrange integration with public cloud companies, and extra.Inviting customers is extraordinarily straightforward, and the BeeStation creates a singular hyperlink that may be shared with your loved ones. There’s additionally the supply to create an area account that is solely obtainable by way of LAN, and once more, it is a good transfer. There is not a lot else in the way in which of settings, and going to the Advanced settings tab permits you to arrange e-mail notifications for system alerts.You may again up the information on the BeeStation to an exterior drive or the model’s personal C2 cloud service, and equally restore information if you happen to’ve beforehand saved information inside C2.Synology BeeStation: Software and efficiency(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The BeeStation runs a light-weight OS referred to as BeeStation Manager (BSM), and it has a restricted feature-set. The predominant use case with the BeeStation is to again up information and pictures, and to that impact, you get two utilities: BeePhotos and BeeFiles. Unlike the model’s NAS servers, there is not any Package Center, so you possibly can’t obtain any extra apps.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The largest draw back is that there is not any strategy to stream media, and also you miss out on the likes of Plex. When I requested Synology in regards to the potential for this characteristic to be added down the road, the model stated that the BeeStation is designed to be an “entry-level preconfigured storage solution” that does not have all of the options of a NAS, and that media playback or streaming will not be coming to this mannequin. If that is one thing you want, then you will have to think about one of many model’s funds NAS servers, and there is loads of choices obtainable in that space — the DiskStation DS223 and DS224+ instantly come to thoughts.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)When it involves backing up information, the BeeStation holds up simply in addition to a full-fledged NAS. There’s a BeeStation utility for Windows that permits you to again up folders with ease, and the most effective half is that you could arrange a two-way sync between the BeeStation and that folder. After you have chosen a folder, the information is backed up robotically, and the utility is simply as dependable as Synology Drive on this regard.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)It’s additionally extraordinarily straightforward to again up information from a cloud service supplier like Google Drive to the BeeStation. Just enter your credentials, arrange what folders you wish to again up, and the BeeStation does the remaining. I already do that with my NAS servers, and it is nice to see this characteristic make its method into the BeeStation.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)While I used to be initially anxious in regards to the safety of the BeeStation provided that there is not a lot in the way in which of safety controls on the machine, it has numerous safeguards baked in. BSM makes use of Synology’s QuickConnect relay service to ascertain a connection, and it principally creates a safe tunnel, so you possibly can simply entry your information from wherever with out having to fret about privateness points. I’d have preferred the flexibility to put in Tailscale on the product, however that is not the case.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)As we’re speaking about distant connectivity, the most effective a part of the BeeStation is the truth that you possibly can entry your information on the go. There are cell apps for BeePhotos and BeeFiles, and BeePhotos is simply Synology Photos below a distinct identify. Just like that app, BeePhotos does a terrific job backing up pictures and movies out of your telephones, and it has the identical interface. You even get the flexibility to forged pictures and movies to TVs and different Cast-enabled units.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)I talked about how Synology Photos is a viable various to Google Photos due to the same person interface and the flexibility to kind pictures by faces, and also you get all of these options in BeePhotos as properly. BeeFiles does the identical factor, however with information — it’s positioned as a substitute for Google Drive, and also you get an interface that is almost similar to what Google affords.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)In a month of testing, the BeeStation did a unbelievable job backing up folders from my Windows gaming machine, in addition to pictures and movies from the dozen or so units I examined — together with the likes of the Vivo X100 Pro, iQOO 12, and some telephones I can not speak about simply but. I’d have preferred extra configuration choices and the flexibility to stream media, however the BeeStation is aimed toward customers that need an easy-to-use storage answer, and it hits that transient completely.Synology BeeStation: The competitors(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)If you could stream media or need the flexibility to put in extra utilities, you must take into account getting a full-fledged NAS. The DiskStation DS224+ is my suggestion, and it’s a nice starter mannequin that has a lot to supply. You get two drive bays, highly effective {hardware}, a flexible software program platform with a ton of helpful utilities, and twin Gigabit Ethernet ports. You have so as to add your individual HDDs, and the barebones NAS itself prices $299, so it’s significantly costlier than the BeeStation. That stated, you additionally get rather more extensibility.If you desire a extra budget-focused answer, the DiskStation DS223 is a good alternative. It would not fairly have the identical caliber of {hardware} because the DS224+, however it nonetheless does a good job in every day use, and it holds up properly as a media streaming server.Synology BeeStation: Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)You should purchase this if:You want a centralized storage machine to retailer pictures and moviesYou need a straightforward strategy to entry your information whereverYou want an all-in-one answer that is straightforward to handleYou should not purchase this if:You want a storage server to stream mediaYou want a couple of arduous driveI actually preferred the thought of the BeeDrive, and used the product fairly a bit over the past six months. The largest draw back was that it might solely work when my machine was energetic, because it wanted to be plugged in to a USB port. I wished Synology to make a devoted answer that would work over Ethernet, and the BeeStation is that machine.The BeeStation is not a full-fledged NAS, and it is not designed to be one; you do not get a lot extensibility or media streaming capabilities, so if you happen to’re after a NAS server for Plex streaming, you must get the DiskStation DS224+ or DS223 as an alternative. The BeeStation is as an alternative aimed toward those who need an easy-to-use centralized storage answer to again up information, pictures, and movies, and it excels at these use instances.There’s additionally the worth to think about, and retailing for simply $199, the BeeStation has rather a lot going for it. So if you happen to needn’t stream media to related units in your house and are as an alternative taking a look at an all-in-one storage server to again up information, you possibly can’t go mistaken with the BeeStation.