Synology DiskStation DS723+ review: Retaking the 2-bay NAS crown

Synology had a quieter-than-usual 2022, however the model is slowly getting again to its regular launch cadence. We obtained the DiskStation DS923+ on the finish of 2022, and now Synology is introducing the DS723+, a 2-bay NAS that has just a few attractive upgrades over its predecessor.First up is the truth that you need to use the M.2 slots for storage. This is an enormous change for the model, which has solely allowed using M.2 for SSD caching previously. The AMD Ryzen R1600 is identical {hardware} that is used within the 5-bay DiskStation DS1522+ — among the best dwelling NAS servers round — and is dependable in each day use. The DiskStation Manager (DSM) software program continues to be one of the best round, and it comes with loads of helpful options. What’s additionally attention-grabbing is that the DS723+ will get a PCIe slot that permits for 10 Gigabit Ethernet, much like the DS923+ and DS1522+. So let’s learn how the DS723+ holds up in real-world use, and if that is 2-bay NAS is right to your use case.Synology DiskStation DS723+: Pricing and availability(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Synology unveiled the DiskStation DS723+ on January 10, 2023, and the 2-bay NAS is about to go on sale globally within the coming weeks. The NAS server retails for $449 within the U.S. and €429 ($460) in European markets. Like the remainder of its portfolio, Synology is rolling out a three-year guarantee with the DS723+, with the power to increase to 5 years.The NAS comes with 2GB of RAM out of the field, two Gigabit Ethernet ports, and you will find a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port on the entrance and an eSATA connector on the again for connecting an exterior drive bay just like the DX517. Here’s an summary of the {hardware}: Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategorySynology DiskStation DS723+Internal drive baysTwo (18TB every bay), 3.5-inch HDD, 2.5-inch HDD/SSD, M.2 storage Network interface2 x Gigabit Ethernet, Link AggregationUSB ports1 x USB 3.1 Gen1eSATA ports1PCIe1 x Gen3 x2 community slotCPUDual-core 2.6GHz AMD Ryzen R1600, 64-bitPlex transcodingNoRAM2GB DDR4 ECC, two SODIMM slots, as much as 32GB totalM.2 slotsStorage and SSD cachingFile systemBtrfs, EXT4Cooling1 x 92mm, 20.7dB(A)Extensibility1 x eSATA port, 5 further drive baysDimensions166 x 106 x 223mmWeight3.32lb (1.51 kg)Synology DiskStation DS723+: Design and options(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Synology hasn’t modified the design of its NAS servers for some time now, with the DS723+ retaining the identical look as its predecessor. That means you get a matte black design that blends seamlessly into the background, and there is loads of air flow all through. While the server is made predominantly out of plastic, it has top-notch construct high quality.You’ll discover giant Synology logos on the perimeters, and these are vented to supply passive airflow into the chassis. The entrance of the DS723+ is clear, with LED indicators for the drive bays, a system standing LED, and an influence button situated on the backside. Synology is shifting away from using USB ports, and as such you will simply discover a single USB port on the entrance of the DS723+.Image 1 of 5(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The single 92mm fan on the again does an excellent job with airflow, and the ventilated design ensures the NAS does not overheat beneath load. The packaging for the DS723+ is fairly normal fare, and also you get the NAS, screws for putting in 2.5-inch drives, and two Cat 5e Ethernet cables. While servers just like the DS1621+ have an inner PSU, a majority of Synology’s fashions include an exterior energy brick, and that’s the case with the DS723+ as nicely — you get a 65W energy brick within the package deal.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Installing a drive is as simple because it will get; the plastic drive bays make tool-less set up a breeze, and when you’re utilizing a 2.5-inch HDD or SSD, you will discover screws within the package deal to mount the drive to the bay. On that word, you will discover two M.2 slots on the backside of the NAS, and these can lastly be used for storage in addition to SSD caching. That is an enormous shift in coverage for Synology, and it is good to see the model lastly enable M.2 storage drives.That mentioned, you can not use the DS723+ solely with M.2 drives — there must be a 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch drive in one of many drive bays for DSM set up. It’s probably we’ll see a SSD-only server debut sooner or later, however for now, the M.2 drives on the DS723+ are designed to enhance current storage.Synology DiskStation DS723+: Ports(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The DS723+ is not too totally different to its predecessor with regards to connectivity, with the NAS that includes two Gigabit Ethernet ports and an eSATA port for plugging in a drive bay. With different manufacturers providing 2.5 Gigabit or 10 Gigabit networking as normal on this class, it’s a letdown to see solely Gigabit ports on the again of the DS723+.That mentioned, there’s a path to 10GbE networking on the NAS, and that is facilitated by the PCIe Gen 3 x2 slot that is situated on the again. The slot permits you to mount a community interface card just like the $150 E10G22-T1-Mini, switching the NAS to a 10GbE hyperlink. So though the NAS misses out on multi-gig networking out of the field, there’s a straightforward solution to get 10GbE right here, and that makes it rather more future-proof.Image 1 of 3(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The change to 10GbE makes probably the most quantity of sense if you are going to use M.2 storage along with the HDD bays. While I might have favored to see 2.5GbE ports as normal on the DS723+, however the truth that you possibly can change to 10GbE through an non-obligatory improve is an effective different.Synology DiskStation DS723+: Performance(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Synology has switched to AMD {hardware} in lieu of Intel, and I’m all for it. The Ryzen R1600 that powers the DS723+ is a dual-core mannequin with 4 threads, with a base frequency of two.60GHz and 3.10GHz enhance. The better part in regards to the change is that there is considerably extra energy right here than the Celeron J4125-powered DS720+ and DS920+, making the DS723+ a real powerhouse.That mentioned, the Ryzen R1600 does not have an built-in GPU, and which means the DS723+ loses a key characteristic: {hardware} Plex transcoding. This will not be a difficulty for many Plex customers because the direct play characteristic works simply nice for 4K playback throughout most gadgets, however when you share you could have Plex Pass and share your library with buddies and the goal gadgets lack the requisite codecs, you may must depend on transcoding. That mentioned, this is not going to have an effect on a majority of customers eyeing the DS723+, and when you want Plex transcodes, a better option can be to go the customized route anyway.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The DS723+ comes with 2GB of reminiscence put in out of the field, however in contrast to its predecessor — the place the reminiscence was soldered — you could have entry to each SO-DIMM slots right here. So when you want extra reminiscence down the road, you possibly can change out the built-in reminiscence and go all the best way as much as 32GB.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)A marquee addition on the DS723+ is the power to make use of M.2 slots for storage. The draw back is which you can solely use Synology’s SNV3410 collection SSDs with the NAS. Given the facility necessities and the truth that the model did not enable M.2 storage drives previously as they may overheat, I perceive why it is being cautious on this regard. That mentioned, with the model’s SSDs solely going as much as 800GB, you’re restricted within the quantity of storage that can be utilized.In an identical vein, Synology is limiting what exhausting drives you need to use with the DS723+, and whereas the official HDD record has one of the best NAS HDDs from Seagate, WD, and Toshiba, there are just a few evident omissions. For starters, you will not discover any IronWolf Pro or WD Red Pro drives listed, and the third-party drives which were formally examined solely go as much as 14TB even when 20TB drives from these manufacturers can be found.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)It’s clear that Synology is prioritizing using its personal HAT5300 collection of exhausting drives on its NAS fashions, however for many dwelling customers eyeing the DS723+, this won’t be an enormous challenge. And having mentioned that, you need to use a 20TB IronWolf Pro with the NAS simply nice; the one caveat is that ought to one thing go unsuitable, the model won’t present technical help.When it involves efficiency, the DS723+ ticks all the correct containers. The R1600 has loads of energy for each day use, and the extensibility of the reminiscence and networking means there’s a whole lot of headroom right here for the long run. I used to be eager on utilizing M.2 storage on the DS723+, and it managed to max out the 10GbE E10G22-T1-Mini, delivering 1,000MB/s bandwidth. Most dwelling customers won’t want that stage of bandwidth, but it surely bodes nicely for the DS723+ that it may reliably ship the acknowledged bandwidth.For common HDD use, you need to see over 220MB/s through the Gigabit Ethernet ports when used with Link Aggregation, and the DS723+ is a real powerhouse for multimedia streaming, backing up your images and movies, Windows and macOS machines, and workplace use instances.Synology DiskStation DS723+: Software(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The largest promoting level for Synology is the software program. While TerraMaster and ASUSTOR supply higher {hardware} on this class, their software program efforts do not come near what you get with Synology. The DS723+ runs DSM 7.1, and it options an exhaustive record of software program options.Synology Photos is an enormous differentiator for the model, and I already talked about how it’s an offline Google Photos different. It routinely backs up images and movies out of your telephones and shops it on the NAS, and the interface is much like Google Photos, with a grid format and loads of filters.Active Backup for Business is a characteristic I exploit to again up the Windows machines in my home, and it does a wonderful job backing up all the OS drive. Video Station is a superb different to Plex, and Audio Station is a strong audio streaming answer that’s nice when you’ve got a big music library. There’s additionally a whole lot of extensibility with DSM 7.1, and there are packages designed for the NAS, like Syncthing and Tailscale.Tailscale is a very helpful utility because it permits you to connect with the NAS even while you’re outdoors your house community. Basically, DSM 7.1 has an in depth feature-set that caters to dwelling in addition to enterprise customers, and that is one of the best software program you will discover on any NAS server.Synology DiskStation DS723+: The competitors(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Like the DS720+ and DS920+, there is not a lot in the best way of variance between the DS723+ and DS923+ — each fashions have the identical {hardware} and feature-set, with the one distinction between the drive bays and quantity of reminiscence: the DS923+ will get 4GB of reminiscence, with the DS723+ providing 2GB. So when you want extra reminiscence and 4 drive bays, the DS923+ is the perfect selection.If you completely want the transcoding characteristic in Plex, you are higher off trying on the model’s Intel-based NAS fashions, just like the DiskStation DS720+ or DS920+. That mentioned, availability could be a difficulty as each fashions are bought out at official retailers, so you’ll have to take a look at eBay.Synology DiskStation DS723+: Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)You can purchase this if:You need a 2-bay NAS with one of the best software programYou wish to use M.2 SSDs for storageYou want dependable {hardware} that works flawlesslyYou need the extensibility of eSATAYou should not purchase this if:You want Plex {hardware} transcodingYou need 2.5 or 10GbE connectivity with out paying extraWith the DS723+, Synology is solidifying its place within the dwelling class. Between the DS1522+, DS923+, and now the DS723+, there’s a wide selection of servers focused at dwelling customers, and one of the best half is that they share the identical Ryzen R1600 {hardware}, making the buying determination a little bit simple. The DS923+ and DS723+ have the additional benefit of using the M.2 slots for storage, and that may be a big deal — contemplating simply how lengthy it took the model to roll it out.There shall be a subset of customers that will not be enthused by the change to AMD given the shortage of an built-in GPU that does not enable for Plex transcoding, and that is simply nice — there are many options accessible. I have never felt the necessity to transcode content material in Plex for just a few years now, with the direct play characteristic working reliably on all the gadgets in my dwelling. But when you use Plex Pass and must transcode, you will have to have a look at a NAS mannequin that makes use of Intel {hardware}.For everybody else, the DS723+ is your best option for a 2-bay NAS server in 2023. The feature-set mixed with the wonderful DSM software program makes it a straightforward advice, and the power to make use of M.2 storage and change to 10GbE networking for an extra $150 is an added bonus — I did not suppose the characteristic would make its solution to the NAS. You are paying a premium right here, however you are additionally getting among the best NAS servers for dwelling use.