Choosing between the Synology 2-Bay DiskStation DS224+ (Diskless) and the UGREEN NASync DXP2800 2-Bay NAS (Diskless) is a same-bay fork, not a vague "best NAS" roundup. Both are diskless 2-bay chassis for home backup and media. One side is the classic DiskStation bet: Synology DSM, quieter maker noise, and a modest Celeron with dual Gigabit. The other is the value NASync bet: Intel N100, 8GB DDR5, 2.5GbE, dual M.2 NVMe slots, and younger UGOS Pro. Specs and street prices below come from manufacturer sheets and current Amazon listings, not a lab shootout.
This page is deliberately different from Synology DS225+ vs UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus, which compares a 2-bay DiskStation to a 4-bay 10GbE tower. Here both boxes stay at two SATA bays. For NAS basics, see What Is a NAS. For quiet apartment Plex paths that start on a 2-bay, see Apartment Quiet NAS Plex Upgrade Path.
| Attribute | Synology 2-Bay DiskStation DS224+ (Diskless) | UGREEN NASync DXP2800 2-Bay NAS (Diskless) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| Price | $299.99 checked Aug 2026 | $369.95 checked Sep 2026 |
| CPU | Intel Celeron J4125, quad-core, 2.0GHz (burst to 2.7GHz) | Intel N100, 4 cores, up to ~3.4 GHz |
| RAM | 2GB DDR4 (expandable to 6GB via 1 SO-DIMM slot) | 8 GB DDR5, expandable to 16 GB |
| Drive bays | 2 x 3.5"/2.5" SATA HDD/SSD, sold diskless | 2x SATA + 2x M.2 NVMe (diskless) |
| Max raw capacity | Up to 36TB (2 x 18TB drives) | Not listed |
| LAN | 2 x RJ-45 1GbE, supports link aggregation/failover | Not listed |
| Dimensions | 165 x 108 x 232.5 mm | Not listed |
| Weight | approx 1.14 kg (2.5 lb), diskless | Not listed |
| System storage | Not listed | Built-in 32 GB eMMC for UGOS Pro |
| Network | Not listed | 1x 2.5GbE RJ-45 |
| Ports | Not listed | USB-C, USB-A, HDMI 4K |
| Noise | Not listed | 29-34 dB quiet mode |
| Warranty | Not listed | 2 years |
| Buy | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
Quick verdict
Most people shopping two equal bays should buy the UGREEN NASync DXP2800. At roughly $370 diskless it brings an Intel N100, 8GB DDR5, 2.5GbE, and two M.2 NVMe slots that the DS224+ simply does not match on paper. The Synology DS224+ still wins when you want DSM polish, quieter maker noise near 22 dB(A), and Mac Time Machine to Synology habits, at a typical street price near $300 when Amazon has stock.
Price and value
Winner: UGREEN DXP2800 on hardware per dollar. Recent Amazon anchors put the DXP2800 near $369.95 (4.5 stars across hundreds of ratings) and the DS224+ near $300 when listed (4.6 stars), both diskless. The Synology is cheaper on a good day, but the gap is often under $80 before drives, while UGREEN ships with far more CPU/RAM and a faster NIC. Pay Synology's price when DSM is the product you are buying. Pay the small UGREEN premium when the chassis hardware is the product. Confirm live street pricing before you order; DS224+ availability on Amazon has been intermittent.
Bays and expandability
Winner: UGREEN DXP2800 inside the same 2-bay envelope. Both take two 3.5/2.5-inch SATA drives. UGREEN adds two M.2 NVMe slots for cache, apps, or a fast pool, plus DDR5 that expands to 16GB on this model and a built-in 32GB eMMC system volume so the OS is not eating a data bay. Synology stays at two SATA trays with 2GB DDR4 (to 6GB) and no NVMe slots on this chassis. Neither is a four-bay growth story; if you already know you want four SATA trays and 10GbE, jump to the DS225+ vs DXP4800 Plus comparison instead.
CPU, RAM, and network throughput
Winner: UGREEN DXP2800 on hardware paper. Maker sheets list an Intel N100 (4 cores, up to about 3.4 GHz), 8GB DDR5, and 1x2.5GbE. The DS224+ uses an Intel Celeron J4125 (4 cores, up to 2.7 GHz), 2GB DDR4, and 2x1GbE with rated sequential reads near 225 MB/s. For Plex library scans, light transcodes, Docker stacks, and fat copies on a real 2.5GbE LAN, UGREEN is the throughput pick. For typical home backup on Gigabit Ethernet, both are enough on paper. Synology's dual LAN still helps link aggregation habits on older switches; it does not close the CPU/RAM gap.
| Axis | Synology DS224+ | UGREEN DXP2800 |
|---|---|---|
| Bays | 2x SATA (diskless) | 2x SATA + 2x M.2 NVMe (diskless) |
| CPU | Intel Celeron J4125, 4c up to 2.7 GHz | Intel N100, 4c up to ~3.4 GHz |
| RAM | 2GB DDR4 (to 6GB) | 8GB DDR5 (to 16GB) + 32GB eMMC system |
| Network | 2x 1GbE (~225 MB/s rated) | 1x 2.5GbE |
| Extra I/O | 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB-C, USB-A, HDMI 4K |
| Noise (maker) | ~22 dB(A) | ~29-34 dB quiet mode |
| Warranty | 2 years (typical listing) | 2 years |
| Typical street price | ~$300 (stock often thin) | ~$370 |
| Best fit | Quiet DSM appliance | Value 2-bay hardware headroom |
Software ecosystem: DSM vs UGOS Pro
Winner: Synology DS224+ for most non-tinkerers. DSM remains the polished package catalog for Hyper Backup, Photos-class libraries, Surveillance Station habits, and a huge how-to corpus. UGOS Pro gets frequent praise for a fast first setup and a cleaner modern UI, but owner reports still call out a younger app set and more Docker detours when you want Immich, Jellyfin, or niche tools. If you want appliance software that feels finished on day one, Synology wins. If you are comfortable with containers and will mainly use SMB shares plus a media stack, UGREEN's hardware can carry more of the load. For remote access without opening random ports, see Set Up Tailscale on a NAS.
Apps, backup, and Plex
Winner: Synology for backup apps and Mac habits; UGREEN for raw scan and transcode horsepower. Synology buyers repeatedly call out easy backups, Plex as a reliable target, and Mac Time Machine workflows. UGREEN buyers praise snappy library scans on the N100/DDR5 pool, HDMI local playback options, and Docker flexibility when the App Center is thin. Neither box ships with drives; budget NAS HDDs separately (see WD Red Plus vs Seagate IronWolf 4TB). For array rebuild vocabulary when a disk fails later, see Replace a Failed RAID Drive.
Noise, power, and size
Winner: Synology DS224+. Maker noise is listed near 22 dB(A) with a compact black 2-bay chassis. UGREEN lists quiet-mode noise around 29-34 dB and weighs about 2.58 kg diskless in an aluminum shell that buyers often call solid, and sometimes a bit louder when large HDDs vibrate the chassis. If the NAS lives in a bedroom or living room, Synology is the easier roommate. If it lives in a closet or office shelf, UGREEN's fan and mass matter less.
Who should buy which
Buy the UGREEN NASync DXP2800 if you want the stronger 2-bay hardware package (N100, 8GB DDR5, 2.5GbE, dual NVMe) at a street price near the Synology, and you accept UGOS Pro's younger ecosystem.
Buy the Synology DS224+ if you want DSM polish, quieter idle, and Mac backup habits more than NVMe slots or 2.5GbE, and you can find it in stock near $300.
Skip both if you already know you need four SATA bays or 10GbE (see DS225+ vs DXP4800 Plus), or you only need USB-attached expansion without network shares.
Bottom line
Synology DS224+ and UGREEN NASync DXP2800 solve the same 2-bay home storage problem with different priorities. The DXP2800 is the overall pick for most buyers at this bay count: better CPU/RAM, faster NIC, and NVMe expandability for a modest street-price delta. The DS224+ remains the pick when DSM and quiet idle are the real requirements. Specs here are from maker sheets and Amazon listings, not a lab shootout. Confirm current street pricing and stock, then View on Amazon for the DXP2800 or the DS224+ before you order.
For backup posture once the data matters, see The 3-2-1 Backup Strategy. For RAID vocabulary when you build the pool, see RAID Levels Explained.
