10 Best 4-Bay NAS Devices (October 2026) Trusted Reviews

Finding the best 4-bay NAS devices for your storage setup can feel like a chore when you start comparing specs across dozens of models. I spent the last several weeks testing and reviewing units from UGREEN, Synology, QNAP, TerraMaster, Asustor, and Yxk to bring you a focused shortlist of ten strong options for 2026.

A 4-bay NAS hits the sweet spot between capacity and redundancy for most home users, photographers, and small teams. You get enough bays to run RAID 5 with one-drive-failure protection, which is the lowest tier of peace of mind I would recommend to anyone storing important data. Two-bay units simply cannot match that level of fault tolerance.

Our team evaluated each device on processor performance, network throughput, software ecosystem, noise output, and real-world usability. Whether you want a Plex media server, a small business backup target, or a private cloud for your family photos, this guide covers the best 4-bay NAS devices worth your money right now.

Table of Contents

Top 3 Picks at a Glance 2026

EDITOR'S CHOICE
UGREEN NAS DXP4800 Pro

UGREEN NAS DXP4800 Pro

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
  • Intel Core i3-1315U 6-Core
  • 10GbE plus 2.5GbE
  • 144TB Max Capacity
  • Docker and VMs
BUDGET PICK
Asustor Drivestor 4 Gen 2 AS1204T

Asustor Drivestor 4 Gen 2 AS1204T

★★★★★★★★★★4.3
  • 2.5GbE Network
  • 4K Media Streaming
  • Btrfs Snapshots
  • 3-Year Warranty
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Best 4-Bay NAS Devices in October: Quick Comparison

ProductSpecificationsAction
UGREEN NAS DXP4800 ProUGREEN NAS DXP4800 Pro
  • Intel Core i3 6-Core
  • 10GbE + 2.5GbE
  • 144TB Max
  • Docker and VMs
Check Latest Price
UGREEN NAS DH4300 PlusUGREEN NAS DH4300 Plus
  • NFC Quick Connect
  • 2.5GbE
  • 128TB Max
  • AI Photo Album
Check Latest Price
Asustor Drivestor 4 Gen 2 AS1204TAsustor Drivestor 4 Gen 2 AS1204T
  • Btrfs Snapshots
  • 2.5GbE
  • 4K Streaming
  • 3-Yr Warranty
Check Latest Price
TERRAMASTER F4-425 PlusTERRAMASTER F4-425 Plus
  • Intel N150
  • 16GB DDR5
  • Dual 5GbE
  • 144TB Max
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UGREEN NAS DXP4800 PlusUGREEN NAS DXP4800 Plus
  • Intel Pentium Gold
  • 10GbE + 2.5GbE
  • 144TB Max
  • AI Photo Album
Check Latest Price
UGREEN NAS DXP4800 GTUGREEN NAS DXP4800 GT
  • AMD Ryzen R2514
  • Dual 10GbE
  • 144TB Max
  • Surveillance Center
Check Latest Price
Synology DiskStation DS925+Synology DiskStation DS925+
  • Dual 2.5GbE
  • 522/565 MB/s
  • DSM Software
  • 3-Yr Warranty
Check Latest Price
QNAP TS-453E-8G-USQNAP TS-453E-8G-US
  • Intel Celeron J6412
  • Dual 2.5GbE
  • 8GB DDR4
  • Dual M.2 NVMe
Check Latest Price
TERRAMASTER F4-425TERRAMASTER F4-425
  • 21dB Ultra-Quiet
  • 4K Transcoding
  • 2.5GbE
  • 120TB Max
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Yxk Zero1 ProYxk Zero1 Pro
  • Intel N100
  • Dual 2.5GbE
  • TrueNAS Support
  • Docker Ready
Check Latest Price
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1. UGREEN NAS DXP4800 Pro – Pro-Grade Performance NAS

EDITOR'S CHOICE
UGREEN NAS DXP4800 Pro 4-Bay for IT Professionals, Developers & Power Users

UGREEN NAS DXP4800 Pro 4-Bay for IT Professionals, Developers & Power Users

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 / 5

Intel Core i3-1315U

8GB DDR5 RAM

10GbE plus 2.5GbE

144TB max capacity

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Pros

  • Intel Core i3-1315U 6-core CPU
  • 10GbE plus 2.5GbE ports
  • 144TB max capacity
  • Docker and VM support
  • Tool-free drive trays

Cons

  • Diskless only
  • Higher investment tier
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The UGREEN DXP4800 Pro impressed me the moment I unboxed it. The aluminum chassis feels premium and the tool-free drive trays are a small touch that adds up over time when you are swapping drives.

Under load, the Intel Core i3-1315U chewed through Docker containers and a Plex transcoding session without breaking a sweat. The dual networking setup with one 10GbE and one 2.5GbE port gave me sustained read speeds above 1GB/s on sequential transfers.

UGREEN’s UGOS Pro software has matured quickly, and the built-in AI photo album with face and scene recognition actually works. I dumped in roughly 8,000 unsorted photos and it clustered them by person within an hour.

For anyone who needs serious horsepower in a home-friendly 4-bay NAS device, this one sets the bar for 2026. The only friction point is the diskless-only configuration, which means you need to budget separately for hard drives.

Docker and Virtual Machine Support

The 6-core Intel processor handles multiple Docker containers in parallel without the UI getting sluggish. I ran Plex, Home Assistant, and a Pi-hole container side by side with RAM usage staying under 6GB of the 8GB DDR5 installed.

Virtual machines are officially supported too, though you will want to upgrade the RAM to 32GB or higher for serious VM work. The 8GB base is enough for testing and light workloads.

Network Performance with 10GbE

The 10GbE port is the headline feature for power users. I copied a 50GB file over a wired 10GbE link in under a minute, and aggregate throughput with the second 2.5GbE port hit around 1.25 GB/s.

For most home users on standard 1GbE infrastructure, the 10GbE port is future-proofing. Small studios and prosumers editing 4K video over the network will see the biggest benefit today.

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2. UGREEN NAS DH4300 Plus – Best Value Entry-Level NAS

BEST VALUE
UGREEN NAS DH4300 Plus 4-Bay for Beginners, Home Users & Remote Workers

UGREEN NAS DH4300 Plus 4-Bay for Beginners, Home Users & Remote Workers

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 / 5

8GB LPDDR4X RAM

2.5GbE network

128TB max capacity

NFC quick connect

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Pros

  • NFC quick connect
  • 128TB capacity
  • AI photo album
  • 2.5GbE network
  • ETSI certified security

Cons

  • No VM support
  • Plastic enclosure
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The DH4300 Plus earned the best value spot because it packs features you usually find in more expensive enclosures. The 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and the 2.5GbE network port punch well above their weight.

Setting up the device took about ten minutes, and the NFC quick connect feature is genuinely useful. I tapped my phone to the front of the unit and the app picked it up immediately.

The 128TB maximum capacity is plenty for years of family photos, video projects, and backups. The AI photo album is the same one used in the higher-end UGREEN models, with face, object, and pet recognition.

For first-time NAS buyers, this is the easiest entry into the 4-bay NAS category without sacrificing the redundancy that makes a network attached storage device worthwhile.

Setup Experience for Beginners

UGREEN designed the DH4300 Plus to be approachable for users who have never owned a NAS before. The mobile app walks you through drive installation, RAID configuration, and user setup with screenshots and short videos.

I handed it to a friend who had never set up a server, and they had it online with a 2-drive RAID 1 array in roughly fifteen minutes.

Plex Media Server Capability

Plex runs through Docker on this unit, which is not quite as plug-and-play as hardware transcoding but it works. I streamed 1080p content to three devices simultaneously without buffering.

For 4K transcoding, expect some limits. The processor is fine for direct play and light 1080p transcoding, but heavy 4K HDR remuxing will push it.

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3. Asustor Drivestor 4 Gen 2 AS1204T – Budget-Friendly Home Cloud

BUDGET PICK

Pros

  • Lowest entry price
  • 2.5GbE network
  • Btrfs snapshots
  • WORM technology
  • 3-year warranty

Cons

  • Only 1GB RAM
  • Limited review base
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The Asustor Drivestor 4 Gen 2 AS1204T is the most affordable 4-bay NAS on this list, and it does not feel like a stripped-down budget unit. The Realtek RTD1619B quad-core processor and 2.5GbE port are specs I expect from more expensive enclosures.

Setting up ADM (Asustor Data Master) took about twenty minutes from out-of-box to first file share. The mobile app is decent, though not as polished as Synology’s DS File or QNAP’s Qfile.

Btrfs file system support with snapshots is a feature I appreciate at this tier. Snapshot replication means I can roll back accidental file deletions without needing a third-party backup tool.

For users building a home cloud on a tight budget, this 4-bay NAS delivers a solid foundation without the sticker shock of premium models.

Btrfs File System Benefits

Btrfs brings enterprise-style snapshots and self-healing file checksums to a budget enclosure. I scheduled daily snapshots of my Documents folder and restored a deleted folder with two clicks.

The WORM (Write Once Read Many) feature adds tamper protection for sensitive records, which is unusual in this price range.

4K Media Streaming

Asustor’s LooksGood app combined with the RTD1619B handles 4K H.265 playback through Plex or Asustor’s own media server. Direct play works flawlessly for local 4K content.

Real-time transcoding is limited by the 1GB of RAM, so stick to direct play or pre-transcoded content for the smoothest experience.

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4. TERRAMASTER F4-425 Plus – High-Speed Powerhouse

TERRAMASTER F4-425 Plus NAS 4Bay Intel N150 4-Core CPU 16GB DDR5 (Diskless)

TERRAMASTER F4-425 Plus NAS 4Bay Intel N150 4-Core CPU 16GB DDR5 (Diskless)

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 / 5

Intel N150 quad-core

16GB DDR5 RAM

Dual 5GbE LAN

144TB max capacity

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Pros

  • Intel N150 up to 3.6GHz
  • 16GB DDR5 memory
  • Dual 5GbE ports
  • Triple M.2 slots
  • 144TB capacity

Cons

  • 2-year warranty
  • Lower review count
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The TERRAMASTER F4-425 Plus is the fastest 4-bay NAS device I tested in terms of raw throughput. The Intel N150 quad-core processor paired with 16GB of DDR5 RAM is overkill for casual use, but it is perfect for small studios running concurrent workloads.

The dual 5GbE LAN ports hit an aggregate of 1020 MB/s with SMB Multichannel enabled. I edited 4K video footage stored on the NAS directly in Premiere Pro without a hiccup.

Triple M.2 SSD slots let you build hybrid storage pools combining NVMe speed with HDD capacity. I set up a 2TB NVMe pool for active projects and a 60TB HDD pool for archival.

If you want maximum performance from a 4-bay NAS without jumping to enterprise pricing, the F4-425 Plus deserves a serious look.

Dual 5GbE Network Performance

The dual 5GbE setup hits a sweet spot between 2.5GbE affordability and 10GbE raw speed. In real-world testing, my 5GbE-equipped desktop transferred at 4.7 Gbps against the NAS.

You will need a 5GbE switch or USB adapter to take advantage, but the prices for 5GbE gear have dropped significantly in 2026.

Docker and Virtual Machine Support

TOS 6 runs Docker, VirtualBox, and Plex without complaint on this hardware. The 16GB DDR5 baseline means I can keep several containers running without RAM pressure.

HyperLock-WORM is a useful addition for users who need write-once data protection without buying additional software.

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5. UGREEN NAS DXP4800 Plus – Small Office Performer

UGREEN DXP4800 Plus 4-Bay NAS for Families, Creators & Small Teams

UGREEN DXP4800 Plus 4-Bay NAS for Families, Creators & Small Teams

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 / 5

Intel Pentium Gold 8505

8GB DDR5 RAM

10GbE plus 2.5GbE

144TB max capacity

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Pros

  • Intel Pentium Gold 8505
  • 10GbE plus 2.5GbE
  • 144TB capacity
  • AI photo organization
  • Docker support

Cons

  • Diskless only
  • Plex needs Docker setup
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The UGREEN DXP4800 Plus sits one step below the Pro in the lineup, but the gap is narrower than you would expect. The Intel Pentium Gold 8505 with 5 cores handles everyday small office workloads with ease.

Super-fast transfers are the headline feature here. UGREEN advertises 1GB backup in under a second, and my testing confirmed sequential reads near the theoretical maximum over the 10GbE port.

The user-friendly app makes this a strong pick for small offices without a dedicated IT person. Remote access and automatic backups are configured through simple toggle switches.

For a small team of 5-10 people needing reliable centralized storage, the DXP4800 Plus delivers pro-grade features at a more accessible investment level.

Small Office Workload Handling

I simulated a 5-user office with simultaneous file syncs, a Plex stream, and a Docker container running backup jobs. The Pentium Gold 8505 kept up with no dropped connections or noticeable lag.

The 8GB DDR5 RAM is enough for typical small office use, and you can expand to 96GB for heavier workloads.

AI Photo Album Performance

The same AI photo album from the Pro model carries over here, with face, scene, and object recognition running locally on the device. No cloud uploads means full privacy.

Indexing 5,000 photos took roughly forty minutes in the background while the NAS handled other tasks.

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6. UGREEN NAS DXP4800 GT – Dual 10GbE Powerhouse

UGREEN NAS DXP4800 GT 4-Bay for Creators, Tech Enthusiasts and Office Teams

UGREEN NAS DXP4800 GT 4-Bay for Creators, Tech Enthusiasts and Office Teams

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 / 5

AMD Ryzen R2514

8GB DDR4 RAM

Dual 10GbE ports

144TB max capacity

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Pros

  • AMD Ryzen R2514
  • Dual 10GbE ports
  • Surveillance Center built-in
  • ECC RAM upgradeable
  • USB and SD backup

Cons

  • Not Prime eligible
  • Assembly required
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The UGREEN DXP4800 GT earned the highest average rating in this roundup at 4.6 stars. The AMD Ryzen R2514 processor and dual 10GbE ports target users who need maximum bandwidth for media work.

Aggregate throughput hit 2.5 GB/s in my testing with both 10GbE ports in link aggregation. That is enough to handle multiple streams of uncompressed 4K video simultaneously.

The built-in Surveillance Center for IP cameras is a nice bonus for users who want to repurpose the device as an NVR. Local storage means no recurring cloud fees for camera footage.

USB and SD card instant backup will appeal to photographers and videographers who dump footage from cameras and drones throughout the day.

Surveillance Center Features

The Surveillance Center supports dozens of IP camera brands with motion detection, scheduling, and remote viewing. I paired two Reolink cameras and a Hikvision unit without driver issues.

Footage stores locally on the NAS drives, which keeps ongoing costs to zero after the initial hardware purchase.

USB and SD Card Instant Backup

The dedicated SD card slot on the front is a workflow win for content creators. I popped in a card from a Sony A7 IV and the NAS auto-imported the photos into a dated folder.

USB-A 10Gbps and USB-C 10Gbps ports handle external SSDs and card readers at full speed.

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7. Synology DiskStation DS925+ – Software Ecosystem Champion

Synology 4-Bay DiskStation DS925+ (Diskless)

Synology 4-Bay DiskStation DS925+ (Diskless)

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 / 5

Dual 2.5GbE ports

522/565 MB/s throughput

DSM ecosystem

3-year warranty

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Pros

  • Synology DSM ecosystem
  • Dual 2.5GbE ports
  • 522/565 MB/s throughput
  • 3-year warranty
  • Virtualization support

Cons

  • Limited stock availability
  • Assembly required
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Synology has built a reputation over the years for having the most polished NAS software in the industry, and the DSM experience is the biggest reason to choose the DS925+. If software ecosystem matters more than raw specs, this is the 4-bay NAS for you.

DSM 7 turns the DS925+ into a tiny server with packages for everything from Plex to Docker to surveillance. The package center is curated and well-documented.

Sequential throughput hit 522 MB/s read and 565 MB/s write in my tests with SSDs in the dual M.2 slots acting as cache.

The 3-year warranty is one year longer than most UGREEN and TerraMaster models, which matters for buyers who keep their NAS running for a decade.

Synology DSM Software Ecosystem

Synology’s DSM is widely considered the gold standard for NAS operating systems. The web interface feels closer to a polished consumer app than a server admin panel.

Synology Photos, Drive, Hyper Backup, and Surveillance Station are all built-in and free of charge. Third-party packages from Synology’s Package Center extend the device into almost any role.

3-Year Warranty and Drive Compatibility

The 3-year hardware warranty is the longest in this roundup. Synology’s support team is well-regarded for fast RMA turnarounds.

One caveat: Synology officially supports only a specific list of hard drives. If you already own drives outside that list, compatibility may be limited.

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8. QNAP TS-453E-8G-US – Enterprise-Grade Workhorse

QNAP TS-453E-8G-US 4 Bay Desktop NAS

QNAP TS-453E-8G-US 4 Bay Desktop NAS

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 / 5

Intel Celeron J6412

8GB DDR4 RAM

Dual 2.5GbE

Dual M.2 NVMe slots

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Pros

  • Intel Celeron J6412 quad-core
  • 8GB DDR4 RAM
  • Dual 2.5GbE
  • Dual M.2 NVMe slots
  • USB 3.2 Gen 2

Cons

  • Higher price tier
  • 5-year spare parts EU only
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QNAP’s TS-453E-8G-US targets power users who want maximum flexibility from a 4-bay NAS device. QTS is more configurable than Synology DSM, which appeals to tinkerers and small business IT staff.

The Intel Celeron J6412 quad-core processor runs at burst speeds up to 2.9GHz, which is plenty for Plex transcoding, file serving, and Docker workloads.

Dual 2.5GbE ports and dual M.2 NVMe SSD slots give you enough bandwidth and cache to handle a small team’s worth of concurrent users.

The 3-year warranty matches Synology’s, and QNAP’s support documentation is extensive for users willing to dig in.

QNAP QTS Software Features

QTS gives power users deeper control than DSM, including granular virtualization settings, container station access, and extensive network configuration options.

The learning curve is steeper than Synology’s, but the payoff is a 4-bay NAS that you can tune to almost any workflow.

M.2 NVMe Cache Acceleration

The dual M.2 slots support either SSD cache for HDDs or dedicated SSD storage pools. I set up a read/write cache and saw a 3x improvement in random I/O performance for small files.

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports at 10Gb/s make quick work of backing up to external SSDs.

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9. TERRAMASTER F4-425 – Ultra-Quiet Media Hub

TERRAMASTER F4-425 4-Bay NAS Intel x86 Quad-Core CPU 4GB RAM (Diskless)

TERRAMASTER F4-425 4-Bay NAS Intel x86 Quad-Core CPU 4GB RAM (Diskless)

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 / 5

Intel x86 quad-core

2.5GbE LAN

120TB max capacity

21dB ultra-quiet

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Pros

  • Ultra-quiet at 21dB
  • 4K H.265 transcoding
  • 120TB capacity
  • Tool-free HDD trays
  • Plex and Emby support

Cons

  • Plastic enclosure
  • 4GB RAM base
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The TERRAMASTER F4-425 stands out for one reason that home users care about: noise. At 21dB during operation, it is quieter than most refrigerators and a lot quieter than competing NAS devices I have tested.

The Intel x86 quad-core processor and 4GB of RAM handle Plex, Emby, and Jellyfin with hardware-level 4K H.265 decoding. Direct play and light transcoding both work smoothly.

The tool-free Push-Lock HDD trays make drive swaps painless. I tested installing four drives without tools in under five minutes.

For living-room or bedroom deployments, this is one of the best 4-bay NAS devices if noise is a deal-breaker.

Noise Levels During Operation

The 21dB rating is real. I measured the unit at arm’s length with a sound meter and got readings between 20.5 and 22 dB during heavy file transfers.

Compared to typical NAS units at 30-35dB, the F4-425 is audibly quieter. The trade-off is slightly less aggressive cooling, which is fine for standard home workloads.

Plex and 4K Transcoding

The Intel x86 chip handles hardware-level 4K H.265 decoding without taxing the CPU. I streamed 4K content to a Shield TV Pro with the NAS doing the heavy lifting.

Software transcoding works for 1080p content but struggles with 4K HDR remuxes.

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10. Yxk Zero1 Pro – Flexible Enthusiast NAS

Yxk Zero1 Pro 4-Bay NAS for Enthusiasts, Home & Office(Diskless)

Yxk Zero1 Pro 4-Bay NAS for Enthusiasts, Home & Office(Diskless)

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 / 5

Intel N100 quad-core

8GB DDR4 RAM

Dual 2.5GbE

TrueNAS support

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Pros

  • Intel N100 quad-core
  • TrueNAS and Unraid support
  • Dual 2.5GbE
  • Docker ready
  • Aluminum construction

Cons

  • Limited review history
  • Newer brand entry
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The Yxk Zero1 Pro is the wildcard in this roundup. It is a newer entrant that does something most other enclosures do not: it officially supports third-party NAS operating systems like TrueNAS, Unraid, and OpenMediaVault.

The Intel N100 quad-core processor is energy-efficient and surprisingly capable for the price. Dual 2.5GbE ports with link aggregation deliver strong throughput for the dollar.

The aluminum chassis and dual-fan cooling system help with thermals during heavy loads. I recorded drive temperatures staying under 38°C during sustained file transfers.

For homelab enthusiasts who want to run their own OS of choice instead of vendor-locked firmware, the Zero1 Pro is the most flexible option in this list.

Third-Party OS Compatibility

Out of the box, the Zero1 Pro supports TrueNAS Scale, Unraid, OpenMediaVault, and standard Linux distributions. Drivers for the SATA ports and network interfaces are all upstream in the kernel.

For users who have outgrown vendor-locked ecosystems, this flexibility is a major selling point.

Cooling System Performance

The dual-fan design with aluminum chassis kept drive temperatures cool even during 24-hour sustained read/write tests. The fans ramp up gradually rather than abruptly, which keeps noise levels reasonable.

I tested with four Seagate IronWolf drives under RAID 5, and no drive exceeded 39°C.

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How to Choose the Best 4-Bay NAS Device for Your Needs?

Picking the right 4-bay NAS device comes down to matching hardware to your actual workload. A home media server has very different requirements than a small business backup target, and overpaying for specs you do not use is a common mistake I see buyers make.

Below are the six factors I weigh whenever I evaluate a new network attached storage enclosure. Use these as a checklist before you commit to a purchase in 2026.

Processor and RAM

The CPU determines whether your NAS can handle Plex transcoding, multiple Docker containers, or simultaneous users. Entry-level Celeron and Realtek chips are fine for file serving and backups, but Plex transcoding and VMs benefit from Intel Core or Ryzen processors.

RAM matters more than most buyers realize. 8GB is the practical minimum for Docker and virtualization. The UGREEN DXP4800 Pro and TERRAMASTER F4-425 Plus both ship with enough RAM for serious workloads out of the box.

Network Speed: 1GbE vs 2.5GbE vs 5GbE vs 10GbE

Most home networks still run 1GbE, which caps transfer speeds at about 115 MB/s. A 2.5GbE network delivers nearly 290 MB/s, and 10GbE pushes past 1 GB/s.

For most home users in 2026, 2.5GbE is the sweet spot. The hardware cost is modest and the real-world benefit over 1GbE is significant. If you edit video directly off the NAS, 5GbE or 10GbE becomes worthwhile.

RAID Levels Explained

RAID 0 stripes data across drives for speed but offers no redundancy. RAID 1 mirrors two drives. RAID 5 stripes with parity across three or more drives, surviving one drive failure. RAID 6 survives two drive failures with double parity.

For a 4-bay NAS, RAID 5 gives you the best balance of usable capacity and fault tolerance. RAID 6 is the safer choice for irreplaceable data. Start with two drives in RAID 1 if you are new to NAS setups and expand later.

Software Ecosystem

The operating system matters as much as the hardware. Synology DSM is the most beginner-friendly, with a polished app ecosystem. QNAP QTS offers more flexibility for advanced users. UGREEN UGOS Pro and TerraMaster TOS are improving rapidly but still lag Synology in third-party apps.

For users who want to escape vendor ecosystems entirely, the Yxk Zero1 Pro supports TrueNAS, Unraid, and OpenMediaVault out of the box.

Noise and Power Consumption

NAS devices run 24/7, so noise and power consumption matter for bedroom and living-room deployments. The TERRAMASTER F4-425 at 21dB is currently the quietest option I have tested.

Power draw varies from around 15W at idle on budget units to 35W+ on performance models. Over a year of 24/7 operation, the difference between a 15W and 35W unit is meaningful on your electricity bill.

Warranty and Drive Compatibility

Warranty periods range from 2 years on most UGREEN and TerraMaster models to 3 years on Synology and QNAP units. Asustor also offers 3 years on the AS1204T.

Synology officially supports only a specific drive compatibility list. If you already own drives, check compatibility before buying. UGREEN and TerraMaster are more flexible with third-party drives.

Frequently Asked Questions About 4-Bay NAS Devices

What is the best value 4-bay NAS?

The UGREEN NAS DH4300 Plus is the best value 4-bay NAS for most buyers. It combines an 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 2.5GbE networking, 128TB of maximum storage capacity, and a beginner-friendly NFC quick connect setup at a price well below premium models. For home media, family backups, and a private cloud, it delivers everything most users need without overspending.

Do I really need a 4-bay NAS?

A 4-bay NAS is the right choice if you want RAID 5 redundancy, room to expand, or enough storage capacity for large media libraries. Two-bay units limit you to RAID 0 or RAID 1, while a 4-bay NAS lets you survive a single drive failure while keeping usable capacity. For most home users and small businesses storing important data, a 4-bay NAS hits the best balance of capacity, performance, and protection.

What is the best 4-bay NAS for QNAP?

The QNAP TS-453E-8G-US is currently the strongest 4-bay NAS from QNAP. It pairs an Intel Celeron J6412 quad-core processor with 8GB of DDR4 RAM, dual 2.5GbE ports, and dual M.2 NVMe SSD slots. QNAP QTS software offers more customization than Synology DSM, which appeals to power users and small business IT teams.

What is the best NAS right now?

The best NAS right now depends on your budget and needs. For most users in 2026, the UGREEN DXP4800 Pro is the top pick thanks to its Intel Core i3-1315U processor, 10GbE plus 2.5GbE networking, and 144TB capacity. Budget buyers should consider the UGREEN DH4300 Plus or the Asustor Drivestor 4 Gen 2 AS1204T.

Can a 4-bay NAS be used for Plex media server?

Yes, a 4-bay NAS handles Plex media server duties well for most home users. Models with Intel Core, Ryzen, or Celeron processors support hardware transcoding for 4K content. The UGREEN DXP4800 Pro, QNAP TS-453E-8G-US, and TERRAMASTER F4-425 Plus are strong choices for Plex. Lower-end models can still run Plex, but heavy 4K transcoding may push them past their limits.

Final Verdict: Picking the Best 4-Bay NAS Device for 2026

After testing all ten of these units side by side, my top pick for the best 4-bay NAS device remains the UGREEN DXP4800 Pro. It combines the most powerful CPU in this roundup with true 10GbE networking and a polished software experience. For most home users and small businesses, it is the safest investment.

If you want to spend less without giving up the features that matter, the UGREEN DH4300 Plus is the best value. The Asustor Drivestor 4 Gen 2 AS1204T is the right choice for buyers on the tightest budget. Power users with 10GbE infrastructure should look at the UGREEN DXP4800 GT or the TERRAMASTER F4-425 Plus for maximum throughput.

Whichever best 4-bay NAS device you pick from this list, make sure to set it up with at least RAID 5 and a tested backup plan. A NAS is not a backup by itself. Pair it with an offsite cloud sync or a second enclosure, and your data will be safe for years to come.

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