I wrote in my review of the DS1517+ that the folks at Synology have managed to get me excited over a box, and I think they’ve done it again.
Design: 4.5/5
It’s a box—a cube. It’s a nice one at that. And if a whole art movement was built around the cube, then why shouldn’t we be happy with its shape? The design of the DS918+ softens out the edges with neat bevels.
The bays and connections are smartly placed and easy to access. The status indicator lights are clearly marked, and two large fans make sure that the NAS can run continuously with more than adequate ventilation even in locations without decent air-conditioning.
Hardware: 5/5
As with other products in the DiskStation family, Synology makes sure that you get the most out of your NAS: fast processors, high maximum storage support, and ample connection
The DS918+ runs on a 64-bit Intel Celeron JJ3455 Quad Core processor clocking in at 1.5 GHz with burst speeds of up to 2.3 GHz. This is mated to 4 GB DDR3L RAM, expandable up to 8 GB by adding another 4 GB of RAM to the extra slot.
It has four drive bays, each with a maximum capacity of 12 TB. The DS918+ supports an expansion unit that has five bays, putting the total to nine bays should your storage needs increase.
The DS918+ supports pretty much any modern drive type including M.2 SSDs. It has ports for two separate 1 GbE LAN connections, two USB 3.0 ports for quick, direct transfers, and an eSATA connection.
User Experience: 5/5
Having familiarized myself with the features of Synology’s DiskStation line, I was glad that they’ve been consistent in keeping user experience high. They’ve managed to get all the good stuff they already have and just add newer features to continuously improve functionality.
One of the most useful parts of owning a Synology NAS is its browser-based UI that allows users to interact with stored files without having to copy them to the device first. The platform has installable apps for security, collaboration and even entertainment such as the Video Station which now supports 4K direct streaming.
And if you haven’t discovered it yet, Synology has a Download Center which allows users to queue up torrent-based downloads for large files which can be scheduled to run at certain times of the day to manage bandwidth and disc usage.
Synology also adds the Moments application which allows user to backup and organize their photos more efficiently with the aid of AI.
The DS918+ also adds support for Btrfs which is great news for Linux users.
Value: 4.5/5
With a sticker price of PHP 31,500, it might sound a little steep. But with the added value of extended features, long-term usability and the best components available on any consumer NAS, shelling out a few extra bucks doesn’t seem to be much of an issue
Bottomline:
Synology continues to update its products with the latest technologies and features to challenge its competitors. And if you are looking for a dependable and intuitive NAS, the DS918+ will not disappoint.
Also published in GADGETS MAGAZINE April 2018 Issue.
Reviewed by Robby Vaflor