Overall and Final Verdict
The idea of an entry-level NAS has been around for a while but the prices and features are finally reaching where I feel like they have always needed to be. The Qnap TS-233 is the perfect setup for a family looking to back up their important files or for networked storage of files for better access for the family. If you pair the TS-233 up with two large hard drives you can use it to sync and backup your files to keep things safe while also taking advantage of RAID 1 to get at least a minimal amount of redundancy. While doing that the compact design of the TS-233 doesn’t need to be in a closet or server room, in fact for me I think the white design would look at home in your living room or home office which makes it a lot more accessible and easier to grab in an emergency.
The TS-233 has a quad-core Cortex-A55 2.0GHz processor and 2GB of memory which together aren’t going to do any heavy processing power. But I did find that the combination was enough to stream 6+ Plex streams when using the native file settings and the TS-233 was able to handle transcoding one stream without any issues if you need to cut things down for viewing remotely. I do wish the ram was expandable, but it isn’t. The 2 bay design may also be a limiting factor later on as well. But as an entry-level option, the TS-233 still gets you access to all of the same Qnap software which opens up the possibility of dropping cloud services that you pay for monthly and more importantly getting your data off of those cloud services and hosted locally. The TS-233 also just sips power as well.
The Qnap TS-233 has an MSRP of $199 and that is what it is selling for currently. This is right in line with similar setups from companies like Synology and Asustor that offer similar software options. There are a few 2-bay NAS options out there for less if you only need networked storage, but I feel like the extra money is worth it to get the extra capabilities.
Live Pricing: HERE
