The best NAS devices of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed

2026-05-17 · Source: News and Advice on the World's Latest Innovations | ZDNET · Field: Technology & Digital — Cloud Computing & IT Infrastructure · Depth: Novice, extended

Summary

ZDNET's updated guide for 2026 reviews top Network-Attached Storage (NAS) devices, emphasizing their role in secure, accessible data storage through RAID technology. The guide highlights nine specific NAS models, including the TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus as the best overall for its SSD performance and 64TB capacity, and the Synology DS223 Diskstation NAS for its included 24TB storage and DiskStation Manager (DSM) software. Other recommendations cover budget-friendly options like the QNAP TS-233-US 2-Bay NAS at $219, versatile hybrid models such as the Asustor AS5404T, and desktop-focused units like the Ugreen NASync DXP2800. The article also details factors for choosing a NAS, including use cases, budget, number of bays, expansion, connectivity, and backup features, noting recent updates in May and October 2025.

Key takeaway

For IT professionals or small business owners managing critical data, investing in a NAS system is crucial for data integrity and accessibility. You should evaluate your specific storage needs, budget, and desired performance characteristics to select a suitable model from the recommended list, ensuring it supports RAID for redundancy and offers robust backup features to protect against data loss.

Key insights

NAS systems offer robust data protection and accessibility, leveraging RAID for redundancy and performance.

Principles

• RAID distributes data for protection and performance.
• SSD-based NAS offers superior speed and quiet operation.
• Software ecosystem enhances NAS hardware value.

Method

Selecting a NAS involves assessing budget, storage needs (bays, expansion), connectivity, and specific use cases like media serving or business backup, then comparing models based on these criteria.

In practice

• Consider SSD-only NAS for high performance and quiet operation.
• Prioritize NAS with robust backup software like Synology's Hyper Backup.
• Evaluate hybrid HDD/SSD NAS for balanced capacity and speed.

Topics

• Network-Attached Storage
• RAID Technology
• Data Backup
• SSD Storage
• Synology DiskStation Manager

Best for: IT Professional, Software Engineer, Consultant

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by News and Advice on the World's Latest Innovations | ZDNET.