Synology NAS is reducing sure options for non-Synology drives

DIY varieties already love constructing their very own desktops, laptops, keyboards, and so forth., so it’s no shock that additionally they prefer to assemble network-attached storage out of disparate elements. However attempting that on the most recent Synology NAS {hardware} may see you shut out of some superior options. Going ahead, Synology is insisting that customers keep on with its dear, self-branded onerous drives for max function help.

German website HardwareLuxx reviews that Synology Plus NAS {hardware} launched in 2025 won’t have full help for third-party drives. Although they’ll nonetheless work if you happen to set up them, solely Synology’s onerous drives—or these licensed by Synology—will get entry to essentially the most superior options, together with onerous drive well being reviews, volume-wide deduplication, lifespan evaluation, and computerized firmware updates. Third-party drives that aren’t Synology-approved will get a warning within the person interface.

Synology has already rolled out this requirement for enterprise-grade network-attached storage units, however now the identical customary is being utilized to new client and prosumer fashions releasing sooner or later. The corporate claims that it wants the additional layer of {hardware} scrutiny to be able to ship one of the best efficiency and reliability.

After all, as Tom’s {Hardware} notes, Synology doesn’t really manufacture its personal onerous drives. Reviewers and lovers have decided that the Synology-branded drives being bought since 2021 are made by Toshiba and Seagate, two of the most important onerous drive producers on the planet, solely rivaled by Western Digital. Synology might have increased requirements and extra rigorous testing for drives bearing its model identify on the sticker… but it surely’s onerous to neglect that it’s certainly only a sticker, particularly if Synology goes to be a stickler about it.

Synology units made in 2024 and earlier received’t be affected by this transformation. Those that prefer to load up on low-cost onerous drives for his or her NASes may wish to pay shut consideration to that, or probably examine choices from rivals like Asustor or TerraMaster.