Synology DiskStation DS223 2-Bay (Diskless) vs Synology DiskStation DS423+ 4-Bay (Diskless)
We compare the Synology DiskStation DS223 2-Bay (Diskless) and Synology DiskStation DS423+ 4-Bay (Diskless) head-to-head on performance, features, value, and more. Here's which one wins.
Synology DiskStation DS223 2-Bay (Diskless)
Best 2-bay NAS for home users — the most user-friendly NAS software with excellent app ecosystem
Synology DiskStation DS423+ 4-Bay (Diskless)
Best 4-bay NAS for Plex media servers, virtual machines, and multi-user access
Score Breakdown
| Synology DiskStation DS223 2-Bay (Diskless) | Category | Synology DiskStation DS423+ 4-Bay (Diskless) |
|---|---|---|
| 9/10 | Performance | ✓ 9.5/10 |
| 9.5/10 | Features | 9.5/10 |
| 9.5/10 ✓ | Ease of Use | 9.3/10 |
| 9/10 ✓ | Value | 8.8/10 |
| 9.3/10 | Overall | 9.3/10 |
Specs Comparison
| Synology DiskStation DS223 2-Bay (Diskless) | Spec | Synology DiskStation DS423+ 4-Bay (Diskless) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 (diskless — add your own drives) | Bays | 4 (diskless) |
| Realtek RTD1619B Quad-core 1.7GHz | CPU | Intel Celeron J4125 Quad-core 2.0GHz |
| 2GB DDR4 | RAM | 2GB DDR4 (expandable to 6GB) |
| 1× 1GbE | Network | 2× 1GbE |
| Synology DSM — best-in-class UI | Software | Hardware-accelerated 4K Plex transcoding |
Synology DiskStation DS223 2-Bay (Diskless)
Pros
- + DSM software — best NAS OS for usability
- + Synology Drive + Photos: replaces Dropbox + Google Photos
- + Large app ecosystem via Package Center
- + Extensive online documentation and community support
Cons
- − 1GbE only — no 2.5GbE for faster transfers
- − Diskless — drives sold separately ($80-100 each for 4TB NAS drives)
- − Limited transcoding CPU vs QNAP for heavy Plex use
Synology DiskStation DS423+ 4-Bay (Diskless)
Pros
- + Hardware-accelerated 4K Plex transcoding — critical for media servers
- + 4 bays = large capacity expandability (up to 4×20TB)
- + Intel Celeron performs significantly better than ARM-based alternatives
- + RAM expandable to 6GB for VMs and more apps
Cons
- − Expensive diskless — drives add significant total cost
- − 2× 1GbE (not 2.5GbE) limits single-connection transfer speed
- − Power consumption higher than 2-bay units
Read the full Best NAS Drives 2026 guide for complete reviews of all 10 products.
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