Size It Right: DS1825+ or DS1525+
The same processor and memory, so the choice is bays, expansion and the slot
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The DS1825+ and DS1525+ are the same computer in two sizes: both use the Ryzen V1500B, ship with 8GB of DDR4 ECC that expands to 32GB, and have two 2.5GbE ports and two M.2 slots. The DS1825+ has eight bays to the DS1525+'s five, grows to 18 bays with two DX525 units where the DS1525+ reaches 15, and has a general PCIe slot where the DS1525+ has a network upgrade slot. Choose by how many drives you will run in the next few years, because nothing else separates them.
DS1825+ vs DS1525+, row by row
| DS1825+ | DS1525+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen V1500B | AMD Ryzen V1500B |
| Memory | 8GB DDR4 ECC, up to 32GB | 8GB DDR4 ECC, up to 32GB |
| Memory slots | 2 | 2 |
| Drive bays | 8 | 5 |
| M.2 slots | 2 x M.2 2280 NVMe | 2 x M.2 2280 NVMe |
| Most bays possible | 18 with two DX525 | 15 with two DX525 |
| Network ports | 2 x 2.5GbE | 2 x 2.5GbE |
| Network or PCIe upgrade | 1 x Gen3 x8 PCIe slot (x4 link) | 1 x Gen3 x2 network upgrade slot |
| Power draw | 60.1W access, 18.34W hibernation | 44.56W access, 13.63W hibernation |
| Noise | 23.8 dB(A) | 22.6 dB(A) |
| Hardware warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
| Drive policy | 2025 policy (DSM 7.3): third-party HDDs allowed, unlisted M.2 blocked | 2025 policy (DSM 7.3): third-party HDDs allowed, unlisted M.2 blocked |
Where the figures come from
Each row is from Synology's own specification page or datasheet for the model, read on October 12, 2026. Power and noise are Synology's test figures with the bays fully populated, not our measurements. A cell that says a figure is not in the datasheet means Synology does not publish it there, so we do not state one.
The slot rows are quoted as Synology writes them: "1 x Gen3 x8 slot (x4 link)" for the DS1825+ and "1 x Gen3 x2 network upgrade slot" for the DS1525+.
Checked on October 12, 2026. Sources: Synology DS1825+ specifications; Synology DS1525+ specifications; Synology Knowledge Center: Drive compatibility policies for systems from 2025 (DSM 7.3 and above); Synology press release, 8 October 2025: DiskStation Manager 7.3.
Raw capacity at each drive size
| Drive size | DS1525+ (5 bays) | DS1825+ (8 bays) |
|---|---|---|
| 12TB | 60TB | 96TB |
| 16TB | 80TB | 128TB |
| 20TB | 100TB | 160TB |
| 24TB | 120TB | 192TB |
Reading the capacity table
Those are raw totals: bays multiplied by drive size, before any redundancy. With two drives of protection, which is sensible at eight bays, the DS1825+ keeps six drives of space and the DS1525+ keeps three. The largest drive on Synology's compatibility list for both models is 24TB.
Synology notes that a volume over 108TB needs 32GB of memory on these models, so a fully populated DS1825+ on large drives also means buying the memory upgrade.
The slot is not the same slot
The DS1525+ has a network upgrade slot, a small bay for a Synology network module. The DS1825+ has a PCIe slot, a Gen3 x8 connector running at x4. If you want 10GbE on either, check Synology's list for the card or module your model accepts before buying.
Which to buy
DS1525+
- Five drives cover your next few years
- You want lower power draw: 44.56W in use against 60.1W
- You prefer the smaller, quieter box
DS1825+
- You expect to pass five drives
- You want two drives of protection without giving up most of your space
- You want a PCIe slot and not only a network module slot
DS1825+ and DS1525+ on Amazon.com today
| Product | Capacity | Price | $ / TB | Type | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synology DS1525+ Video Editing & Production Server - Scale to 300TB, 10GbE Ready & Multi-User Workflows (5-Bay Diskless NAS) | Diskless | $1,309.99 | - | NAS device · network | - | Buy on Amazon |
| Synology DS1525+(2X 2.5GbE Ports, Ryzen V1500B, 8GB RAM) 5-Bay 40TB Bundle with 5X 8TB Seagate Ironwolf HDDs | 40 TB included (5 x 8 TB) | $3,390.39 | - | NAS + drives bundle | - | Buy on Amazon |
| Synology DS1525+(2X 2.5GbE Ports, Ryzen V1500B, 8GB RAM) 5-Bay 60TB Bundle with 5X 12TB Seagate Ironwolf HDDs | 60 TB included (5 x 12 TB) | $4,469.15 | - | NAS + drives bundle | - | Buy on Amazon |
Frequently asked questions
Is the DS1825+ faster than the DS1525+?
The specification sheets list the same Ryzen V1500B, the same 8GB of ECC memory and the same two 2.5GbE ports. The differences are bays, expansion and the slot.
How many drives can each hold with expansion units?
The DS1825+ reaches 18 bays with two DX525 units. The DS1525+ reaches 15 bays with two DX525 units.
How much power does the DS1825+ use?
Synology measures 60.1W in use and 18.34W with drives hibernating, with all bays populated. The DS1525+ is 44.56W and 13.63W on the same test.
Can both use third-party hard drives?
Yes, on DSM 7.3 or later. Both are 2025 models, so an M.2 NVMe drive that is not on Synology's compatibility list still cannot create a cache or a storage pool.