Pick the Right Two-Bay: DS225+ or DS224+
Two bays, the same chip, and three small differences that decide it
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The DS225+ and DS224+ share the Intel Celeron J4125, 2GB of memory with a 6GB ceiling, and two drive bays with no M.2 slots. The DS225+ adds a 2.5GbE port, carries a three-year hardware warranty where the DS224+ has two years, and is quieter on Synology's own figures at 19.6 dB(A) against 22 dB(A). It draws slightly more power. With no M.2 slots on either, the stricter half of the 2025 drive policy does not touch the DS225+, so take whichever is cheaper unless the warranty or 2.5GbE matters to you.
DS225+ vs DS224+, row by row
| DS225+ | DS224+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Celeron J4125 | Intel Celeron J4125 |
| Memory | 2GB DDR4 non-ECC, up to 6GB | 2GB DDR4 non-ECC, up to 6GB |
| Memory slots | 1 | 1 |
| Drive bays | 2 | 2 |
| M.2 slots | None | None |
| Most bays possible | 2 (no expansion unit) | 2 (no expansion unit) |
| Network ports | 1 x 2.5GbE + 1 x 1GbE | 2 x 1GbE |
| Network or PCIe upgrade | None | None |
| Power draw | 16.98W access, 6.08W hibernation | 14.69W access, 4.41W hibernation |
| Noise | 19.6 dB(A) | 22 dB(A) |
| Hardware warranty | 3 years | 2 years |
| Drive policy | 2025 policy (DSM 7.3): third-party HDDs allowed, unlisted M.2 blocked | Pre-2025: not restricted, unlisted drives show as Unverified |
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.
Checked on October 12, 2026. Sources: Synology DS225+ specifications; Synology DS224+ 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.
The differences, in order of how much they matter
Warranty first. Synology lists a three-year hardware warranty for the DS225+ and two years for the DS224+. On a device meant to run for many years that is the most valuable line in the table.
Then the port. The DS225+ has one 2.5GbE port and one 1GbE port; the DS224+ has two 1GbE ports. A two-drive mirror of modern hard drives can read faster than 1GbE can carry, so 2.5GbE is a real gain if the rest of your network supports it.
Last, the running figures. Synology measures the DS225+ at 16.98W in use and 6.08W with drives hibernating, against 14.69W and 4.41W for the DS224+. The newer model is the quieter of the two on Synology's test.
Does the 2025 drive policy matter on a two-bay with no M.2?
Much less than on the larger models. The part of the 2025 policy that still blocks drives applies to M.2 NVMe, and the DS225+ has no M.2 slots. For its two SATA bays, DSM 7.3 supports third-party hard drives and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs for installation and storage pools.
Synology's compatibility list for the DS225+ contains Synology hard drives only, and Synology recommends listed drives. A drive on Synology's incompatibility list remains unsupported on any 2025 model.
Who should buy which
| Use case | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Longest warranty | DS225+ | Three years against two. |
| 2.5GbE network | DS225+ | One 2.5GbE port; the DS224+ has none. |
| Lowest power draw | DS224+ | 14.69W in use against 16.98W on Synology's figures. |
| Lowest price | Check the table | Prices move daily; the live table below shows both. |
DS225+ and DS224+ on Amazon.com today
Frequently asked questions
Is the DS225+ more powerful than the DS224+?
No. Both use the Intel Celeron J4125 with 2GB of memory, expandable to 6GB through a single slot.
Does the DS225+ accept third-party hard drives?
Yes, on DSM 7.3 or later. The remaining restriction in the 2025 policy concerns M.2 NVMe drives, and the DS225+ has no M.2 slots.
Do the DS225+ and DS224+ support SSD cache?
Neither has M.2 slots. Synology's specification notes say SSD cache can be enabled with select compatible SSDs and point to the compatibility list for each model. On a two-bay model a cache drive would occupy a drive bay.
Which is quieter?
The DS225+, at 19.6 dB(A) against 22 dB(A) for the DS224+, both measured by Synology with the bays populated and the system idle.