Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus: Comprehensive Review and Key Features of the Budget-Friendly NAS Device

The Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus is presented: as an ideal economic option for homes and small businesses, focusing on providing essential functions at a competitive price. This device is Ugreen's second global release in the NAS (Network Attached Storage) category, following the success of the distinguished DXP series.

Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus Design and Technical Specifications

The DH4300 Plus features: a simple and practical design that is easy to handle, closely resembling classic WD MyBook devices. The device offers easy drive swapping, with drives mounted vertically in four bays, equipped with rubber cushions to ensure protection. The device also features an efficient ventilation system that draws air from the top and expels it from the sides to maintain an optimal temperature.

The device relies: on a Rockchip RK3588 octa-core processor at 2.4 GHz, an ARM processor known for its energy efficiency. This processor is recognized for its advanced capabilities in supporting edge AI applications and high-resolution multimedia processing, including 8K video encoding and decoding capabilities. The processor includes an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) with 6 TOPS of power, supporting AI inference for multiple data types (INT4, INT8, INT16, and FP16), making it ideal for computer vision, predictive maintenance, and automation tasks. It can also process 8K video encoding and decoding, and AI inference tasks in parallel, reducing response time by up to 70%. (Source: Avalue – AIB-3588: The Future of Edge AI Computing with Rockchip RK3588’s Advanced Capabilities).

The device comes: with 8 GB of LPDDR4X RAM, which is not upgradable, and does not include M.2 slots for SSD caching drives. However, the device provides a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet LAN port and three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (two Type-A and one Type-C) at 10 Gigabit per second, offering ultra-fast data transfer speeds compared to other NAS devices in the same price range. It also includes an HDMI 2.0b port, allowing it to be connected to an external monitor and transform into a functional computer supporting office tools and a web browser.

UGOS Pro Operating System and Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus Features

The DH4300 Plus runs: on the UGOS Pro operating system, the same system used in more advanced DXP devices, but with fewer features. Although UGOS Pro was in its early development stages, it has seen rapid updates that added many essential features and improved security aspects. However, some differences are noted between the UGOS Pro version on the DH4300 Plus and the DXP version, such as the absence of advanced power management options and link aggregation on the DH4300 Plus.

The device supports: a wide range of essential NAS features, including photo, music, and video management applications, as well as sync and backup functions. It also provides support for applications such as Jellyfin, Home Assistant, Online Office, and Docker, and cloud connectivity applications. Ugreen adopts a Docker-centric approach to provide additional functionality, allowing users to easily add applications like Plex via Docker. However, the device does not support Virtual Machines due to its use of an ARM processor instead of an x86 processor.

Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus Competitive Value and Price Analysis

The Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus is priced: at approximately $365.99 in the United States (after discount), making it a highly attractive option in terms of value for money. The device competes with well-known NAS devices like the QNAP TS-433-4G-US and Synology DS423, but outperforms them by offering better features such as a super-fast 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet LAN port and much faster USB ports, all at a similar or even lower price.

Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus Evaluation Summary

The Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus is: an excellent choice for users looking for a basic, reliable NAS device at an affordable price. It is particularly suitable for users who need a solution for direct local backup or a small, dedicated file server. However, it may not be the optimal choice for users requiring advanced features such as link aggregation or virtualization support.

Key Features of Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus:

• Attractive and affordable price.
• Supports all 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch drives.
• Super-fast 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet LAN port.
• 8 GB of RAM by default.
• Simple, efficient, and user-friendly design.
• Excellent USB speeds for data transfer.

Disadvantages of Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus:

• No option to upgrade RAM.
• No M.2 slots for SSD caching drives.
• No support for Virtualization (VT) or systems like TrueNAS.
• Does not support link aggregation by default.
• Limited number of directly embedded applications (relies on Docker for expansion).

The Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus is: a strong and competitive option in the budget NAS market, offering excellent value for money with robust essential features and a practical design that meets the needs of many users.