Should You Still Buy Synology NAS in 2026?

Why It Matters

Because Synology’s software advantage is offset by hardware limitations and drive lock‑ins, enterprises must weigh total cost of ownership and future scalability before committing.

Key Takeaways

• Synology’s software remains industry‑leading for backup and sync
• Active Backup and Synology Drive offer unified, automated data protection
• Hardware efficiency praised, but low‑cost models lag behind rivals
• Recent firmware changes removed features like HEVC support, causing frustration
• 2025 series restricts third‑party drives, limiting flexibility for many users

Summary

The video evaluates whether buying a Synology NAS in 2026 makes sense, focusing on the brand’s software strengths versus hardware shortcomings and recent policy shifts.

It highlights two flagship applications—Active Backup (ABS) and Synology Drive—describing how they provide enterprise‑grade backup and seamless file synchronization across PCs, Macs, mobile devices, servers and virtual machines. The reviewer also notes Synology’s low power consumption, quiet operation, and temperature efficiency.

However, the presenter points out drawbacks: legacy models lose firmware updates, feature regressions such as the move from Synology Moments to Photos, and the removal of HEVC/8.265 codec support due to licensing. A major controversy in 2025 involved a lockout that barred non‑Synology drives on newer units, a restriction that persists for rack‑mount and surveillance models in 2026.

For buyers, the analysis suggests that unless they invest $2,000‑$2,500 in high‑end units, they may face hardware that trails competitors and limited drive compatibility, making the decision hinge on software needs versus cost and flexibility.

Original Description

Synology DSM 7.3 – Should You Upgrade? https://nascompares.com/guide/synology-dsm-7-3-should-you-upgrade/

Synology DSM 7.3 NAS - Full Details on HDD and SSD Support https://nascompares.com/guide/synology-dsm-7-3-nas-full-details-on-hdd-and-ssd-support/

Synology DSM 7.3 Hard Drive and SSD Compatibility Tests https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAs8Zz70se8

SYNOLOGY SUPPORT SEAGATE & WD AGAIN https://youtu.be/vnOfmHY2Nb0

Synology SUPPORT WD and Seagate HDDs again in DSM 7.3 - https://nascompares.com/news/synology-reverse-the-hard-drive-policy-in-dsm-7-3-we-win/

Synology AI Console Review (video) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUUUQcF_X_Q

Synology AI Console Review (article) https://nascompares.com/2025/08/13/synology-ai-console-review/

DSM 7.3 - Non-Verified HDDs Still Unsupported on RS / RackStation and NVR / DVA systems https://www.reddit.com/r/synology/comments/1o17ztb/dsm_73_nonverified_hdds_still_unsupported_on_rs/

DSM 7.3 and ABB Missing Issue - https://www.reddit.com/r/synology/comments/1o1axqc/dsm_73_active_backup_for_business_no_longer_there/?sort=new

Synology DSM 7.3 Release Notes - https://www.synology.com/en-us/releaseNote/DSM?model=DS1821+%2B#7_3

Synology DSM 7.3 Download - https://archive.synology.com/download/Os/DSM/7.3-81180

Synology HDD Comaptibility https://kb.synology.com/en-uk/DSM/tutorial/Drive_compatibility_policies

WHY Synology Changed Support of 3rd Party Hard Drives in DSM? https://nascompares.com/guide/why-synology-changed-support-of-3rd-party-hard-drives-in-dsm/

Post - https://nascompares.com/2025/10/08/synology-dsm-7-3-nas-hdd-ssd-compatibility-in-the-plus-rs-xs-xs-sa-and-more/

Video Chapters

00:00 Intro – Synology hard drive U-turn discussion

00:19 Context – NAS buyers and recent controversy

00:35 Overview of Synology’s hard drive policy issue

00:52 Short answer – brand suitability unchanged

01:16 History of drive lock warnings and alerts

01:35 Prediction – Synology may repeat restrictions

01:51 M.2 limitations and model differences

02:10 RackStation unaffected by changes

02:25 Credit for reversing drive policy

02:41 Major shift but limited to Plus series

03:00 Rollout method – DSM 7.3 update confusion

03:32 Lack of beta testing and odd delivery

04:00 Review of Synology’s public response

04:33 Early press statements and empty promises

04:52 Missing proof and data from partners

05:14 Minimal follow-up and limited press releases

05:46 WD and Seagate still absent from listings

06:19 Compatibility pages show no mention of third-party drives

06:47 Lack of clarity for new NAS buyers

07:16 Inconsistent online information adds confusion

07:39 Poor communication on compatibility reversal

08:07 Repetition break – refocusing on main question

08:34 Verdict – Synology unchanged overall

08:52 Ongoing M.2 and GPU driver limitations

09:18 Partial U-turn and box-ticking approach

09:41 DSM software remains strong despite hardware limits

10:01 Looking ahead to DSM 8 and future strategy

10:26 Synology remains reliable but restrictive

10:47 Final advice – they’ll likely repeat drive restrictions

11:04 Outro – viewer comments and closing remarks

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