Ugreen NASync DXP8800 Ultra vs Plus: Plus holds value edge as Ultra adds power

Both devices are aimed at small businesses, studios, IT professionals and creative teams that need centralized storage for large files, backups, media libraries and multi-user access, TechRadar said. They share a maximum storage capacity of 272TB, dual 10GbE networking, two Thunderbolt 4 connections, dual M.2 slots and 8K HDMI. Both ship with 8GB of expandable DDR5 RAM.

The main hardware difference is the processor and memory ceiling. The Plus uses an Intel Core i5-1235U processor and supports up to 64GB of RAM. The Ultra uses a newer Intel Core 7 150U processor and supports up to 96GB of RAM. TechRadar said both offer the same maximum storage capacity and high-speed connectivity despite the Ultra's higher price.

In his four-star review of the Ultra, TechRadar's Mark wrote: "Ugreen has changed the engine, not the car. The Ultra is quicker and better equipped for the long haul, but the Plus still does almost everything it does for far less money." He added: "Is the [Ultra] outlay worth the extra over the Plus? That entirely depends on how you intend to use this NAS. For those who just want file serving, it's probably not worth it. But for someone using virtualization and hosting AI, it might be an improvement they'll pay for."

TechRadar noted that the Plus normally costs $1,509.99 but has been reduced to $1,369.99, a saving of about 9%. The Ultra costs $1,779.99, making it $410 more expensive. Both are diskless NAS units, so buyers must budget separately for the HDDs or SSDs required to store files.

According to TechRadar, buyers should choose the Ultra if they need a powerful NAS for demanding business workloads, extensive multitasking, or applications that benefit from additional memory. Its newer Intel Core 7 150U processor and support for up to 96GB of DDR5 RAM give it a speed advantage over the Plus. Buyers should choose the Plus if they want a capable eight-bay NAS without paying extra for processing power and memory expansion they might never use. It supports the same 272TB maximum storage capacity, dual 10GbE networking and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity as the Ultra while costing much less.

In a 4.5-star hands-on review of the Plus, Mark called it "a monster NAS with the potential capacity and bandwidth to drive a small business" and said the hardware shows what can be achieved by repurposing mobile silicon for NAS. In his summary of the Ultra, he wrote: "The Plus still gives you eight bays, two M.2 slots, dual 10GbE, dual Thunderbolt 4 and a PCIe slot. File serving, backups, media streaming and a handful of containers run happily on either. The Ultra's extra speed will rarely be the bottleneck unless you use it in specific ways."