A Game-Changer in NAS Technology

In the world of NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices, variety is the spice of life, from two-bay basic models to extravagant eight-bay systems. However, Ugreen's latest offering, the DH4300 Plus, is turning heads with its compact design and impressive capabilities. Notably, it operates on an Arm architecture, powered by the Rockchip RK3588, making it not just another NAS but a smart, budget-friendly solution.

Why DH4300 Plus Stands Out?

Ugreen has been making waves in the NAS market with its innovative devices, and the DH4300 Plus is no exception. Priced competitively at around $365 (often below MSRP), this four-bay NAS supports a staggering 120TB of storage, combining features that one would typically find in higher-tier models. With 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage, this device is both powerful and efficient.

Sleek and Compact Design

The DH4300 Plus sports a sleek, plastic vertical chassis that is lightweight and compact, making it easier to integrate into any workspace. The device is equipped with five front-facing LEDs to indicate LAN and HDD activity and is outfitted with a handy USB-C port. Connectivity doesn't stop there; around the back, you'll find two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a 2.5 GbE LAN, and an HDMI output for multimedia playback.

Simplified Drive Mounting System

Notably, Ugreen has reimagined how drives are mounted in the DH4300 Plus. Instead of the traditional outward-facing bay, the top cover serves as a protective lid for the drives, which sit facing upwards. Users will need to secure their hard drives with screws—tools are included—making the installation process straightforward.

Performance Insights of the Arm-Based Processor

Equipped with an 8-core Arm-based CPU, the RK3588 packs a punch with its combination of Cortex-A76 and Cortex-A55 cores, alongside a Mali-G610 GPU. However, an interesting detail arose during testing—the advertised 2.4 GHz speed refers only to the performance cores, while actual performance peaks at 1.9 GHz for Cortex-A76. While this may not impact regular usage, those planning on deploying containers or running demanding applications should take note.

UGOS: A User-Friendly Operating System

Ugreen's proprietary OS, UGOS, has seen significant enhancements, now offering a much more polished experience than before. It supports Docker right out of the box, though the limited 8GB of RAM could restrict more extensive applications. Nevertheless, users have full root access, allowing for extensive customization.

Speedy Performance Even Under Constraints

During testing, the DH4300 Plus showcased impressive transfer speeds despite being connected through a mesh network. A backup of 277.3 GB took just under an hour, indicating solid transfer rates. Users reported upload speeds nearing 100 MB/s when working directly over the network, making it a reliable option for file storage.

Conclusion: The Perfect Starter NAS?

Overall, the Ugreen DH4300 Plus is an exceptional choice for anyone in the market for a starter NAS. With features like Time Machine support for Mac users, SMB for Windows, and NFS for Linux, it accommodates a broad range of needs. The design is user-friendly, setup is quick, and it offers abundant storage at an attractive pricepoint. Whether you need it for home use or as a basic file server, the DH4300 Plus proves to be a robust solution that doesn’t compromise on performance.