Exploring the Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus: A Comprehensive Review

I have been a big fan of Ugreen for the past few years, with them consistently launching great Power Delivery chargers, portable power banks, and USB/Thunderbolt docks.

One product range I have been eager to try out is the new Ugreen NAS devices. I am a keen homelabber who is currently running two mini PCs running Proxmox and two TerraMaster NAS devices running Unraid.

Admittedly, my interest in the Ugreen products has been more towards the x64-based models running Intel CPUs due to their flexibility on what you can run, but when Ugreen contacted me about reviewing the new ARM based NASync DH4300 Plus, I was happy to try it out.

The Network Attached Storage market has long been dominated by a few key players. Brands like Synology and QNAP have built strong reputations over many years, offering polished operating systems and extensive application ecosystems. For many home users and small businesses, these brands have been the default choice.

However, in recent years, more affordable options have become increasingly popular. I think TerraMaster have stood out as a great affordable option, but more recently Ugreen and Minisforum have been making waves in this segment.

Related Reviews

Specification

UGREEN NASync DH4300 Plus Features

The DH4300 Plus is a four-bay Network Attached Storage device designed for home offices, small teams, and households with growing data needs. It acts as a high-performance home data hub and a tool for professional collaboration.

Core Hardware and Performance

At the heart of the DH4300 Plus is an 8-core Rockchip RK3588C processor with a maximum frequency of 2.4 GHz. This ARM-based CPU is built on an 8 nm process. For multitasking and processing, the system is equipped with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM. The system itself runs from a 32GB eMMC internal drive.

Storage Capacity and Data Management

The device features four drive bays that are compatible with both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch SATA drives. This allows for a total storage capacity of up to 120TB, assuming 30TB drives are used in each bay.

To manage the data across these drives, the DH4300 Plus supports a wide range of RAID configurations, offering choices between performance and data redundancy. Supported modes include:

• • JBOD and Basic

• • RAID 0 (Striping for performance)

• • RAID 1 (Mirroring for redundancy)

• • RAID 5 (Striping with parity for a balance of performance and single-drive failure protection)

• • RAID 6 (Striping with double parity for two-drive failure protection)

• • RAID 10 (A combination of striping and mirroring for high performance and redundancy)

Connectivity and Network Speed

For network connectivity, the NAS includes a 2.5GbE LAN port, which facilitates transfer speeds of up to 312.5MB/s. This speed is significantly faster than typical cloud upload rates.

Physical connectivity options include:

• • Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports

• • One USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port

• • An HDMI port that supports direct media playback to a display at a resolution of 4K 60Hz

Software and User Experience

The DH4300 Plus runs on the UGOS Pro operating system, which is designed for straightforward use. The initial setup process is guided and can be completed in under 10 minutes. An NFC Quick Connection feature allows a smartphone to connect to the NAS with a simple tap.

Management is handled through a single, all-in-one UGREEN NAS app that centralizes file management, photo backups, and media streaming. The software also provides smart functions such as automatic photo classification, OCR for text recognition in images, and a smart movie hub. For more advanced users, the device offers Docker support, allowing for the use of custom applications.

Security Protocols

The device is built around the principle of local storage, keeping user data on a physical device they own to avoid the risks associated with third-party cloud platforms.

Several layers of protection are included:

• • Transmission Encryption: Data is protected in transit using protocols like TSL/SSL, RSA, and AES.

• • Account Security: User accounts are protected with high-strength SHA256 password hashing and the option for multi-factor authentication via email.

• • Security Manager: A built-in function in the app provides 24/7 real-time threat monitoring and allows for scheduled virus scans to protect files.

• • Local Account: For users who do not require remote access, a local account can be used, which does not require an internet connection for verification.

Unboxing / Design

The Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus arrives in simple packaging. Inside, you will find the NAS unit itself, a power adapter, a network cable, and some screws for mounting 2.5-inch drives. The unit is compact, with dimensions of 155 x 155 x 215.7 mm, making it only slightly larger than the four 3.5-inch hard drives it is designed to hold. This small footprint is a considerable advantage for users with limited space.

The chassis is constructed primarily of plastic, but it feels solid and well-assembled. The design is minimalist and modern. A magnetic top panel covers the drive bays, which can be easily removed to access the drives.

Convenient tool-less access to the top cover is provided by this device. Drives are installed vertically into the chassis, with each drive mounted onto a plastic tray that slides into place and connects directly to the SATA backplane. The trays have small rubber grommets and springs that help dampen drive vibrations and reduce operational noise. However, there are no physical locks on the drive bays, which could be a concern for some users. Cooling is managed by a large fan at the base of the unit, drawing air through ventilation grilles to cool the internal components. The setup process, guided by the UGOS Pro setup wizard, is simple and beginner-friendly. Users are prompted to create a Ugreen account for remote access or a local-only account, and then guided through creating a storage pool and volume. The wizard offers detailed explanations of various RAID options and might suggest RAID 5 for a good balance of capacity and protection with three or more drives. Once the initial setup is complete, the IP becomes fully accessible.

UGOS Pro User Interface / Settings:
UGOS Pro is Ugreen’s proprietary NAS operating system with a modern interface inspired by mobile operating systems. It presents a desktop-like environment within a web browser, featuring icons for major applications like File Manager, App Center, and Control Panel. While the Control Panel provides access to system settings, including user management and network configuration, it lacks the deep control found in more mature systems like Synology’s DSM or QNAP’s QTS.

UGOS Installable Apps:
The App Center allows users to install additional applications to extend the NAS’s functionality. However, the library of native apps is limited compared to competitors, with essential Ugreen-developed apps but lacking popular third-party apps like Plex.

Docker:
Docker support is a significant advantage, allowing users to run third-party applications in isolated environments called containers. This feature opens up a world of possibilities for users with some technical knowledge.

File Transfer Speeds:
With a 2.5GbE network port, the DH4300 Plus achieves impressive file transfer speeds, saturating the connection and offering sequential read and write speeds close to the theoretical maximum. This results in faster file transfers and an improved user experience compared to a 1GbE connection.

Apps:
Jellyfin / Plex Performance / Hardware Decoding:
While Plex is not available as a native app, third-party Docker apps in the Ugreen store include options for Plex. Jellyfin is a popular alternative that can handle streaming and transcoding tasks effectively on the DH4300 Plus, supporting 1080p and 4K content with relatively low CPU usage. The device can even play 8K content, although CPU usage remains high. Transcoding an 8K file will max out the CPU and lead to poor playback. Consider this NAS as a capable 4K media solution.

Cloud Drives integration is easy to set up, allowing syncing with OneDrive and Google Drive. The built-in photo app offers basic organization and AI-powered categorization for your photo library.

The online office functionality is suitable for light editing tasks but not recommended for serious productivity work. The qBittorrent implementation provides a capable download client.

The NAS’s power draw is low, with energy-efficient performance and minimal noise. The Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus is competitively priced at £360.

Consider alternatives like the TerraMaster F4-212, powered by the Realtek 1619B quad-core processor. The 2GB version of the TerraMaster NAS is priced slightly lower than the Ugreen NAS at £300. It features four drive bays and a single gigabit Ethernet port. The Ugreen NAS, however, boasts a superior chipset compared to the TerraMaster:

– CPU: TerraMaster – 4× Cortex-A55 (up to 2.0 GHz), Ugreen – 4× Cortex-A76 (up to 2.4 GHz) + 4× Cortex-A55 (1.8 GHz)
– GPU: TerraMaster – Mali-G57 (often MP1), Ugreen – Mali-G610 MP4
– NPU: TerraMaster – ~1.6 TOPS, Ugreen – Up to ~6 TOPS
– Video decode/encode: TerraMaster – 4K60 (AV1 10-bit, H.265/H.264, etc.), Ugreen – 8K60 decode, up to 8K30 encode
– I/O highlights: TerraMaster – HDMI 2.1 TX, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.x, Ugreen – PCIe 3.0, rich CSI/DSI/DP/HDMI

In terms of specifications, the Ugreen NAS offers better performance for the price. However, the TerraMaster system is more established, with 42 available applications for installation, including Plex, Emby, AOMEI Backupper, Portainer, VPN Server, and other useful tools. TerraMaster also provides TOS community apps like Sonarr, although access to these apps may require a high monthly fee.

For ARM-based NAS devices, the Ugreen NAS is recommended due to its better performance, despite having fewer app functionalities. The Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus, in particular, is a basic yet efficient NAS that is quiet, energy-efficient, and offers a limited but functional set of apps.

While the Ugreen NAS excels in hardware performance and energy efficiency, its software, UGOS Pro, is still developing and lacks the depth and customization options of more established NAS operating systems. For first-time NAS buyers or home users seeking a capable media server and backup device, the Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus is a solid choice, offering good hardware foundation with room for software improvement.