This time we're going to analyze two very interesting products, both for their performance-to-price ratio, that can allow you to have your own cloud and ensure it's reliable against data loss. This is a review of a very particular pair that caught our attention: the UGREEN NASync DXP2800 NAS server combined with its ideal protection add-on, and the UGREEN NAS Backup Power 120W mini-UPS.
This combination translates into powerful hardware and protection against power outages , but there's much more that has pleasantly surprised us in our analysis…
Design and build quality
UGREEN is known for its competitive pricing, but that doesn't mean quality is compromised. Both the NASync DXP2800 and its backup battery follow the brand's aesthetic, featuring a space gray aluminum alloy chassis like other premium products, and also fulfill vital functions:
- Thermal Management: The NASync DXP2800 integrates a high-performance processor that generates heat under heavy workloads. Its metal casing, combined with a very quiet, intelligent fan, acts as a giant passive heatsink. In our tests, after hours of massive data transfers, the unit remained warm to the touch, dissipating heat from the mechanical hard drives without any annoying noise.
- Robustness and stabilityThe NAS has a considerable weight and high-quality rubber feet that prevent annoying vibrations caused by the spinning 3.5″ hard drives. Meanwhile, the mini-UPS has an ultra-compact and flat form factor, designed to be placed right next to or underneath the NAS without disrupting the desktop aesthetic or taking up excessive space.
- Unified aestheticsBoth devices share the exact same minimalist, metallic finish, creating a visually clean and professional environment.
Those of us accustomed to seeing other UPS units know they are quite large and heavy, but the UGREEN is truly compact. It's closer in size to a portable power bank than a conventional UPS…
Intel processor and DDR5 memory: speed and fluidity
Some traditional NAS devices come equipped with low-performance ARM chips, but the UGREEN NASync DXP28000 uses a quad-core Intel N100 processor, along with 8 GB of DDR5 RAM (officially expandable to 16 GB). This is important, as other NAS devices either don't allow for expansion or have the DRAM chips soldered to the motherboard. In this case, it uses SO-DIMM modules, the same type found in laptops.
Thanks to this technology, you get fantastic performance for real-time video transcoding, Docker container management, and simultaneous read streams. It also includes a network card with a 2.5 GbE (Gigabit Ethernet) port, enabling incredibly fast local transfer rates that double the speed of traditional network cabling.
This will make all operations run smoothly and ensure system apps flow seamlessly, something that can be frustrating with other cheap NAS devices due to insufficiently powerful hardware…
UGREEN NAS+UPS ecosystem positions
Some NAS devices only include a network port and a USB port, however, in this UGREEN ecosystem we have been surprised by the connectivity capabilities it offers:
- 2x SATA drive bays (3.5″/2.5″): with a tool-less quick-release tray system, ideal for setting up storage in RAID 0, RAID 1 or JBOD with massive capacity.
- 2x M.2 NVMe SSD Slots: hidden in the base of the NAS, usable both for ultra-fast cache storage and for creating independent high-speed volumes.
- expansion portsIt features a USB-C port and a USB-A port on the front panel (both USB 3.2 Gen 2 at 10 Gbps) designed for connecting traditional external hard drives or flash drives and transferring data instantly. It also includes a rear 4K HDMI output, in case you want to connect the NAS directly to a display.
- 120W Backup Battery (UPS): equipped with a capacity of 12000mAh (43.2Wh) based on safe and durable lithium-ion cells, capable of delivering up to 120W of continuous output power via direct current (DC).
- Dedicated communication portThe UPS incorporates a USB data port to establish a "direct conversation" in real time with the NAS operating system, and thus report the remaining power and when it should be shut down.
One minor drawback we've found is that, due to its 120W limit and battery capacity, the UPS is suitable for 2- and 4-bay NAS devices, such as the DXP2800 and DXP4800. However, if you want to use it with higher-end models like the DXP6800 or DXP8800, although it is compatible, we would advise using a higher-capacity UPS in those cases.
Total synergy: the possibilities of connecting them together
This is where the real magic happens. Connecting the NASync DXP2800 and the NAS Backup Power together unlocks an automated protection ecosystem that safeguards your data. When you have a NAS configured in JBOD (independent disks) or RAID 0 (the two hard drives combine their capacity as one), a power outage can lead to data corruption if you don't have a UPS. The same is true in RAID 1 (mirrored mode) configurations if a power failure occurs during the first write operation and you don't have a UPS. Here you have an extra layer of security, with features like:
- Smart Safe Shutdown (Auto On/Off): When you connect the UPS to the NAS using the USB data cable, the UGOS Pro operating system recognizes it immediately. If a power outage occurs in your home or business, the UPS takes over the power supply and notifies the NAS. Instead of shutting down abruptly (which would corrupt your databases or damage your hard drives), the NAS enters safe mode and performs a graceful shutdown after a few minutes.
- Autonomy of survivalThe 12000mAh battery provides the DXP2800 with 10 to 20 minutes of pure power. That's more than enough time to finish ongoing backups or remotely shut down your active services.
- Automatic power-on after power outageOnce the external power grid is restored, the UPS re-energizes the line and automatically powers on the NAS. Your private cloud will be back online without you having to press any physical buttons or do anything else.
- 9-layer protective shieldIt acts as a constant filter against electrical irregularities. If you live in an area prone to thunderstorms or power surges, the UPS absorbs voltage spikes, protecting the delicate electronics of the Intel processor, RAM, and hard drives of the NAS.
The brain of the system: UGOS Pro, AI and multimedia experience
Thanks to the integrated UGOS Pro software (based on the Debian Linux distribution) , the hardware's capabilities are greatly enhanced. The web interface and mobile apps are clean and well-organized, avoiding the cluttered and confusing options of older systems. From here, you can easily manage the entire system, as well as the available apps.
You can use the NAS not only to store your data or as a server, but also as a media center to view photos, videos, and audio from other devices or your Smart TV. Furthermore, it includes AI, running locally without sending data to third parties, which allows for intelligent photo cataloging , OCR for text recognition in files, and more, recognizing content intelligently and automatically. This not only allows you to catalog and manage your albums, but also helps you locate information more easily and clean up duplicate content to free up space.
And not only that, through the apps you can also use virtual machine and container virtualization with Docker, and much more…
Price and Availability
In short, the UGREEN combo consisting of the NASync DXP2800 and the 120W Backup Power NAS is an investment that won't cost thousands of euros like some other options, and it allows you to avoid relying on cloud services, their lack of privacy, and their unfortunate subscription fees. The NASync DXP2800 is typically priced at €379,95 on Amazon , while the UGREEN 120W UPS system is sold separately for around €109,99, also on Amazon . That is, less than €500, while other NAS devices from similar brands have the same price, without a UPS, which can expose you to data loss or damage to the hard drives when there is a power outage while writing to the drive or updating the firmware… It is true that you have to add the price of the HDD or SSD hard drives you are going to use, if you don't already have them, but even so it is still ultra competitive.