Synology has long been recognized as a leading provider of NAS (Network Attached Storage) solutions, especially for media enthusiasts who rely on Plex for their digital libraries. As a dedicated user of Synology products for over a decade, including the robust DiskStation DS1823xs+ housing over 140TB of data, and a secondary DS1621xs+ with an additional 80TB, I have witnessed firsthand the reliability and exceptional software suite that Synology offers. However, recent developments suggest a shift that may challenge the loyalty of its user base.

After a relatively quiet year in 2024, Synology is preparing to unveil its 2025 portfolio of NAS devices, particularly the new Plus series models. However, a significant limitation has emerged: these upcoming DiskStation models will exclusively support Synology's own hard drives, effectively barring users from utilizing widely recognized and trusted NAS HDDs from reputable brands like Seagate and Western Digital.

This restrictive policy traces back to 2021 when Synology began enforcing similar limitations on its business-oriented NAS models following the introduction of its proprietary drives. At that time, the company assured consumers that the consumer-focused DiskStation series would remain unaffected. However, in a surprising turn of events, Synology has now drastically decreased the number of compatible third-party drives, particularly IronWolf and WD Red models, and is now restricting the DiskStation Plus series released in 2025 to its own drives.

According to a recent press release issued in German, Synology clarified the implications of this change: For users, this means that starting with the Plus series models released in 2025, only Synologys own hard drives and third-party hard drives certified according to Synologys specifications will be compatible and offer the full range of functions and support.

This new policy applies solely to the Plus models debuting in 2025 and beyond, meaning that the existing lineup, which includes popular models like the DiskStation DS923+, DS224+, and DS723+, will continue to support a broader range of drives. Notably, users migrating drives from their current NAS systems to the new Plus models will not face any restrictions, as Synology confirmed that there would be no changes for Plus models released up to and including 2024 (with the exception of the XS Plus series and rack models).

The implications of this change are substantial. Users opting for HDDs outside of the Synology brand in the 2025 DiskStation Plus models will lose access to essential features such as volume-wide deduplication, lifespan analysis, and automatic firmware updates for hard drives. While Synology claims this move is aimed at reducing compatibility issues and enhancing system reliability, it is difficult to overlook the financial motivations behind the shiftencouraging consumers to purchase Synology's own drives instead of those from established competitors like Seagate and WD.

Synology has stated that it conducted an impressive 7,000 hours of testing with its hard drives in conjunction with the upcoming DiskStation Plus models. They reported a notable 20% reduction in support tickets related to storage and drive issues when using Synologys HDDs. While it is commendable that the company seeks to improve the user experience, many users feel that the choice of hardware should ultimately rest with them.

As a long-time advocate of Synology's NAS servers for their rich feature set and user-friendly design, this recent move has prompted a reconsideration of my recommendations. The idea of being compelled to utilize a single manufacturer's hard drives feels counterproductive and contrary to the flexibility that NAS users have traditionally enjoyed. With the launch of the Plus models on the horizon, I remain cautiously optimistic yet concerned that Synology may be alienating its loyal customer base in pursuit of increased profits.