Home NAS or expansion box: which storage box gives you more?

Display

Neither product has a display or screen, so this category is effectively a tie. There is no front-panel LCD, no touchscreen, and no on-device status interface beyond basic LEDs. For home users, that means setup and monitoring happen through software rather than a built-in display. Winner: tie.

Performance

The QNAP TR-004 wins on raw storage flexibility and potential throughput, because it gives you 4 bays instead of 2. That matters if you want to build a larger array, mirror multiple drives, or use RAID 5/6-style configurations depending on host support and mode. As a direct-attached storage device, it can also be used with a faster host than a typical entry NAS, which may translate to better real-world file transfer speeds when connected properly. The Buffalo LinkStation 220 is simpler and more self-contained, but with only 2 bays and 4TB included, it is inherently more limited for growth and throughput scaling. Winner: QNAP TR-004.

Build quality and design

Both are desktop units built for home use, but they are designed for different roles. The Buffalo LinkStation 220 is an all-in-one NAS with included HDDs, so the appeal is plug-and-play simplicity: fewer decisions, fewer compatibility questions, and a more complete out-of-box package. The QNAP TR-004 has the more expansion-focused design, with 4 bays giving it a more practical chassis for users who expect to swap, expand, or reconfigure storage over time. In terms of physical utility, the QNAP is the more capable enclosure, but the Buffalo is the more self-contained and beginner-friendly product. Winner: QNAP TR-004 for flexibility, Buffalo for simplicity.

Battery life

Neither product has a battery, so this category does not apply. There is no internal battery backup, so if power protection matters, you should budget for a UPS regardless of which unit you buy. Winner: tie.

Price and value for money

The QNAP TR-004 is cheaper at £257.48 versus £308.00 for the Buffalo, a difference of £50.52 in its favour. On pure purchase price, QNAP wins. However, value is more nuanced: the Buffalo includes 4TB of HDD storage and is a full NAS solution, while the QNAP is only an expansion enclosure and does not include drives. If you already have a host NAS, PC, or server to connect it to, the TR-004 is strong value. If you need a complete network storage appliance with drives included, the Buffalo’s higher price buys convenience and immediate usability. Winner: tie, depending on whether you need a full NAS or just storage expansion.

Game library/features

There is no game library on either device, so this category is not relevant. What matters instead are storage features. The Buffalo LinkStation 220 is the more feature-complete home cloud/NAS product because it is intended to sit on the network and serve files directly. The QNAP TR-004 offers flexibility as a DAS or expansion unit, but its feature set depends heavily on the connected host and the mode you use. Winner: Buffalo LinkStation 220 for standalone NAS features.

Overall user experience

This is where the decision becomes clear. If you want the easiest path to a working home cloud or network storage device, the Buffalo LinkStation 220 is the better experience because it includes the drives and is designed to operate as a complete NAS. You can get it set up without having to source disks separately or worry about how it will integrate into an existing system. The QNAP TR-004 is better for people who already have a server, PC, or NAS and want to add four-drive storage in a more scalable enclosure. It is not the same kind of product, so its user experience is excellent for expansion, but less suitable as a standalone home NAS.

Overall summary: the QNAP TR-004 wins on bay count, expansion potential, and price, but the Buffalo LinkStation 220 wins on being a complete, ready-to-use NAS with included storage. For most buyers searching between these two, the Buffalo is the safer choice if they want a true home NAS, while the QNAP is the better buy only if they specifically need direct-attached expansion or already have a host system to attach it to.