Two NAS boxes, very different value: Buffalo 2-bay vs Synology 1-bay

Display

Neither product includes a display or touchscreen, so there is no meaningful difference here. In a practical home NAS sense, the real “interface” is the web admin UI and mobile apps. Synology wins the user-interface battle overall because DSM is widely regarded as the most polished consumer NAS operating system, with clearer menus, better storage management, and stronger app support. Buffalo’s LinkStation interface is functional, but it is generally less refined and less expandable than Synology’s ecosystem.

Winner: Synology DS124, because the software experience matters more than a physical display on a NAS.

Performance

On paper, the Buffalo LinkStation 220’s biggest advantage is that it ships with two drives already installed and is built for 2-bay storage, which can improve practical usability for mirrored storage or larger combined capacity. However, the DS124 is a modern single-bay NAS from Synology, and while exact CPU/RAM specs are modest, Synology’s software is typically better optimised for everyday file serving, remote access, and light backup workloads. For simple home cloud use, the DS124 often feels quicker and more responsive in the UI, even if the Buffalo offers more physical storage flexibility. If your goal is mostly file storage and media serving over gigabit Ethernet, both are adequate, but the Synology platform tends to deliver smoother real-world performance.

Winner: Synology DS124 for better software optimisation and a more responsive NAS experience; Buffalo only wins if you specifically need the included two-drive setup.

Build quality and design

The Buffalo LinkStation 220 is a more traditional, utilitarian NAS box with two drive bays and bundled HDDs, which makes it physically more capable out of the box. That said, its design is more basic and less premium-looking. The Synology DS124 is compact, neat, and very much designed for home or small-office desks or shelves; it looks and feels like a more polished product. In terms of pure hardware flexibility, the Buffalo wins because the 2-bay chassis gives you room for RAID 1 mirroring or more capacity. In terms of design finesse and overall finish, Synology takes it.

Winner: Tie overall. Buffalo wins on bay count and storage flexibility; Synology wins on compact design and polish.

Battery life

Neither product has a battery, so this category does not apply in the usual sense. For NAS buyers, the real equivalent is power efficiency and resilience during outages. A 1-bay NAS like the DS124 will generally draw less power than a 2-bay unit with two spinning hard drives, so it is typically cheaper to run and may be easier to keep on a small UPS for short outages. The Buffalo’s extra drive means more consumption, but also more usable storage and the possibility of RAID 1 redundancy.

Winner: Synology DS124 for lower power draw and easier UPS support.

Price and value for money

This is where the decision gets sharp. The Buffalo costs £308.00 and includes 4TB of storage across two drives. The Synology DS124 costs £149.97, which is £158.03 cheaper, but it is only the enclosure, so you still need to buy a drive. If you compare like-for-like on total usable storage, the Buffalo’s bundled drives make it look more expensive upfront, but it may actually be the easier all-in-one purchase for someone who wants to plug in and go. If you compare platform value, the Synology is much stronger: better software, lower entry cost, and a more future-proof NAS experience. For UK buyers building a NAS from scratch, the DS124 usually offers better long-term value, especially if you already have a spare 3.5-inch drive or want to choose your own NAS-grade HDD.

Winner: Synology DS124 for value as a platform; Buffalo only wins if you want an all-in-one package with drives included.

Game library/features

Interpreting “game library” as feature ecosystem, Synology wins decisively. DSM offers a much richer set of first-party and third-party packages for backups, media, syncing, remote access, photo management, and surveillance-style use cases. That matters if you want more than basic file storage. Buffalo’s LinkStation software covers the essentials, but it is not as broad or mature. For Plex users, both can work as storage targets, but neither is ideal for heavy transcoding; the Synology still has the edge for overall ecosystem integration and easier setup with home cloud features.

Winner: Synology DS124, because its software ecosystem is far stronger and more flexible.

Overall user experience

The Buffalo LinkStation 220 is the more self-contained storage purchase: two bays, two drives, and a straightforward path to mirrored storage or larger capacity. That simplicity can be appealing if you just want a NAS that arrives ready to use. But the Synology DS124 is the better NAS product overall. DSM is easier to manage, more reliable in day-to-day use, and backed by a much stronger ecosystem of apps, updates, and community support. The DS124’s limitation is obvious: one bay only. That means no RAID 1, no easy expansion with a second internal drive later, and less resilience if the disk fails. For users who prioritise data protection and capacity, the Buffalo’s 2-bay design is a real advantage. For everyone else, Synology’s software and lower price make it the smarter buy.

Overall summary: choose the Buffalo LinkStation 220 only if you specifically want a 2-bay NAS with drives included and value immediate redundancy/capacity. For most UK home users, the Synology DS124 is the better purchase because it is cheaper, better supported, and far stronger as a NAS platform. If you are starting fresh and want the best long-term experience, Synology wins.