The Synology NAS choice that actually fits your storage needs

Display

Neither product has a display or screen, so there is no meaningful difference here. In practical NAS buying terms, this category is irrelevant for both devices. Winner: tie.

Performance

The DS224+ wins decisively on performance. As a 2-bay Plus-series Synology, it is built for heavier workloads such as Plex media serving, multiple users accessing files at once, and more demanding Docker/self-hosted apps. The DS124 is an entry-level 1-bay unit that is fine for backups, basic file serving, and light household use, but it is not the better choice if you expect your NAS to do more than sit quietly in the corner. If you plan to run media indexing, photo libraries, or several services at once, the DS224+ gives you far more headroom and a more responsive experience.

Build quality and design

Both are Synology desktop NAS units with the brand’s usual clean, understated design, but the DS224+ is the more capable and better-rounded chassis. The product listing for the DS224+ highlights a metal construction and surface-mount desktop form factor, which suggests a sturdier feel and a more premium class of hardware. The DS124 is also a compact desktop NAS, but it is positioned as the simpler, lower-cost model. The key design difference is not just the enclosure, but the internal architecture: two drive bays versus one. That extra bay changes the whole ownership experience, because it enables RAID 1 mirroring, easier upgrades, and less stress when replacing drives. Winner: DS224+.

Battery life

Neither NAS has a battery in the way a laptop or UPS-backed portable device does, so there is no battery life metric to compare directly. In a real home-lab or small-office setup, uptime depends more on power protection and drive redundancy than on battery capacity. On that basis, the DS224+ again has the practical advantage because RAID 1 can keep data available if one drive fails, while the DS124 has no such redundancy. Winner: DS224+ by function, though this is not a battery comparison.

Price and value for money

This is where the DS124 is dramatically ahead on upfront cost. At £134.97, it is £452.03 cheaper than the DS224+ at £587.00, which is a huge gap. If you only need a single-disk NAS for basic backups, document storage, or a simple shared folder, the DS124 is excellent value. However, the cheaper purchase price can be misleading because a 1-bay NAS has no built-in redundancy, and expanding later usually means replacing the whole setup rather than adding another drive. The DS224+ costs much more, but that price buys you a second bay, better long-term flexibility, and a more capable platform for apps and media. For value over the life of the device, the DS224+ is the better investment for most serious users; for absolute cheapest entry into Synology, the DS124 wins. Winner: depends on use case, but overall value for most buyers goes to DS224+.

Game library/features

NAS units do not have a game library in the console sense, so the meaningful equivalent is software and feature support. The DS224+ wins here because the Plus-series platform is generally the stronger choice for Synology packages, Docker-based services, Plex, photo management, surveillance, and multi-user household use. The DS124 can still handle core NAS tasks, but its single-bay, entry-level positioning makes it better suited to simple storage and backup rather than feature-heavy use. If you want a NAS that can evolve into a media server, app host, or small home-lab node, the DS224+ is clearly the more feature-rich option. Winner: DS224+.

Overall user experience

The DS124 offers the simplest possible Synology experience: set it up, put one drive in, and use it for backups or shared storage. That simplicity is appealing, especially if you want low cost and low complexity. But the DS224+ is the better day-to-day experience for most people because it reduces risk, supports RAID 1, and provides more flexibility as your needs grow. In a home NAS, the most frustrating limitation is often not speed but capacity and recoverability, and the DS224+ handles both much better. For households, Plex users, and anyone who expects their storage needs to expand, the DS224+ is the more satisfying and future-proof choice. Winner: DS224+.

Overall summary: the DS124 is the budget pick and a sensible choice for very basic storage needs, but the DS224+ is the definitive winner for anyone who wants a NAS they can rely on for the long term. The extra £452.03 gets you a second bay, RAID redundancy, more headroom for apps and media, and a far better upgrade path. If you are buying once and want the safer, more capable option, choose the DS224+.