Synology RS826+/RP+ overview

With the XS+ lineup behind us back in May, here is another RS model that has come up for a refresh since its predecessor four years ago. The RS826+/RP+ is still a single-unit rack model with a maximum of 8 drives total support, which this time around had a minimum upgrade, if we can call it that.

The new refreshed RS826+ looks identical on the outside as its predecessor with almost no upgrades on the inside

Targeted as a second or even third device in a medium-sized business, this 4-bay NAS could prove a decent single storage device for edge and remote sites, as well as a main unit for a small SOHO setup.

Robust Storage Server for Office Applications

The 4-bay 1U RS826RP+ is designed to help small and medium-sized businesses and branch offices consolidate their data management onto one system

The hardware specifications have not been upgraded much, as this new model is still powered by a popularAMD Ryzen V1500B CPU working at 2.2GHz. A decent quad-core/eight-thread silicon, but maybe a bit old considering it's 2026. Still, this eight-year-old CPU proves to be a resilient and popular choice not just with the Synology brand, but it would be great to have seen some V1700 or V1800 series chip instead.

With aTDP of about 16W , it is hard to push for double the watts when double the performance will not be gained using a better CPU.

Stable performance: Over 2,000/1,300 MB/s sequential read/write performance supports fast file sharing, syncing, and backup for multiple users

What has changed is the amount of RAM. The RS822+ came with a very low amount of 2GB of DDR4 ECC, but this time around, despite the current worldwide implications, Synology has decided to push and double the amount in the X26 model. The top supported capacity is still 32GB, achievable with a dual 16GB module (NAS supports 4/8/16 GB modules as well).

RS826+ back side still has the same setup as of 4 years agoRS826RP+ apart from the redundant power everything else is the same

Moving further inside the unit, we can see that, unlike the XS+ series that has finally moved to PCIe 4.0, the RS826+ still uses Gen3 x8 single slot as its optional expansion card slot. Speaking of expansions, the model supports a single 4-bay expansion unit, the RX426, using a new USB-C type port, moving away from the old eSATA one.

Versatile networking: Four built-in 1GbE RJ45 ports can be supplemented with 10/25GbE NICs and Fibre Channel adapters via the PCIe 3.0 expansion slot

The array of four 1GbE LAN ports is still present as a default, as well as a serial console port, and dual USB 3.2 Gen 1. The left-hand side of the unit is still the same, depending on the choice of the model, whether it is power redundant or not. This choice will have a direct impact on the weight of the unit staring with 6.5 kg for the RS826+ or 8 kg for the RP+ version.

The models are covered by a 3-year warranty with an option to extend to 5 years using the Synology Extended Warranty Plus program (North America and Europe).

Synology Extended Warranty PlusSynology has introduced a new service for selected devices called extended warranty plus with up to 5 years of protection for your devices.BLACKVOID.CLUBLuka Manestar

In terms of disk support, the RS822+ models were compatible with both Synology and 3rd party models, but the RS826+ is not. Synology has pushed hard with their HCL 4.0 policy that effectively locks users into using their branded drives, but also applied the new HCL 5.0 policy for X25 models.

It is important to note that the HCL 5.0 policy is only applicable to the X25 models in their DS lineup, and those are the only models that were released last year. With 2026 XS+ models firmly only supporting Synology disks, the same rule applies here. Being an RS unit, it supports only Synology drives, but unlike the XS+ models, the RS826+ also supports non-enterprise 3,5" drives, namely the HAT3000 series.

The RS826RP+ can be configured as part of a hot or cold storage tier depending on deployment requirements

Synology Tiering - storage resource optimizationWith #Synology #DSM 7.3 we got a new feature currently in beta, Synology Tiering, designed for storage resource optimizationBLACKVOID.CLUBLuka Manestar

There we have it, a refreshed 4-bay rack unit that is very popular and definitely has its audience, is once again here with us. Using a proven CPU architecture across many of its models, Synology has decided not to gamble and open itself to potential issues with a more modern CPU.

Effectively, anyone looking for a DS925+ replacement or upgrade from DS923+, this would be it, disregarding the form factor, of course. Those two models are identical in every aspect, while the DS models do come with a 2.5GbE network. Why Synology chose not to upgrade a 4 x 1GbE setup with 2 x 2.5GbE is up for debate, but personally, I think that they were betting on that PCIe upgrade and a 10GbE purchase that makes more sense in a rack model.

Whatever the case might be, the RS826+ is nothing to write home about (the same applies to the DS x25 segment), but small internal upgrades are better than nothing, and within this 150W NAS, there is still a lot it offers for its recommended price point of about €1000.

APAC launch is today, with global availability expected on August 12th.

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