Asustor AS6202T
Pricey but powerful.
With a processor that’s about as fast as you’ll find, up to 8GB of memory and more ports than you’ll ever need, this is a device that offers both performance and features. Of course, you’d expect that, given it’s also the most expensive in our roundup.
Part of that cost comes down to the fact that this functions as a full-on PC, including an HDMI port for connection to a TV and a copy of Kodi for media playback. Like QNAP’s solution, this obviates the need for an intermediate network media player. It even includes an infrared port for receiving remote control signals (a remote is not included), or you can use the Kodi remote app on your mobile. It does not, however, support any streaming services like Netflix or Stan.
Asustor’s firmware is built on the same Linux foundation as QNAP and Synology, and includes a full windowing interface — accessible through a web browser or directly on a screen attached to its HDMI port — and a large host of third-party apps. It includes a Surveillance Center for capturing and managing IP camera streams and pretty much every server app you could possibly ever need — even virtualisation, which means you could run, say, Windows 10 on it inside a virtual machine.
Installing drives is easy and they can be hot swapped in RAID 1 mode. There are handy mobile apps for remote access, syncing and media playback are available as well.
Its capacity to function as a low-end PC or media player gives in an edge over much of the competition — an edge it rather needs, given the price.