> Test 4 Extras

Are there any additional features?

All the drives on test allow you to access their contents remotely, either from a web browser or using iOS apps. You create an account with the manufacturer and log in when you want to connect, and it then handles access to the box in your home or office. All the boxes here also transcode 4K video on the fly, taking the strain off your iPhone or iPad and allowing you to play file formats not normally supported in iOS. The QNAP goes a step further by including an HDMI output and audio jacks, allowing you to hook it up directly to a TV or entertainment system of your choosing.

Each drive has a number of apps available for its operating system, allowing you to perform a number of tasks like streaming via Plex or backing up a mobile device to the NAS.

In terms of both the total number of apps available and their scope, the Synology edges past the others, with useful tools like Synology’s own Surveillance Station and Text Editor.