Video summary

Don't Buy a NAS Until You Watch This! (Ugreen DH4300 Speed Test)

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product reviewed

UGREEN DH4300 4-bay NAS (network-attached storage) intended to replace local/cloud storage by hosting multiple hard drives and accessing files over the network.

Key features mentioned

  • 4-bay NAS: install up to four hard drives, and the system appears to your computer as a single storage unit.
  • Capacity target: advertised up to 120TB (depends on drive sizes).
  • File access:
    • Access from anywhere in the house over the network (Wi‑Fi/router-based access discussed).
    • No need for cables for in-house access (contrasted with direct external drive connections).
  • Setup approach:
    • Connect NAS to the router
    • Download and install the UGREEN client app for the OS via the UGREEN website.
  • RAID:
    • User set up RAID 1 (mirroring: one drive backs up the other for recovery if one fails).
  • HDMI direct playback:
    • Mentions connecting HDMI from NAS to TV for direct playback, controlled from a phone.
  • Media + creative workflow:
    • Supports using NAS files for Lightroom editing (linked storage for photo edits).
    • Share folders via link to clients for downloading projects.

Performance / speed test results (main discussion)

  • Video claims from UGREEN: up to ~312 MB/s.
  • Actual experience: copying a large folder resulted in far lower speeds, with peak generally described as:
    • ~70 MB/s initially
    • Later: maximum around ~80 MB/s, sometimes ~100 MB/s
  • User expectation: expected 200s MB/s due to 2.5GbE ethernet.
  • Key cause identified by the reviewer:
    • Their home router is limited to ~1Gbps, which caps NAS throughput.
    • They conclude that even buying a faster variant with 10Gbps (two LAN ports) likely wouldn’t help on this particular network because of the router bottleneck.

Numeric claims captured

  • Marketing: 312 MB/s
  • Reviewer’s results: ~70 MB/s, later ~80–100 MB/s
  • Network expectation vs reality: expected 200s MB/s but hit ~1Gbps-limited speeds
  • Storage usage: 4TB usable space, with ~1TB used at the time of reporting

Pros (as stated by the reviewer)

  • Massive storage for creators
    • Solves the “out of space” problem for phone and laptop.
  • Improved day-to-day usability
    • Laptop feels “snappier” after moving files off the local drive.
  • Better client workflow
    • Copy projects to shared folders and share a download link with clients.
  • Remote media access
    • Watch movies, listen to music, and access content outside the home (phone used as the client).
  • RAID 1 protection
    • If one drive fails, data can be recovered from the mirror.
  • Convenience vs external drives
    • Avoids repeatedly connecting USB drives and tracking where files are.

Cons / disadvantages mentioned

  • High upfront cost
    • NAS system is expensive especially because drives are not included.
    • Large-capacity drives themselves are pricey.
  • Performance mismatch with marketing (due to home network limits)
    • Reviewer felt misled initially because marketing throughput wasn’t matched in their real setup.
  • Potential bottleneck risk
    • If your router isn’t fast enough (they cite 1Gbps limitation), you won’t get headline speeds.

Comparisons / alternatives mentioned

  • UGREEN DX4800
    • Mentioned as a more advanced UGREEN NAS with options like adding NVMe caching.
    • Reviewer chose DH4300 for their situation due to cost/fit.
  • Bigger LAN capacity / 10Gbps models
    • Reviewer notes that a 10Gbps-capable version would still be bottlenecked by their current 1Gbps router.

Overall user experience (setup + daily use)

  • Setup was described as simple: connect to router, install UGREEN client, follow instructions.
  • Daily use focused on:
    • Editing and organization
    • Sharing with clients
    • Remote playback on phone and TV playback via HDMI
    • Reducing stress from full local devices

Unique points list (all distinct claims/observations)

  1. UGREEN advertises up to 312 MB/s, but reviewer got around 70 MB/s initially.
  2. Reviewer identifies home router capped throughput (router limited to ~1Gbps).
  3. Actual copying speeds typically ~80 MB/s, sometimes ~100 MB/s.
  4. Reviewer expected 200s MB/s because they have 2.5GbE ethernet, but didn’t see it.
  5. NAS is a 4-bay box that becomes one storage volume to a computer.
  6. Capacity goal up to 120TB (expansion potential).
  7. Shipping/contents list: NAS + power adapter/cable, ethernet, HDMI, screws/screwdriver, manual.
  8. Drives bought separately due to better price vs bundled option.
  9. Reviewer uses RAID 1 (mirroring + recovery if one drive fails).
  10. RAID 1 viewed as suitable for their needs.
  11. Other UGREEN NAS like DX4800 offer more features (NVMe/caching, expansion concepts).
  12. NAS can be used across the home network (and potentially beyond, via app).
  13. Setup requires connecting to router and using UGREEN client for the OS.
  14. Initial file transfer speeds were very slow (mentioned briefly as low as 5–6 MB/s), then improved (later tests stabilized).
  15. Reviewer has 4TB usable space and had already used ~1TB.
  16. Reviewer uses NAS to offload:
    • Lightroom project/media for direct editing access
    • Client shared project folders via downloadable links
    • Portfolio storage for quick phone access
    • Movies and music streaming while out of the house
  17. Reviewer says laptop becomes much snappier after offloading files from internal drive.
  18. HDMI output to TV enables direct playback, controlled from phone.
  19. Reviewer trusts UGREEN based on prior cable/charger experience.
  20. Main disadvantage: expensive upfront (drives not included; high price of large drives).
  21. Value argument: total cost of NAS + drives roughly compared to buying several smaller externals.
  22. Recommendation: in their case, it was totally worth it for someone like them who needs storage and performance is “okay” given their network.

Verdict / recommendation

Recommended for users who need centralized, expandable storage and remote access, especially for creators who are running out of space and want sharing/editing workflows.

However, the reviewer strongly suggests you should not expect headline speeds (like 312 MB/s) unless your entire network path (router/switch/clients) supports it; otherwise, you may land around ~80–100 MB/s.

Original video