QNAP TS-462 4-Bay 2.5 GbE NAS Review

A NAS is a common bit of kit for a small office as it provides a convenient and effective solution for keeping files within quick and easy reach of an entire team of people who need to access them regularly. NAS’s however aren’t exclusive to the office environment as in recent years their use within the home has become a strong consideration including files and image galleries, storing and watching movies and TV shows, storing and accessing security camera footage and much more. More manufacturers of NAS devices are creating products that are better suited for the home environment which includes the TS-462 from QNAP that I’ll be looking at today.

QNAP TS-462 Series

The TS-462 is QNAP’s latest offering in the personal and home product market which is described as “being ideal for home users to maximize their digital lifestyle”. This particular model is the 4-slot version however QNAP does offer the 2-slot TS-262 as well for those with lesser storage needs. It is powered by an Intel Celeron N4505 Dual Core processor alongside 4GB of RAM and has strong connectivity options including a 2.5GbE port, HDMI port, Dual M.2 slots and a PCIe slot for an expansion card. QNAP also boasts AI-powered image recognition with Edge TPU allowing you to organise your photos on facial and object recognition.

Features

• 2.5GbE port Immediately multiply your network speed by 2.5 times while using existing CAT5e cables.
• HDMI™ port 4K media playback and real-time transcoding; directly watch videos using HDMI™ 2.0 (4K @60Hz) output.
• AI-powered image recognition Supports Edge TPU (optional purchase) for supercharged AI-powered image recognition.
• Dual M.2 PCIe slots Attain greater NAS performance by installing M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe SSDs (sold separately).
• PCIe slot Install a PCIe Gen3 x2 card to expand the core functionality of the TS-462, including a Multi-Gig 10GbE/5GbE network card, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) card, or a Wi-Fi 6 network card.
• Expand storage capacity Flexibly scale your total storage capacity by connecting USB expansion enclosures.

“A fast and vast private cloud storage with a range of multimedia and file management applications, the TS-462 is ideal for home users to maximize their digital lifestyle. Files, data and multimedia saved on the TS-462 can be accessed from all your connected devices, including phones, computers and smart TVs. A 2.5GbE port and HDMI™ 2.0 port come as standard, allowing you to enjoy lag-free multimedia streaming throughout your home and directly on your TV. The TS-462 can be geared up to fit future needs, supporting two M.2 PCIe slots for Qtier auto-tiering storage technology, and can be easily expanded to fit growing data needs. The TS-462 also supports Edge TPU, allowing you to easily organize your photos based on facial and object recognition with the QuMagie app.”

For in-depth specifications, please visit the qnap TS-462 product page here.