Synology DiskStation DS218 vs Synology DiskStation DS216j (2016)

The reviewers at Expert Reviews have featured the Synology DiskStation DS218 in their Synology DS218 review: Maximum features for minimal cost roundup. However, it fell short of making it to the top of their list.

Taking a look at the Synology DiskStation DS216j, it got featured in roundups from two reliable sources that conduct their own testing - PCmag and Expert Reviews - but it fell short of earning a top spot in either.

We examined all of the review data that we could find and first took a look at sources that reviewed both of them, like Expert Reviews, and found that they haven't shown a preference for either product.

Then we checked which sources liked these two NAS Devices best and found that the Synology DiskStation DS218 got its highest, 8, review score from reviewers at Expert Reviews, whereas the Synology DiskStation DS216j earned its best score of 8 from PCmag.

Lastly, we averaged out all of the reviews scores that we could find on these two products and compared them to other NAS Devices on the market. We learned that both of them performed far better than most of their competitors - the overall review average earned by NAS Devices being 7.4 out of 10, whereas the Synology DiskStation DS218 and Synology DiskStation DS216j managed averages of 8.0 and 8.0 points, respectively.

Due to the difference in their prices, however, it's important to keep in mind that a direct Synology DiskStation DS218 vs. Synology DiskStation DS216j comparison might not be entirely fair - some sources don't take value for money into account when assigning their scores and therefore have a tendency to rate more premium products better.