Fast 4-bay NAS power, but the £631.99 price needs a real use case

Is the TERRAMASTER F4-424 Pro worth buying? Yes — if you need a high-spec 4-bay NAS with dual 2.5GbE, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a Core i3-N305 for heavier home-lab or small-business workloads, the current £631.99 price is at the all-time low and makes it more defensible than its £789.99 RRP. The catch is that this is a diskless enclosure, it has a 3.9/5 rating from 26 reviews, and it sits in a crowded market where Synology’s 2-bay DS224+ models cost less at £503.45 and £538.79, with stronger review scores of 4.5★ and 4.6★.

What stands out first?

The headline specs are the main reason to look at this unit: an Intel Core i3-N305 with 8 cores and 8 threads, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and two 2.5GbE ports. That combination is aimed at users who want more than basic file sharing. For Plex, Docker, backups, and multi-user storage, the extra CPU headroom and memory are the features that matter most. TerraMaster also claims a 150% performance boost over its previous generation and a tested linear transfer speed of 283 MB/s, which suggests this is built for much faster throughput than entry-level NAS boxes.

How does the hardware compare in practical use?

The F4-424 Pro’s 4-bay design is a major advantage over 2-bay alternatives because it gives you more flexibility for RAID layouts, expansion, and future growth. A 4-bay NAS can be configured for more usable capacity or better redundancy than a 2-bay system, which matters if you plan to store media libraries, VM images, backups, or surveillance footage. The dual 2.5GbE ports are also useful if your network is ready for faster-than-gigabit transfers, and the quoted 283 MB/s linear speed is a meaningful figure for large file copies and backup jobs.

The side-sliding cover for M.2 SSD installation is another practical touch. It suggests TerraMaster has tried to reduce the friction of adding SSDs for cache or fast storage tiers, which is useful in a NAS that is clearly pitched at performance-conscious buyers. The listing also highlights backup features including Centralized Backup, Duple Backup, Snapshot, CloudSync, and TFM Backup, which makes it easier to cover both local and cloud backup workflows.

Is the performance likely to justify the price?

For the right buyer, yes. At £631.99, this is not cheap, but the current price is also the lowest recorded, and the hardware spec is stronger than many consumer NAS units. The Core i3-N305 and 32GB DDR5 RAM are the key differentiators here, especially if you run multiple services at once. If your NAS will mainly hold photos, documents, and a couple of backups, that power may be overkill. If you want a NAS that can handle heavier multitasking, the spec sheet is much more compelling.

How does it compare to Synology alternatives?

Against the Synology DS223J at £179.97, the TerraMaster is in a completely different class and price bracket. The DS223J is far cheaper and better suited to basic storage, but it cannot match the F4-424 Pro’s CPU, RAM, or dual 2.5GbE networking. Against the Synology DS224+ models at £503.45 and £538.79, the comparison is tighter: Synology is cheaper, has stronger ratings of 4.5★ and 4.6★, and is likely the safer buy for users who value software polish and reputation. TerraMaster counters with more aggressive hardware, 4 bays instead of 2, and a current all-time-low price that narrows the gap.

What about build quality and confidence?

The product data points to a capable enclosure, but the review score of 3.9/5 from 26 reviews is not as reassuring as the Synology alternatives. That suggests the hardware may appeal more to enthusiasts than to buyers who want a low-risk, universally praised NAS experience. Also, because this is diskless, the real total cost rises once you add drives, and that can change the value equation quickly.

Is it good value for money?

At £631.99, the value depends on whether you will use the performance. If you need 4 bays, 32GB RAM, dual 2.5GbE, and a stronger CPU for services beyond simple storage, the spec-to-price ratio is attractive, especially at the all-time low. If you only need a straightforward NAS for backups and media, cheaper Synology options deliver better ratings and lower entry cost.

Final take

The TERRAMASTER F4-424 Pro is a high-spec NAS enclosure that makes sense for users who want performance, expansion, and faster networking in a 4-bay chassis. It is less convincing for buyers who prioritise the safest software ecosystem or the strongest user ratings, because Synology’s DS224+ alternatives are cheaper and better reviewed.