Home NAS for storing (not serving) media, photos and more

[Enquiries]

Hi guys, first of all thanks for this and love the channel.

I'm looking for a NAS for my home network. I don't need the NAS to be able to run containers and other fancy stuff, as I will be using a mini PC to stream movies (from the NAS storage) or host a photo gallery app
Since my home network is primarily in the Unifi ecosystem (Dream Machine SE, two Wifi6 APs, switches), my first thought was the Unifi UNAS, but the 10Gbe feels like overkill to me as I plan to start with 3.5 HDDs and grow from there, and spinning disks will probably be a bottleneck anyway, plus the home network is currently 1Gb.
Now I saw the Lincstation S1 on crowdfunding and it sounds like an interesting alternative
Basically, I want something future-proof to store my files, but also media I want to stream from another machine, without breaking the bank by starting with a hard drive and gradually growing from there

[ed]

Thanks for checking out the channel! Sounds like you have a straightforward storage-focused NAS in mind, and you don’t need it to run apps or containers since you’ll be handling streaming separately on your mini PC. Given your 600 Euro budget and goal of gradually expanding storage, here are a few good options:

1. Synology DS423+ (€550-600) – Best for Simplicity & Long-Term Support
Great for pure file storage with an easy-to-use interface (DSM).
Expandable (4 bays, start with 1 or 2 drives, add later).
Works smoothly in a Unifi network with no extra setup required.
Good mobile apps & backup tools for photos/files.
1GbE network ports (which matches your current home setup).
No 10GbE (but you don’t need it right now anyway).
? Best if: You want something easy to set up and reliable for file storage and media access.

2. Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen2 (AS6704T) (€500-550) – Best Price-to-Performance
More hardware power than Synology for a lower price.
2.5GbE networking (future-proofs your setup without going overkill).
Supports expansion with 4 bays and NVMe caching options.
ADM OS isn’t as polished as Synology’s DSM but gets the job done.
? Best if: You want slightly better hardware than Synology for less money and don’t mind a learning curve.

3. Crowdfunding: LincStation S1 – Worth Waiting For?
This one is interesting, but since it’s still on crowdfunding, you’re taking a risk in reliability and long-term support. If you don’t mind waiting and taking a chance, it could be a great low-power storage option, but I’d personally go with a proven Synology or Asustor NAS unless the final product gets great reviews.

Which One Should You Pick?
If you want rock-solid reliability, easy backups, and great apps → Synology DS423+.
If you want a better price-to-performance ratio and 2.5GbE for futureproofing → Asustor AS6704T.
If you’re okay with crowdfunding risk and waiting for a new product → LincStation S1 might be worth keeping an eye on.
Since your main goal is storing media and growing storage over time, I’d personally go for the Synology DS423+ or the Asustor AS6704T. Both will let you start with a single drive and expand later without any major issues.