UGREEN NASync DH4300 Plus review: A quick, smart, and powerful NAS for 4K video editors

After a very positive experience with the UGREEN NASync DH2300, I was keen to find out if there were any reasons to buy the more expensive four-bay DH4300 Plus instead. Other than a greater storage capacity made possible by two extra bays, I wanted to know if the superior chip, extra RAM, and faster Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) rates made a significant difference.

The DH4300 Plus features a Rockchip A76+A55 processor compared to an A72+A53. In addition to this, there is 8GB LPDDR4X rather than 4GB. And finally, and maybe most importantly for photographers and videographers, are the 2.5 GbE LAN ports compared to just 1 GbE on the DH2300.

As is the case with the DH2300, the DH4300 Plus is marketed towards users who want a private cloud solution as an alternative to paying monthly subscriptions for either Google One, iCloud, or the like. With better specs, the DH4300 Plus is also a more viable alternative for 4K media streaming, whether that be for editing or viewing.

UGREEN NASync DH4300 Plus: Specifications

UGREEN NASync DH4300 Plus: Design & Handling

Following along the same lines as all UGREEN devices that the brand has produced in recent years, the DH4300 Plus is a superbly designed NAS with a classy two-tone grey aesthetic. For the price I would have expected a metal case, but it appears that UGREEN wants to keep the weight down and not overcomplicate the material palette.

If your idea of NAS is a blocky, archaic-looking box that gathers dust in the corner of a room, then UGREEN is looking to address misconceptions and offer a much more modern alternative. In reality, the DH4300 Plus effortlessly blends into any interior and could even be positioned in a living room without looking out of place.

The four bay trays are located underneath a removable top hood which easily slides off without any need for a catch which could fail over time. Unfortunately, like the DH2300, the trays are constructed of thin and flimsy plastic, which is far from ideal in terms of longevity. Thankfully, once your storage drives are inserted, you shouldn't need to touch the trays very often at all.

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These trays are able to house 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch drives and can be secured using small screws which are provided as part of the package. It's a rudimentary solution that is inferior to alternatives such as the WD My Cloud Pro Series PR2100 that provides a sufficiently snug fit to not require screws.

All of the status indicator lights are positioned on the front face so you can quickly and easily see if everything is running smoothly or if you're running into problems. At the front you'll find a single USB-C port with all other ports (2x USB-A, 4K HDMI, Ethernet, and power) located at the rear. Unfortunately there's no SD card slot, which isn't ideal for creatives wanting to dump data directly from their shoots.

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UGREEN NASync DH4300 Plus: Performance

Having already tested the very similar DH2300, it was no surprise to discover that the NAS was effortless to set up. All I had to do was power up the NAS, connect the Ethernet cable to my router, download the UGREEN client, wait a few seconds for the NAS to be found, and walk through the guided setup. In a very short time, with no hiccups, I was ready to use the NAS.

The primary thing I wanted to know was whether the NAS could handle 4K video editing. So I enabled the SMB service within the UGREEN client, uploaded my 4K footage, and connected to the server on my Mac. From there I was able to import the footage into Premiere Pro. All of this was super simple and straightforward thanks to the user-friendly UGREEN tools.

I began by streaming the 4K footage directly from the NAS, and I had no problems achieving smooth playback even at full resolution. I then added a few effects, including a blur and distort effect. Again, these played back smoothly.

To take my test up a notch, I added a Lumetri Color effect and performed a number of color corrections using dial adjustments and curves. At this point, I experienced some lag and stutter, which wasn't ideal but far from a game changer. This can be improved by moving the media cache folder locally, but if you'd like to use the NAS exclusively, then I'd say it's still absolutely possible, assuming you can put up with some small delays or drop the viewing resolution.

As mentioned before, the DH4300 Plus is powered by a Rockchip A76+A55 processor and 8GB LPDDR4X. This all keeps things running smoothly. Transmission tops out at 2.5 GbE, which is sufficient for most workflows, but if you'd like buttery smooth video editing in almost all cases, then a 10 GbE NAS is what you need.

It goes without saying that backing up photos, videos, and other files is fast, seamless, and absolutely sufficient for the NAS to act as a reliable and usable private cloud. You can even set it up as a dedicated photo storage device so you can see your photo library on your phone.

If you plan on using the NAS with all your family members or for a small business, then UGREEN provides a number of user features so admins can control who has access to what. These tools are available through the UGREEN Client and are straight forward to use, even for complete NAS beginners.

UGREEN NASync DH4300 Plus: Final Verdict

The UGREEN DH4300 Plus is an ideal solution for anyone who wants reliable photo backup and 4K video editing capabilities. I was able to back up my files quickly and without issue, and when I edited a 4K video directly from the NAS, I ran into very few problems.

With a reliable 128GB capacity, you'll be able to keep your media safely backed up and access it directly in your workflow. If you choose to use it as a photo management tool, then you'll love the AI-driven photo management app, which automatically sorts images for smart and easy access.

The design is modern and sleek, looking the part whether placed in an office, studio, or even in a living room. As with the DH2300, the DH4300 Plus is also lacking support for M.2 NVMe drives, Docker, and virtual machines, so it offers very limited scalability, meaning power users may need to look elsewhere.