Quick Summary (TL;DR):
The current UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus and DXP4800 Pro are much more alike than the names suggest. Both are four-bay UGOS Pro NAS systems with 8GB DDR5, a 128GB system SSD, two M.2 NVMe slots, RAID 0/1/5/6/10, one 2.5GbE port, one 10GbE port, 4K HDMI and the same basic USB/SD layout. The meaningful upgrade is the processor and memory ceiling. The DXP4800 Plus uses an Intel Pentium Gold 8505 with 5 cores/6 threads and supports up to 64GB RAM. The current 2026 DXP4800 Pro uses a 13th-generation Intel Core i3-1315U with 6 cores/8 threads and supports up to 96GB RAM. The Pro also has the stronger integrated GPU: Intel lists 64 execution units versus 48 on the 8505. For backups, normal file serving, Home Assistant, light Plex/Jellyfin and a moderate Docker stack, the Plus is already very capable. Pay for the Pro when you will genuinely use heavier virtual machines, many simultaneous containers, more demanding media/AI-photo workloads or more than 64GB of RAM. Do not buy the Pro expecting extra drive bays, extra NVMe slots, Thunderbolt or faster Ethernet—the current models are effectively identical in those areas.
UGREEN DXP4800 Plus vs DXP4800 Pro at a Glance
| Feature | DXP4800 Plus | DXP4800 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Pentium Gold 8505 | Intel Core i3-1315U |
| CPU layout | 5 cores / 6 threads | 6 cores / 8 threads |
| Max turbo | 4.4GHz | 4.5GHz |
| CPU cache | 8MB | 10MB |
| Intel iGPU | UHD Graphics, 48 EUs | UHD Graphics, 64 EUs |
| RAM included | 8GB DDR5 | 8GB DDR5 |
| Maximum RAM | 64GB | 96GB |
| SATA bays | 4 | 4 |
| M.2 NVMe slots | 2 | 2 |
| System drive | 128GB SSD | 128GB SSD |
| RAID | JBOD / Basic / 0 / 1 / 5 / 6 / 10 | JBOD / Basic / 0 / 1 / 5 / 6 / 10 |
| Networking | 1 × 2.5GbE + 1 × 10GbE | 1 × 2.5GbE + 1 × 10GbE |
| USB-C | 10Gbps | 10Gbps |
| SD reader | SD 3.0 | SD 3.0 |
| HDMI | 4K | 4K |
| Thunderbolt 4 | No | No |
| Best fit | High-end home NAS / Docker server | Heavier containers, VMs and creator workloads |
First: Make Sure You Are Comparing the Current DXP4800 Pro
UGREEN product naming around the DXP4800 Pro can be confusing because older product copy and reviews describe a different processor configuration.
As of October 2026, UGREEN’s current EU DXP4800 Pro product page lists:
- Intel Core i3-1315U.
- 6 cores / 8 threads.
- Up to 4.5GHz.
- 8GB DDR5.
- Up to 96GB memory expansion.
Some older UGREEN pages and earlier reviews refer to a DXP4800 Pro with an Intel Core i5-1235U. Do not mix benchmark results or buying advice for that older configuration with the current regional SKU.
Before buying, verify the exact processor on the product page for your country and the SKU on the retailer listing.
The Chassis and Storage Platform Are Essentially the Same
If you expected the “Pro” model to add more drive bays or storage expansion, it does not.
Both current models provide:
- Four 3.5/2.5-inch SATA bays.
- Two M.2 NVMe SSD slots.
- 128GB system SSD.
- Up to 144TB advertised total storage using UGREEN’s current maximum-drive assumptions.
- JBOD, Basic, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6 and RAID 10.
This means the Pro does not improve capacity planning. If four SATA bays are the limitation, neither model solves it.
For a general four-bay shortlist, see Best 4-Bay NAS for Docker, Plex and Family Storage.
CPU: Intel 8505 vs Core i3-1315U
The DXP4800 Plus uses Intel’s Pentium Gold 8505. Intel specifies:
- 5 total cores.
- 1 performance core.
- 4 efficiency cores.
- 6 threads.
- 4.4GHz maximum turbo.
- 8MB Smart Cache.
- 15W processor base power.
- 55W maximum turbo power.
The DXP4800 Pro’s Core i3-1315U provides:
- 6 total cores.
- 2 performance cores.
- 4 efficiency cores.
- 8 threads.
- 4.5GHz maximum turbo.
- 10MB Smart Cache.
- 15W processor base power.
- 55W maximum turbo power.
The difference is therefore not mainly clock speed. The Pro adds a second performance core, two additional threads and more cache.
What the Extra Performance Core Changes
NAS workloads are often highly concurrent rather than one long benchmark.
A realistic busy NAS might be doing all of this at once:
SMB file copies
+ photo indexing
+ Docker containers
+ database work
+ Plex/Jellyfin
+ backup jobs
+ one or more VMsThe extra performance core and threads in the i3-1315U give the Pro more headroom when several services become active simultaneously.
For a NAS doing one or two light tasks at a time, the difference matters much less.
RAM: 64GB vs 96GB Is a Big Number but a Niche Requirement
Both models ship with 8GB DDR5.
UGREEN lists the maximum as:
- DXP4800 Plus: 64GB.
- DXP4800 Pro: 96GB.
For ordinary NAS work, 64GB is already enormous.
You only need more than 64GB when the NAS is acting as a genuine application or virtualisation server with memory-heavy workloads.
- Several VMs.
- Large databases.
- Heavy container stacks.
- Developer environments.
- Large in-memory caches.
- AI-related workloads that genuinely allocate large amounts of system RAM.
Do not buy the Pro simply because “96GB is more future-proof”. If your actual plan is 16GB or 32GB, both models already cover it comfortably.
Integrated Graphics: The Pro Has More GPU Resources
Both processors include Intel UHD Graphics and Intel Quick Sync Video.
Intel specifies:
- 8505: 48 execution units, graphics up to 1.10GHz.
- i3-1315U: 64 execution units, graphics up to 1.25GHz.
That gives the Pro a stronger underlying graphics configuration for supported media and compute workloads.
But execution-unit count alone does not tell you how many Plex or Jellyfin streams a NAS will handle. Codec, tone mapping, subtitles, container access to the iGPU and application support still matter.
Plex and Jellyfin: Pro Has More Headroom, but Plus Is Already Capable
If most clients use Direct Play, the CPU difference barely matters. File serving and direct media streaming are easy workloads for both NAS systems.
The Pro becomes more interesting when the server must:
- Transcode video frequently.
- Serve several users at once.
- Run media indexing alongside other applications.
- Perform photo/AI analysis at the same time.
- Run one or more VMs while media services are active.
UGREEN markets the current Pro specifically for Docker, VMs and media transcoding. Treat its published percentage performance claims as vendor testing, not independent benchmarks.
Our dedicated UGREEN media guide later in this series covers the software side separately rather than pretending CPU specifications alone prove real-world transcoding results.
Docker: Both Models Use the Same UGOS Pro Platform
There is no “Pro-only” Docker ecosystem.
Both models run UGOS Pro and support Docker, so application compatibility is broadly determined by the same operating system and container architecture.
The difference is how many workloads you can run comfortably before CPU and RAM become limiting.
Typical Docker stack
├── Home Assistant
├── Mosquitto
├── Pi-hole
├── Vaultwarden
├── Immich
├── PostgreSQL
├── Paperless-ngx
└── media servicesA moderate stack like this can already run well on the Plus when storage and memory are configured sensibly. The Pro mainly gives more margin for concurrency and growth.
Virtual Machines Are the Strongest Reason to Choose Pro
Virtual machines reserve real CPU and memory resources.
A VM running Windows, Linux or OpenWrt is much heavier than a small Docker container.
If your plan looks like:
UGREEN NAS
├── normal NAS services
├── several Docker containers
├── Linux VM
├── Windows VM
└── media serverthe Pro’s additional performance core, two extra threads and 96GB memory ceiling make more sense.
If virtualisation becomes the main workload, also compare the cost of a separate mini PC running Proxmox. Keeping compute and storage separate can offer a cleaner long-term architecture.
Networking Is Exactly the Same
This is one of the most important reasons not to overbuy the Pro.
Both current models provide:
- 1 × 2.5GbE RJ45.
- 1 × 10GbE RJ45.
The Pro does not give you a second 10GbE port or Thunderbolt.
If your main reason for upgrading is faster workstation-to-NAS file transfer, the Plus already has the same 10GbE interface.
10GbE Can Be the Bottleneck Before Either CPU
A 10GbE link has a theoretical line rate of 10 gigabits per second. Real application throughput is lower because of Ethernet/TCP/IP/filesystem overhead.
For large sequential transfers, both NAS systems can reach a point where the network, RAID array or client storage limits performance before the CPU becomes the issue.
Do not expect the Pro to make a 10GbE file copy dramatically faster simply because the processor is faster.
Both Have the Same Two M.2 NVMe Slots
The Pro does not add a third or fourth M.2 slot.
Both systems have two M.2 NVMe positions that can be useful for:
- SSD cache.
- High-speed application storage.
- Container databases.
- VM storage.
- Photo/metadata workloads.
Choose the SSDs for the actual workload and endurance requirement. Our dedicated shortlist is Best NVMe SSDs for NAS Cache and Containers.
The I/O Layout Is Also Almost Identical
UGREEN currently lists the same practical external interfaces on both models:
- Front USB-C at 10Gbps.
- Front USB-A at 10Gbps.
- Rear USB-A at 5Gbps.
- Two rear USB 2.0 ports.
- SD 3.0 card reader.
- 4K HDMI.
Neither current model has a PCIe expansion slot or Thunderbolt 4 port.
That means the Pro premium is overwhelmingly buying compute and memory headroom, not a different connectivity platform.
Same Size, Same Bay Count, Same Basic Power Specification
UGREEN currently lists both systems at approximately:
- 257 × 178 × 178mm.
- 42.36W during drive-access testing.
- 18.12W with drives in hibernation.
Those power values come from UGREEN’s own specified test conditions. Do not interpret the matching numbers as proof that the Plus and Pro consume exactly the same energy under every workload.
The i3 can draw more power during heavier compute bursts even though both processors have the same Intel-listed 15W processor base power and 55W maximum turbo power.
Home Assistant Does Not Need the Pro
If the NAS is also hosting Home Assistant Container or a HAOS VM, neither model is remotely constrained by Home Assistant itself.
The Pro only becomes useful if Home Assistant is one small workload among many heavier services.
Home Assistant
+ Frigate support services
+ Immich
+ Plex
+ database
+ multiple VMs
= Pro starts to make more senseFor Home Assistant plus backups and a few utility containers, the Plus already has ample compute.
Photo AI and Indexing
UGREEN promotes local AI photo recognition on both its modern NASync platform and particularly emphasises heavier concurrent workloads on the Pro.
The Pro’s extra CPU resources can reduce the amount of time indexing competes with Docker, file transfers and media work.
But do not buy a Core i3 NAS expecting discrete-GPU-style AI performance. These remain low-power mobile-class Intel CPUs with integrated graphics.
When the DXP4800 Plus Is the Better Buy
- You mainly need storage, backups and file sharing.
- You want 10GbE.
- You run several Docker containers but not a large VM estate.
- You use Plex/Jellyfin mostly for Direct Play.
- You will never need more than 64GB RAM.
- You want the better price-to-performance option.
- You would rather spend the price difference on drives, NVMe or a UPS.
For many home users, the Plus is already the sensible upper-middle NAS tier.
When the DXP4800 Pro Is Worth Paying For
- You expect several virtual machines.
- You run many containers simultaneously.
- You perform frequent media transcoding while other services are active.
- You do heavy photo indexing or creator workflows.
- You want the stronger 64-EU Intel iGPU.
- You genuinely expect more than 64GB RAM.
- You want the fastest current four-bay UGREEN CPU tier without moving to six bays.
When Neither Model Is the Right Upgrade
The Pro does not solve every limitation of the Plus.
If your problem is:
- Four SATA bays are not enough.
- You need more than two NVMe SSDs.
- You need dual 10GbE.
- You need Thunderbolt.
- You want PCIe expansion.
moving from DXP4800 Plus to DXP4800 Pro is the wrong upgrade. You need a different NAS class rather than a faster four-bay CPU.
Do Not Compare Enclosure Price Alone
Both systems are diskless, so the complete build may also include:
- Four NAS HDDs.
- One or two NVMe SSDs.
- RAM upgrades.
- 10GbE switch.
- 10GbE workstation adapter.
- UPS.
- Independent backup storage.
If the Pro costs more but lets you avoid replacing the NAS later because of CPU or memory limits, it can be good value. If both systems will spend their life below 20% CPU with 16GB RAM, the premium did nothing useful.
DXP4800 Plus vs Synology DS925+ Is a Different Decision
The Plus-vs-Pro comparison is mainly a question of how much compute you need inside the same UGREEN platform.
Comparing UGREEN with Synology is different because it also involves software ecosystem, backup tooling, drive policies and storage-management philosophy.
See UGREEN DXP4800 Plus vs Synology DS925+ for that cross-platform comparison.
A Practical Buying Matrix
| Your workload | Better fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Backups + family files | DXP4800 Plus | Pro CPU gives little practical benefit |
| Home Assistant + light Docker | DXP4800 Plus | 8505 already has ample headroom |
| Plex Direct Play + storage | DXP4800 Plus | Both have Intel Quick Sync; little need for extra CPU |
| Frequent transcoding + other services | DXP4800 Pro | Stronger CPU/iGPU and more concurrency headroom |
| Several VMs + containers | DXP4800 Pro | 6C/8T and up to 96GB RAM |
| 10GbE file server only | DXP4800 Plus | Network hardware is the same |
| Need more than four HDDs | Neither | Move to a larger-bay model |
UGREEN DXP4800 Plus vs DXP4800 Pro: The Bottom Line
The DXP4800 Plus is the better value for most home NAS buyers. It already gives you four SATA bays, two NVMe slots, 8GB DDR5, 10GbE, 2.5GbE, Docker, VMs and a surprisingly capable Intel 8505.
The DXP4800 Pro is the compute upgrade. Its current i3-1315U adds a second performance core, two more threads, more cache, a stronger iGPU and a 96GB RAM ceiling.
The Pro is worthwhile when the NAS is going to behave like a small application server rather than mainly a storage appliance. It makes much less sense if the workload is backups, SMB, Home Assistant and light Docker.
The most important point is what does not change: both current systems have the same four SATA bays, two M.2 slots, 10GbE + 2.5GbE, 128GB system SSD, 4K HDMI and virtually identical external I/O. Buy the Pro for CPU/RAM headroom—not because the name suggests a completely different NAS platform.
Continue the UGREEN NAS Series
- Best 4-Bay NAS for Docker, Plex and Family Storage
- UGREEN DXP4800 Plus vs Synology DS925+
- Best NVMe SSDs for NAS Cache and Containers