Synology launches BeeStation Plus with 8 TB storage & AI tools

Synology has announced the launch of BeeStation Plus, the latest model in its plug-and-play BeeStation series, designed to give families, creative teams, and professionals enhanced speed and storage for managing their digital lives securely.

The new BeeStation Plus comes equipped with 8 TB of storage and performance improvements of up to 4.8 times over its predecessor. The device supports automatic backup from phones, computers, cloud photo libraries, and external storage, all consolidated in one location.

"The BeeStation lineup was designed to let everyday users benefit from a cloud-like environment without needing advanced storage or networking knowledge," said Mayi, Product Manager at Synology. "Since launching the first BeeStation, we've seen strong interest from people looking for larger storage capacity and expanded capabilities, to run more applications and better support families and teams working and sharing together. BeeStation Plus is our answer to those needs."

A key feature of BeeStation Plus is its built-in local AI, which enables users to search for photos by people or subject instantly, without sending any data to the cloud. This approach ensures that private data remains local and secure.

The device also aims to simplify file organisation and sharing. Whether importing from cloud drives, external hard drives, or desktop computers, BeeStation Plus centralises content for smarter searches and more efficient access.

For entertainment purposes, BeeStation Plus integrates with Plex Media Server, allowing users to stream movies, TV shows, and home videos across devices including televisions, smartphones, and tablets. According to Synology, this setup supports seamless playback whether at home or on the go, although some advanced features may require a Plex Pass subscription.

Security and data protection remain central to the product's design. BeeStation Plus includes snapshot-based restore points, which allow users to recover previous versions of files. In addition, a complimentary three-month subscription to BeeProtect cloud backup is included. This service enables offsite backups with end-to-end encryption, supporting the widely recommended 3-2-1 backup strategy.

BeeStation Plus is available globally from today through Synology's website, official partners, and resellers.

Synology's internal testing reports performance gains with BeeStation Plus reaching up to 4.8 times faster desktop sync and 3.8 times faster web upload compared to the 4 TB BeeStation. Mobile photo backup from an iPhone 15 Pro is up to 2.6 times faster. Performance may vary based on network conditions, file types, and device specifications.

Designed for non-technical users, BeeStation Plus maintains the simplicity of the original lineup while delivering expanded capacity and speed for those with higher demands. It positions itself as a secure, private alternative to public cloud storage for personal and professional use.