- Szbox M1 Mini Plus is part of the NAS, part of the flexible router, part of the multimedia center, may be too much at the same time
- With 4 removable nvmes and a storage of 32 TB, this small box strikes well above its size
- Four 2.5 gabelle ports sound very well, but can a NAS of $ 249 provide a speed at business level?
In the expansion market for compact network network storage devices (NAS), the SZBOX M1 Mini Plus appeared with an unusual combination of features that blur the line between a storage solution and an office PC.
The SZBOX M1 Mini Plus is available in two configurations: one supplied by the Intel N100 energy efficient, and the other by the more powerful Intel Core i3- N305, which has an octa-core design and turbo speeds up to 3.8 GHz.
This external unit supports up to four removable NVME discs via PCIe 3.0 bays facing upwards, offering up to 20 TB of external storage, plus an additional internal nvme location. The i3 model allows users to scale up storage more, up to 32 TB using SSD.
Displayport on a NAS: added value or overtaking?
Equipped with four LAN 2.5gbe ports, the device signals a nod to the network quality networking. This configuration supports the functionality of the flexible router via Linux distributions such as OpenWRT or Ikuai, indicating that SZBOX targets a technically informed user base.
It also includes USB 3.0 and 3.2 ports for external discs and peripherals, an SD card, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth location for wireless connectivity.
However, this level of network equipment is generally found in larger and more expensive systems. It remains to be seen that the M1 Mini Plus can offer performance up to these systems, or simply too much promise.
His media management ambitions also deserve attention. On the rear panel are the HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 connectors, both capable of 4K to 60 IPS with the HDR support.
This configuration would make sense for a compact multimedia center or a light office PC. However, in the context of a NAS apparatus, the inclusion of a display feels somewhat moved.
We could ask: who really connects a nas directly to an instructor, and for what purpose?
But Szbox seems to enjoy unconventional combinations; Its Szbox S9, for example, also blurs the line between the tablet and the mini PC.
In terms of software, the SZBOX M1 Mini Plus is shipped with Windows 11, unless you buy as a Barebons. Linux distributions are also supported, expanding its versatility.
Consequently, the M1 Mini Plus can work as more than a simple NAS, it could also serve as a basic workstation or a multimedia center, performing Kodi, IPTV or even retro game emulators.
That said, this hybrid identity could confuse more than it clarifies, raising questions about which the device is really optimized.
The SZBOX M1 Mini Plus is currently available for purchase on Aliexpress for $ 249.
Via AndroidPctv
