- Szbox M1 Mini Plus is part nas, Share Soft Router, Share Media Center, Possibly Do Too Much At On One Time
- With 4 removable NVMEs and 32TB storage, this little box beats well above its size
- Four 2.5 GBE gates sound good but can a NAS speed of $ 249 deliver company level?
In the expanding market for Compact Network connected storage devices (NAS) devices, the SZBOX M1 Mini Plus has emerged with an unusual combination of features that blur the line between a storage solution and a desktop PC.
The SZBOX M1 Mini Plus is available in two configurations: one powered by the energy-efficient Intel N100 and the other of the more powerful Intel Core i3-N305, which has an Octa-Core design and turbo speeds of up to 3.8 GHz.
This external device supports up to four removable NVME drives via front-facing PCIe 3.0 Balls, offering up to 20 TB external storage plus an additional internal NVME castle. The i3 model allows users to scale storage further, up to 32TB using SSDs.
Displayport on a NAS: added value or overreach?
Equipped with four 2.5 GBE LAN ports, the device signalizes a NIKK for networking in corporate quality. This setup supports soft router functionality through Linux distributions such as OpenWRT or Ikuai, indicating that SZBOX is targeted at a technically knowledgeable user base.
It also includes USB 3.0 and 3.2 gates for external drives and peripheral devices, an SD card castle and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless connection.
Still, this level of network hardware is typically found in larger, more expensive systems. Whether the M1 Mini Plus can deliver performance at the level of these systems or simply oversage, to see.
Its media management ambitions also warrant attention. On the back panel, HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 plugs, both capable of 4K at 60 fps with HDR support.
This setup would make sense for a compact media center or light desktop -PC. However, in connection with a NAS unit, the inclusion of a Displayport feels something out of place.
One might ask: Who actually connects a NAS directly to a screen and for what purpose?
But Szbox seems to enjoy unconventional combinations; Its SZBOX S9, for example, blurs in the same way the line between tablet and mini -pc.
On the software front, the SZBOX M1 Mini Plus comes with Windows 11, unless purchased as a barebones device. Linux distributions are also supported and expands its versatility.
As a result, the M1 Mini Plus can serve as more than just a NAS, it can also serve as a basic workstation or multimedia hub, run Kodi, IPTV or even retro play emulators.
That said, this hybrid identity may confuse more than it clarifies, and raises questions about what the device is really optimized for.
The SZBOX M1 Mini Plus can currently be purchased on AliExpress for $ 249.
Via Androidpctv
