Xiaomi NAS: Affordable network storage revealed in a leak

Philipp Briel
Philipp Briel · 5 min. read

Xiaomi will launch its first NAS, the Xiaomi Smart Storage, in China via crowdfunding starting July 1, 2026—at a starting price equivalent to about 298 euros for the 4-TB model. Shortly before the launch, a leak described the hardware of the engineering sample: a Realtek RTD1619B with four cores, 2 GB of RAM, and space for two hard drives. With this, Xiaomi is taking direct aim at affordable home NAS systems from Synology, QNAP, and Huawei.

For a long time, it was just a rumor, but now it’s becoming a reality. If you’re looking for an entry-level NAS without having to shell out several hundred euros for an empty enclosure plus hard drives, Xiaomi’s first offering might be an exciting alternative. We’ve compiled the official key specs and the latest leaked information.

Xiaomi Smart Storage: This Has Been Officially Confirmed

Xiaomi isn’t entering the network storage market through traditional retail channels, but rather via its own crowdfunding platform, Xiaomi Youpin. This approach is less of a risky investment and more of a pre-order phase: production will only begin if the funding goal is met. Those who order early will pay significantly less than those who buy later during regular sales.

The device is available in three configurations, all with two drive bays and hard drives pre-installed at the factory. An empty version for self-assembly is not currently available. Xiaomi has now clarified the connectivity options: The device features a 2.5-gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI, and USB 3.0. The case measures a compact 200.5 × 85 × 16 mm and accommodates both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA drives.

Configuration Storage Crowdfunding Price Retail Price
Base 4 TB (2 × 2 TB) 2,299 yuan (~298 €) 3,499 yuan (~454 €)
Advanced 8 TB (2 × 4 TB) 2,899 yuan (~376 €) 4,499 yuan (~584 €)
Professional 16 TB (2 × 8 TB) 4,699 yuan (~609 €) 6,999 yuan (~908 €)

The price difference between the crowdfunding offer and the regular retail price is steep—over 1,000 yuan for the base model. So if you wait, you’ll end up paying more. And here’s the detail that makes this calculation interesting: the expensive NAS hard drives are already included. With Synology or QNAP, those are almost always an extra cost. Control and app integration are handled via Xiaomi’s in-house Storage app, which appeared in the app stores even before the official launch—including photo backup, family sharing, and remote access.

Here’s what the leak reveals about the engineering sample

A few days before the crowdfunding campaign launched, a leak surfaced revealing the internal specs of a prototype. The source isn’t particularly well-known, but it aligns with previous reports. At its heart is the Realtek RTD1619B —an ARM-based quad-core chip found, among other devices, in the Synology DiskStation DS223j, where it has proven to be reliable and energy-efficient.

In the prototype, this processor is paired with 2 GB of DDR3L RAM and 8 GB of internal storage. According to the leak, the two drive bays can hold up to 40 TB. There is one notable difference, however: The engineering sample was equipped with only a standard Gigabit Ethernet port, while Xiaomi has officially confirmed 2.5GbE for the retail model. This is a good example of how a prototype and the final device can differ significantly.

Component Engineering Sample (Leak)
Processor Realtek RTD1619B (4 cores, ARM)
RAM 2 GB DDR3L
Internal Storage 8 GB
Drive bays 2 (2.5″ and 3.5″ SATA)
Max. capacity up to 40 TB
Network (Sample) 1 GbE – final model with 2.5 GbE

Verdict: Is the affordable Xiaomi NAS worth it?

The RTD1619B isn’t a powerhouse, but rather a typical entry-level chip. It’s perfectly adequate for standard tasks: photo and video backups, file sharing at home, a private cloud, and some media streaming. If you’re expecting virtualization, Docker containers on a larger scale, or 4K transcoding, this isn’t the device for you. The 2 GB of RAM also sets a clear limit.

Still, the price speaks for itself. At around 298 euros for 4 TB (including hard drives), Xiaomi undercuts many competitors—and hits almost exactly the entry-level price we’ve recently seen with devices like the modular Beelink ME Pro. Availability remains an open question: Xiaomi hasn’t confirmed whether the Smart Storage will ever officially be released in Germany. Importing from China is likely to be the only option for now.

If you’re looking for general guidance on which device suits your needs, our guide to the best NAS for home and office offers a comprehensive overview—from entry-level models to high-end systems.

Conclusion on the Xiaomi NAS

With the Smart Storage, Xiaomi offers an affordable NAS that should appeal primarily to beginners and users of its own smart home ecosystem. The hardware is deliberately kept simple, and the price is aggressively low—hard drives included. The leak essentially confirms what had been expected and features the RTD1619B, a well-known, reliable chip. Until it becomes widely available internationally, however, the device remains a China-only product for now. The crowdfunding campaign runs from July 1 to July 8, 2026.