Can Xiaomi NAS stir up the light NAS market dominated by Green Alliance? New Knowledge Research Institute
Can Xiaomi NAS stir up the light NAS market dominated by Green Alliance?
New Knowledge Research Institute
·July 18, 2025 20:53
Xiaomi NAS is coming, is Green Lianhua anxious about extreme space?
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Round A
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2019-07
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36Kr Report
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High and new technology enterprises
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Xiaomi NAS is coming. According to Chen Bo, General Manager of Xiaomi Ecological Chain, during a live broadcast, Xiaomi NAS will undergo mass production testing in early October and be released before New Year's Day. On July 8th, digital blogger Smart Pikachu revealed that Xiaomi NAS is expected to be released on the same platform as Xiaomi 16 Ultra.
But recently, there have been controversies surrounding Xiaomi products, including Xiaomi routers, which have raised doubts about Xiaomi's software and hardware integration capabilities, as well as put pressure on Xiaomi NAS.
Previously, Xiaomi routers had NAS properties, but were criticized for their software and hardware integration capabilities. What will be different about the upcoming release of Xiaomi NAS? What additional capabilities does Xiaomi need to enhance on NAS?
1 Xiaomi NAS, targeting the consumer and light enterprise markets
According to statistics and predictions from QYR (Hengzhou Bozhi), the size of China's home NAS market is expected to reach 712 million yuan in 2023, and is projected to reach 9.619 billion yuan by 2023. Not only for home NAS, but with the development of cloud computing and big data, the demand for NAS will significantly increase.
As early as October 2024, Chen Bo, the general manager of Xiaomi's ecosystem, revealed that Xiaomi NAS's goal was to create the most suitable home storage product for Xiaomi users.
There are currently two mainstream NAS solutions. The first type is finished devices, where enterprises provide complete storage solutions. Users only need to follow the system prompts to turn on the power, connect to the internet, install the hard drive, and install applications on devices such as mobile phones and tablets to use it. The learning cost is lower and the stability is better, but the price is higher.
The second type is suitable for users with strong hands-on abilities, who purchase relevant hardware to form a NAS, and then use sharing functions or install corresponding systems based on Windows, Linux, and other systems to complete the sharing of hard disk content. This type of solution is not suitable for novice users and may have some shortcomings in experience.
According to Chen Bo, the general manager of Xiaomi's ecosystem, "the overall planning of Xiaomi's first NAS product will not be too geeky, mainly to popularize the NAS product category to consumers," which seems to have already positioned Xiaomi's first NAS product. ”Xiaomi NAS is undoubtedly the first solution, positioned in the consumer and light enterprise markets.
In February of this year, Xiaomi's NAS research revealed the possible configurations of Xiaomi NAS.
According to Xiaomi's questionnaire survey, Xiaomi's NAS products may be benchmarked against Huawei's home storage. In the pictures of the survey questionnaire, Xiaomi NAS is directly a mirror copy of Huawei NAS. Although the final product may have some differences, Xiaomi should treat NAS as the future smart home hub like Huawei. On December 16, 2024, Xiaomi released its official Home Assistant Mi Home integration project on GiHub, open-source its smart home platform, and transferred control of the Mi Home ecosystem to users.
The usage scenario of NAS is very clear, essentially targeting users who have insufficient local storage space on their devices and need to store content such as videos, images, documents, etc. in a private "external space", while also considering real-time reading and storage.
However, in reality, the device composition is relatively complex, and traditional NAS applications alone cannot achieve cross device flow and synchronization of stored data. But both Huawei and Xiaomi can leverage their advantages in cloud computing, communication, and intelligent ecosystems to better integrate into users' multi device ecosystems. Expanding is just one part of it, and more importantly, it can achieve multi terminal and cross terminal reading without the need for additional apps.
Therefore, Xiaomi doesn't need to follow Qunhui, Lvlian, JiSpace and other brands to build its products into high-end toys for geeks, meet the needs of Xiaomi's mobile phones, tablets, televisions, PCs and other users, improve the Internet ecosystem, and reduce costs and prices to win the recognition of Rice noodles.
Not only the Xiaomi ecosystem, on October 29, 2024, at the Xiaomi 15 series and Xiaomi Pengpai OS 2 new product launch event, Xiaomi Vice President Jin Fan announced that Xiaomi HyperConnect fully supports the Apple ecosystem. From the continuous optimization of Xiaomi's other heavyweight automotive product to support Apple, it can be seen that Xiaomi has accumulated corresponding technical experience in multi terminal and cross terminal reading.
Chen Bo, General Manager of Xiaomi Ecological Chain, once revealed that the three main functional points of Xiaomi NAS are: 1. Connecting phones PC、 TV, tablet and other devices enable mobile phone expansion and AI photo albums; 2、 Create a home film and television center that can generate a private cinema poster wall, allowing users to freely order movies from their NAS; 3、 Provide rich cloud storage management and resource download capabilities for users with basic storage needs.
With the cross end collaborative interconnection capability, Xiaomi NAS will at least be the most ideal high-capacity storage solution for "Xiaomi Family Bucket" users, improving user stickiness to Xiaomi products.
Compared to Huawei's complete positioning of NAS as the hub of smart homes, Xiaomi offers the option of M2 dual drive. On the other hand, in terms of price, Huawei starts at 2399 yuan. According to the survey questionnaire, it is speculated that the price of Xiaomi NAS may be between 999 yuan and 1999 yuan. Compared to the current market that starts at least two to three thousand yuan, Xiaomi may throw a heavy bomb at the NAS market in terms of price, capturing the consumer psychology of "light NAS" users.
Meanwhile, the lack of support for Docker and other issues have also sparked controversy over Xiaomi NAS. As a benchmark for Xiaomi, Huawei, which also entered the NAS field from the mobile phone industry, does not support Docker in its products and focuses on Huawei's ecological interconnection and cloud storage. But Xiaomi's questionnaire was quickly taken down, and it is unknown whether Xiaomi may consider consumer sentiment and support Docker in its products.
2 Sensorless Experience and AI, or Xiaomi NAS's Breakthrough Path
Green Union is often regarded as the "Xiaomi of NAS", which enters the incremental market overlooked by traditional manufacturers through extreme usability and price disruption, namely the novice users. Although it is only entry-level NAS, the 618 data released by Lvlian shows that the private cloud of Lvlian NAS has won the double crown in category sales and sales of JD, Tiktok and Tmall, and has taken 6 of the top 10 single product sales of JD and the top 2 single product sales of Tmall.
The success of Green Union lies not in its technological leadership, but in its precise control of the truth that "90% of users only need 10% of NAS functions", encapsulating complex functions into a "seamless experience".
Generally speaking, geek users view NAS as a feature rich toy that can be used for many things, while ordinary users only want an affordable cloud storage device that can backup their phone files without feeling anything, used to store daily photos and files received during work.
Xiaomi is likely to precisely control this huge incremental market with cost-effectiveness, using its ecosystem to make up for the technological gap between it and traditional NAS leaders such as Synology, and lowering the threshold for NAS to a level that ordinary users can use. But in the face of GreenLink, which has already laid out NAS, Xiaomi needs to prove that its "seamless" experience can cover a wide range of core scenarios, and consider whether the future product line will be layered to meet different needs.
On the other hand, the competitive dimension of NAS has jumped from basic storage, synchronization, and interconnection to AI driven intelligent, automated, and personalized services.
According to the financial report website, on January 8th, Green Union launched the world's first AI NAS with a built-in large language model at CES 2025. Its product iDX6011 is equipped with a new generation Intel Core Ultra5 processor 125H, with a powerful configuration of 14 cores and 18 threads, capable of reaching a maximum overclocking frequency of 4.50GHz.
Technologically, Green Alliance embraces Intel and increases its competition in AI. As early as 2023, Green Union became the first NAS private cloud storage brand in mainland China to sign a memorandum of cooperation project with Intel, and Intel provided powerful AI computing power support for Green Union AI NAS.
At the same time, Green Union has launched the AI Plugin application, which comprehensively optimizes and upgrades the operation mode and experience of AI on Green Union NAS. Compared to traditional NAS, AI plugins introduce IPEX-LM technology, allowing Intel's GPU to join the computing ranks, achieving more efficient image/document recognition and management, intelligent search, content generation assistance, and more.
And interconnection and AI capabilities are also key points of competition for NAS vendors at present. Green Union is more geared towards light NAS users, while in the SOHO (small office/home office) and SMB (small and medium-sized enterprise) NAS markets, VNet (Weilonglian Technology) and Synology (Qunhui) jointly form a "duopoly" pattern.
VNet is currently the most aggressive vendor in terms of native deep integration of Chinese LLM into NAS. VNet product manager Zheng Qinzong once said, "The key to AI development has shifted from model algorithms to comprehensive testing of enterprise infrastructure. What enterprises really need when importing LLM, generative AI, or virtualization applications is an edge computing platform that can properly manage large amounts of data, enhance security, and provide stable performance. ”
According to previous reports from Blue Dot Network, on February 18th, Synology released the Office Suite API, which connects Synology's private cloud office suite with third-party systems through API interfaces. Its API uses AI driven tools to enable enterprises to automate workflows, optimize operations, and improve productivity. ”
Although the technological barriers and service system of enterprise level storage are still moats, Synology/VNet has built a defensive front through high-end, subscription based, and vertical scene cultivation. But both Synology/VNet and other vendors are committed to transforming AI capabilities into perceived value for users.
Whether Xiaomi can quickly respond and launch competitive AI functions to avoid falling behind in the wave of intelligence is the key to its ability to continue attracting users. Xiaomi needs to use AI to enable intelligent flow of data within the ecosystem, such as automatic archiving based on user habits, deep linkage analysis with data from other Xiaomi devices, finding a delicate balance between "usability" and "AI intelligence", and transforming ecological advantages into unique user value.
3 written at the end
Xiaomi NAS may enter the market with its affordable price and ecological interconnection advantages, targeting the huge consumer group of "light NAS" and potentially lowering the market price threshold. However, Xiaomi needs to overcome consumer doubts about its own software and hardware integration while facing competition from peers such as Green Union in terms of price and AI innovation. On the other hand, giants such as Synology and VNet still maintain a solid leading position in technological depth and AI applications, which cannot be shaken by Xiaomi.
Whether Xiaomi can break through on the road to popularization with its "seamless experience" and cost-effective strategy, and quickly enhance key capabilities such as AI, will be the key to stirring up the NAS market and winning the future. Of course, the final outcome of Xiaomi NAS will have to wait until it is launched to know.
The viewpoint of this article only represents the author himself, and the 36Kr platform only provides information storage space services.
小米NAS，能搅动绿联华为极空间统治的轻NAS市场吗？
小米NAS要来了，据小米生态链总经理陈波在直播中透露，小米NAS将会在10月初量产测试，并在元旦前发布。7月8日，数码博主智慧皮卡丘爆料称，小米NAS预计会和小米16 Ultra同台发布。
但最近，包括小米路由器在内的小米产品出现争议，在给小米的软硬件整合能力带来质疑声的同时，也给小米NAS带来压力。
此前，小米路由器便带有NAS性质，但因其软硬件整合能力而备受诟病。此次即将发布的小米NAS又会有何不同？小米在NAS上又需要强化哪些能力了？
1 小米NAS，面向消费级和轻企业市场
据QYR（恒州博智）的统计与预测，2023年中国家用NAS市场规模为7.12亿元，预计到2023年将达到96.19亿元。不仅是家用NAS，随着云计算和大数据发展，NAS的需求量将实现显著增长。
早在2024年10月，小米生态链总经理陈波便透露了小米NAS的目标是打造最适合米家用户的家庭存储产品。
目前主流的NAS方案有两类，第一类为成品设备，企业提供完整的存储解决方案，用户只需要根据系统提示接通电源、联网、安装硬盘，并在手机、平板电脑等设备安装应用即可使用，学习成本较低，稳定性更好，但价格偏高。
第二类则适合动手能力强的用户，购买相关硬件组成NAS，再基于Windows、Linux等系统的共享功能或安装对应系统，即可完成硬盘内容的共享。这一类方案并不适合新手用户接触，体验上也会有一定的欠缺。
而据小米生态链总经理陈波表示，“小米NAS首款产品整体规划不会过于极客，主要是给消费者普及一下NAS的产品品类”，似乎已经给小米NAS的首款产品做好了定位。”小米NAS无疑是第一种方案，定位消费级与轻企业级市场。
而在今年2月，小米发布的NAS调研中，便将小米NAS的可能配置暴露出来。
从小米的问卷调查来看，小米NAS产品可能对标华为家庭存储。在调查问卷的图片中，小米NAS直接是华为NAS的镜像翻版，尽管最终成品肯定有所差异，但小米应该如同华为，将NAS当作未来智能家居中枢。而在2024年12月16日，小米即在GiHub发布了官方的Home Assistant米家集成项目，开源了其智能家居平台，将米家生态的控制权让渡给了用户。
NAS的使用场景十分明确，本质上还是面向设备本地存储空间不充裕、需要将视频、图片、文档等内容存放到一个私人的“外部空间”，同时还要兼顾实时读取和存放的用户。
但就实际情况而言，设备组成相对复杂，光靠传统NAS的应用还无法让存储数据实现跨设备的流转和同步。但无论是华为还是小米，都可以利用其在云计算、通信、智能生态等方面的优势，更好地融入到用户的多设备生态中。扩容只是其中一部分，更重要的是不需要额外App，即可实现多端、跨端读取。
因而小米无需效仿群晖、绿联、极空间等品牌，将产品打造成面向极客的高端玩具，满足小米手机、平板电脑、电视、PC等用户的需求，完善互联生态方，并压缩成本降低价格，即可赢得米粉的认可。
不仅是小米生态，2024年10 月 29 日，在小米 15 系列暨小米澎湃 OS 2 新品发布会上，小米副总裁金凡宣布，小米 HyperConnect 全面支持苹果生态。从小米的另一重磅汽车产品不断优化对苹果的支持来看，小米在多端、跨端读取上已然积累了相应的技术经验。
小米生态链总经理陈波曾透露小米NAS的三大功能要点分别是：一、拉通手机、PC、电视、平板电脑等设备，实现手机扩容、AI相册；二、打造家庭影视中心，能够生成私人影院海报墙，用户可随心点播NAS内的电影；三、为有基础的存储需求的用户提供丰富的网盘管理和资源下载能力。
凭借跨端协同的互联能力，小米NAS至少会为“小米全家桶”用户最理想的大容量存储方案，提高用户对小米产品的粘性。
相较于华为彻底将NAS定位为智能家居中枢，小米则提供了M2双盘位的选择。另一方面，在售价上，华为售价2399元起。而从调查问卷推测，小米NAS价格或在999元-1999元之间。相较于现有至少两三千元起步的市场，小米或从价格上给NAS市场扔下一颗重磅炸弹，抓住“轻NAS”用户消费心理。
同时，不支持Docker等问题也使得小米NAS备受争议。作为小米的对标，同样是从手机行业跨界进入NAS领域的华为，其产品也不支持Docker，主打华为生态互联和云存储。但小米的该问卷很快被下架，小米或许会考虑消费者情绪，在产品中支持Docker，也未可知。
2 无感体验与AI，或是小米NAS的突围之路
绿联常被认定是“NAS领域的小米”，通过极致易用性+价格破坏切入被传统厂商忽视的增量市场，即小白用户。尽管只是入门级NAS，但绿联发布的618数据显示，绿联NAS私有云夺得京东、抖音和天猫三平台品类销售额和销量双冠王，包揽京东单品销售额前10名中的6席，霸榜天猫单品销售额前二。
绿联的成功，不在于技术领先，而在于对“90%用户只需要10%的NAS功能” 真相的精准把控，将复杂功能封装成“无感体验”。
一般而言，极客用户将NAS视为功能丰富的玩具，要用它做许多事情，而普通用户只想要一个可以无感备份手机文件且价格实惠的云存储设备，用于存放日常拍摄的照片、工作时接收的文件。
小米大概会以性价比精准把控这一庞大的增量市场，利用其生态弥补其相对于群晖等传统NAS龙头间的技术差距，将NAS门槛拉低至普通用户可用的水平。但面对早已布局NAS的绿联，小米需要证明其“无感”体验能覆盖足够广泛的核心场景，并考虑未来产品线是否分层以满足不同需求。
另一方面，NAS的竞争维度，已从基础的存储、同步和互联，跃升至AI驱动下的智能化、自动化与个性化服务。
据财报网消息，1月8日，绿联在2025年CES上推出全球首款内置大型语言模型的AI NAS，其产品iDX6011配备了新一代Intel酷睿Ultra5处理器125H，拥有14核18线程的强大配置，能够达到4.50GHz的最大超频频率。
在技术上，绿联拥抱Intel，加大在AI上的角逐。而早在2023年，绿联便成为内地首家与Intel签署合作项目备忘录的NAS私有云存储品牌，英特尔为绿联AI NAS提供强大的AI算力支持。
同时，绿联上线AI Plugins 应用，针对 AI 在绿联 NAS 上的运行方式和体验进行全面优化与升级。相较于传统NAS，AI Plugins引入了IPEX-LLM技术，让Intel的GPU加入了计算行列，实现更高效的图片/文档识别管理、智能搜索、内容生成辅助等。
而互联与AI功能，也是当前NAS厂商竞争的关键点。绿联更多面向轻NAS用户，而在 SOHO（小型办公室/家庭办公室）和 SMB（中小型企业）NAS 市场中，QNAP （威联通科技）和Synology（群晖）共同构成 “双头垄断”格局。
QNAP （威联通科技）则是目前在NAS原生深度集成中文LLM方面最激进的厂商。QNAP 产品经理郑钦宗曾表示：“AI 发展的关键已从模型算法，转向对企业基础架构的全面考验。企业在导入 LLM、生成式 AI 或虚拟化应用时，真正需要的是一套能妥善管理大量数据、强化资安，并提供稳定性能的边缘运算平台。”
而据蓝点网此前消息，2月18日，Synology（群晖）发布 Office Suite API，通过 API 接口打通群晖私有云办公套件与第三方系统的连接通道。其“API采用AI驱动的工具，使企业能够自动化工作流程，优化操作并提高生产力。”
虽然企业级存储的技术壁垒与服务体系仍是护城河，Synology/QNAP通过高端化+订阅化+垂直场景深耕构筑防御阵线。但无论是Synology/QNAP，还是其它厂商，都在致力于将AI能力转化为用户可感知的价值。
而能否快速响应并推出有竞争力的AI功能，避免在智能化浪潮中掉队，则是小米能否持续吸引用户的关键。小米需要利用AI让数据在生态内智能流动，如基于用户习惯的自动归档、与米家其它设备数据的深度联动分析，在“易用性”与“AI智能化”间找到精妙的平衡点，将生态优势转化为独特用户价值。
3 写在最后
小米NAS可能以亲民价格和生态互联优势强势入局，目标直指庞大的“轻NAS”消费群体，并且有望拉低市场价格门槛。但是小米需要在直面绿联等同行的价格与AI创新竞争的同时，需要克服消费者对其自身软硬件整合的质疑。而另一方面，Synology、QNAP等巨头在技术深度和AI应用上的领先地位依然稳固，不是小米能撼动的。
而能否凭借“无感体验”和性价比策略在普及之路上突围，并快速补强AI等关键能力，将是小米搅动NAS市场、赢得未来的关键。当然，小米NAS最终如何，还是要等它上市才能知道。
该文观点仅代表作者本人，36氪平台仅提供信息存储空间服务。