Mac owners upgrading to macOS 27 will need to replace their AirPort Time Capsule for Time Machine backups. We picked five diskless NAS enclosures that cost less than $300 to fit the bill.
Apple released macOS 27 Golden Gate on September 14 without support for Apple Filing Protocol, or AFP. AirPort Time Capsule and AirPort Disk depend on AFP for Time Machine backups.
The company's updated support document says Time Machine continues to work with third-party network-attached storage devices that support Server Message Block, or SMB. The five options below support network backups from a Mac, although availability and sale prices can change.
These prices cover the enclosures rather than complete storage systems. Buyers must add at least one compatible drive and connect the NAS to an existing router through Ethernet.
The macOS change doesn't disable the AirPort's router or Wi-Fi hardware. It specifically prevents Macs running macOS 27 from using an AirPort Time Capsule or AirPort Disk as a Time Machine destination.
Some of these will work as routers, properly configured. We leave this, and a debate about the security of doing this, as an exercise for the reader
They also don't provide Wi-Fi, like a Time Capsile does. The Time Capsule is so far out of support at this point, though, you've probably already moved on from that.
Anyone with files stored only in an existing Time Capsule backup should restore them before upgrading. Keep the old backup intact until the replacement NAS has completed a full backup and successfully restored a test file.
Here's what we've done. We took the original retail price of the fifth generation Time Capsule, adjusted to 2026 dollars, and subtracted a bit more than $100 for the drive of your choice, and rounded down to $300.
All of these network attached storage devices come in under that cost.
TerraMaster F2-425 offers the most processing headroom
The TerraMaster F2-425 provides two SATA drive bays, an Intel N5095 quad-core processor, 4GB of DDR4 memory, and 2.5GbE networking.
TerraMaster allows owners to expand the memory to 16GB, giving the F2-425 room for services beyond file storage. It supports Docker, hardware-assisted 4K video transcoding, and TerraMaster's TRAID storage system.
TOS 7 includes a Time Machine Backup tool that turns an authorized folder into a network backup destination. Time Machine Backup is disabled by default and must be enabled during setup.
TerraMaster F2-425 2-Bay NAS review: It uses two bays with tool-free sledsOur review gave the F2-425 four out of five stars for its performance, memory expansion, and virtualization support. Its two-drive limit restricts the available RAID configurations, but RAID 1 can protect a Time Machine volume against the failure of one drive.
The F2-425 is the strongest option for someone who needs network backups now and may later add a media server, Home Assistant, or other self-hosted software.
The TerraMaster F2-425 is available from B&H Photo and Amazon.com for $254.99 at press time, down from $299.99.
Ugreen NASync DH2300 is the easiest starting point
The Ugreen DH2300 targets people buying their first NAS. Its iPhone-assisted setup removes much of the address hunting and browser configuration that can make network storage intimidating.
An eight-core Rockchip RK3576 processor and 4GB of fixed memory run UGOS Pro. Connectivity includes Gigabit Ethernet, USB-C, two USB-A ports, and an HDMI output capable of driving a 4K display.
Ugreen NASync DH2300 top-down view of the two drive baysUGOS Pro supports Time Machine backups from a Mac over SMB. Ugreen also includes phone backups, remote file access, media applications, and local photo organization.
The DH2300 doesn't support Docker or memory upgrades, so it isn't intended to become a demanding home server. Our review awarded it four out of five stars and found that its hardware was fast enough for secure file serving and ordinary household backups.
The DH2300 is the most approachable choice for someone who wants automatic Mac backups without extensive NAS administration.
The Ugreen NASync DH2300 is available from Ugreen direct for $227.99 and from Amazon.com, where pricing can vary.
LincStation E1 combines SATA and NVMe storage
The LincStation E1 combines two SATA drive bays and two M.2 NVMe slots. LincPlus calls it a four-bay NAS, although only two bays accept conventional hard drives.
The combination supports inexpensive hard drives alongside faster solid-state storage. A Rockchip RK3568 quad-core processor and 4GB of fixed memory run LincOS.
The enclosure also provides 2.5GbE, HDMI, Wi-Fi 5, and three USB-A connections.
LincPlus LincStation E1 rear USB-A, HDMI, and Ethernet portsTime Machine worked with the unit we tested, but LincPlus doesn't document the feature as clearly as TerraMaster, Ugreen, Synology, or Qnap. Buyers should confirm that current LincOS firmware still exposes an SMB-compatible Time Machine destination.
LincPlus doesn't offer a macOS management client. Mac owners must administer the NAS through its local web interface, while the company's iPhone, iPad, Android, or Windows software handles built-in remote access.
The unusual mix of SATA and NVMe storage gives the E1 more flexibility than a conventional two-bay NAS. Its limited processor and developing software make it a better fit for basic storage than demanding server applications.
The LincStation E1 is listed through the LincPlus store for $169, down from $219. An Amazon listing is also available, with price and stock subject to change.
Synology DiskStation DS223j emphasizes mature software
The Synology DS223j is a two-bay diskless enclosure. Its 1GB of fixed memory and Gigabit Ethernet limit heavier workloads, but Synology's established DiskStation Manager software remains its main advantage.
The DS223j uses a 1.7GHz Realtek RTD1619B quad-core processor. Both bays accept 3.5-inch SATA hard drives, while 2.5-inch drives require optional holders.
Synology also supports Btrfs and snapshots on the DS223jDiskStation Manager supports Time Machine through SMB and lets an administrator place storage quotas on individual backup users. Quotas prevent one Mac's backup history from consuming the entire shared volume.
Buy Synology DiskStation DS223j
Synology also supports Btrfs and snapshots on the DS223j. File self-healing requires a storage pool with redundant data, such as mirrored drives, rather than Btrfs alone.
The DS223j is the conservative choice for users who value documentation, software maturity, and a large application ecosystem more than faster networking.
The Synology DiskStation DS223j is available from B&H Photo for $209.99 and from Amazon.com, where pricing can vary.
QNAP TS-216G puts 2.5GbE near the price limit
The Qnap TS-216G combines two SATA drive bays with a 2.5GbE port. It uses a 2GHz Arm Cortex-A55 quad-core processor and 4GB of memory.
Qnap recorded SMB transfers of up to 291MB per second in laboratory testing with SATA SSDs, RAID 1, 2.5GbE, and a Windows Server client. A Mac connected through ordinary Gigabit Ethernet won't reach those speeds.
The TS-216G officially supports Time Machine, and Qnap provides instructions for creating a dedicated backup user and shared folder through QTS. Its setup guide directs users to enable SMB 3 before selecting the shared folder in Time Machine.
Qnap also includes snapshots, mobile photo backups, USB one-touch copying, and an NPU for recognizing faces and objects in stored photos. Its hot-swappable bays allow a failed drive to be replaced without shutting down the NAS when the storage configuration can tolerate the failure.
The TS-216G is the best fit for a household with several Macs or an existing 2.5GbE network. Its extensive settings and applications provide flexibility, but they also create a steeper learning curve.
Qnap recorded SMB transfers of up to 291MB per secondThe Qnap TS-216G is available from B&H Photo and Amazon.com for $299.
A drive connected to your router isn't a universal replacement
Some consumer routers can share an attached USB drive as a Time Machine destination, but support and safety depends on the exact model. Check the router's manual for explicit Time Machine over SMB support before relying on it for macOS 27 backups.
Owners who bought and configured their own routers may have compatible hardware. Most ISP-provided gateways don't offer the required storage and backup controls, so customers using one probably won't have much luck there.
Drives and RAID increase the final cost
All five NAS devices above are sold without user storage. Adding one drive provides the lowest initial cost, while two matching drives allow RAID 1 to preserve access if one drive fails.
RAID 1 writes the same data to both drives, but it doesn't protect against deletion, theft, fire, malware, or failure of the NAS itself. Irreplaceable files still need another local or off-site copy.
The AirPort Time Capsule combined a router and a hard drive, making a Time Machine destination in one device. We're still testing the third-party patch that adds SMB3 to the older units, making them compatible again.
Ultimately, they are just too old to keep relying on.
These replacements require more setup, but they are much newer, provide replaceable drives, larger potential capacities, modern SMB support, and more control over Mac backups.
