LincPlus is jumping back into the budget-friendly NAS space with a new model called the LincStation E1, and it’s clearly aimed at people who want simple home storage without paying premium NAS prices. The device is currently in the crowdfunding stage, with a super-early bird offer set at $129 in limited quantities. After that batch sells out, the price moves up to $149, while LincPlus says the expected retail price will be $219.
One of the biggest selling points here is size. The LincStation E1 goes for a compact, space-saving design that’s meant to fit easily on a desk, shelf, or in a small home office setup. It stands 219mm tall and is 88mm thick, and LincPlus claims it’s about 30% smaller than many traditional NAS units that offer similar storage expandability. If you’ve been avoiding a NAS because most boxes look bulky and “server-like,” this smaller footprint could be a major draw.
Despite the compact body and low entry price, the storage options are surprisingly ambitious. The LincStation E1 includes bays for two HDDs along with two NVMe SSD slots, and it supports up to 76TB total. That mix can be especially appealing for users who want large-capacity hard drives for bulk storage while also using fast NVMe drives for caching or quicker access to frequently used files.
Under the hood, the system runs on the Rockchip RK3568. That choice helps keep cost and power use down, but it can also make installing alternative NAS operating systems a bit more complicated than on x86-based systems. Still, LincPlus is positioning its built-in LincOS as the main attraction, saying it comes loaded with features that cover what most everyday NAS users actually need. For many buyers, that means you can plug it in, set it up, and start storing and sharing files without having to tinker with custom software.
The NAS ships with 4GB of RAM, which may not be ideal if you’re expecting heavier, AI-driven features or advanced workloads. However, LincOS reportedly doesn’t lean heavily into demanding local AI tools like on-device transcription, so 4GB may be perfectly fine for the target audience: home users, families, and light small-office setups focused on backups, media storage, and basic network sharing.
Connectivity is another area where the LincStation E1 stays practical. It offers a good selection of ports for a small NAS, including HDMI 2.1, USB 2.0 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, and a 1GbE LAN port. On top of that, it includes active cooling, WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5, 4K video decoding, and tool-free drive access—features that add convenience for everyday use and make upgrades less intimidating for first-time NAS buyers.
With its low crowdfunding price, compact design, and high storage ceiling, the LincStation E1 looks positioned for anyone who wants an affordable NAS for backups, personal cloud storage, or home media management—without the cost and bulk that traditionally come with higher-capacity network storage systems.
