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| The LincStation E1 is powered by the Rockchip RK3568. Pictured: a render of the NAS. |
Forget everything you thought you knew about the high cost of entry for Network Attached Storage. LincPlus is going straight for the budget crown with its latest launch, and it’s so small you might lose it behind your monitor.
Let’s be real: building a home server usually means either spending the price of a used sedan on a pre-built Synology or tinkering with a Frankensteined PC in the corner of your closet. But LincPlus is betting that most of us just want something simple, shockingly affordable, and capable of holding our entire digital life without a second mortgage.
Enter the LincStation E1. It just hit Kickstarter, and the "super-early bird" price is a jaw-dropping $129.
The "How is this so cheap?" Price Point
Yes, you read that correctly. For the first wave of backers, you can snag this 4-bay NAS for less than a decent pair of sneakers. LincPlus told us that the super-early bird deal is strictly limited quantity. Once those units vanish, the price bumps to $149, and the eventual retail price is expected to settle around $219.
For context, $129 is usually the price of a low-end external hard drive. Getting an entire networked box with CPU, RAM, and bays for two HDDs and two NVMe SSDs feels like a time warp back to 2010s pricing.
Small Footprint, Big Storage (Up to 76TB)
If you hate the sight of bulky, beige boxes, you’ll like the E1. It measures just 219mm tall and 88mm thick. LincPlus claims this design makes it roughly 30% smaller than most traditional NAS models that offer similar storage support.
But don't let the cute size fool you. The LincStation E1 is a beast when it comes to capacity. It supports:
- 2x SATA HDDs (for your bulk media and backups)
- 2x NVMe SSDs (for speed and caching)
For those looking to upgrade their SSD storage, you can currently find the blazing-fast Samsung 990 EVO Plus on Amazon. Check the current price here.
With modern high-capacity drives, LincPlus states the total storage ceiling hits 76TB. That is an almost absurd amount of room for a device this size. You could store 4K Blu-ray rips, your entire Steam library, and every photo you’ve taken since high school with room to spare.
The Processor: A Rockchip Reality Check
Okay, let's pump the brakes on the hype train for just a second. The E1 is powered by the Rockchip RK3568. This isn't a screaming Intel Core i7.
What does this mean for you? If you are a homelab nerd who likes to wipe the OS and install TrueNAS or Unraid first thing, this might be a little tricky. The architecture isn't as universally supported as x86.
However, LincPlus is betting you won't want to switch. The device ships with LincOS. According to the company, the OS is "feature-packed" for daily users. You get the basics: file syncing, remote access, local account privacy (no forced cloud sign-ins), and 4K video decoding. For 90% of users just needing a safe place to put files or stream movies, LincOS is probably more than enough.
Memory & Ports: Right Tool for the Right Job
The elephant in the room is the 4GB of RAM. In 2026, that isn't a lot. If you were hoping to run a bunch of Docker containers, host a Minecraft server, or run local AI transcription, you’re going to hit a wall fast.
But here is the counterpoint: LincOS isn't trying to be Windows 11. It doesn't have heavy AI features baked in. For serving files, running a Plex server (with the RK3568 handling decoding), and backing up your phones, 4GB is actually plenty. LincPlus is targeting the "set it and forget it" crowd, not the system admins.
Connectivity is surprisingly solid for a budget device:
- 1x HDMI 2.1 (straight to your TV for 4K playback)
- 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
- 2x USB 2.0 Type-A
- 1x 1GbE LAN
- Bonus: WiFi 5 & Bluetooth 5
The inclusion of WiFi 5 is a huge deal for this price point. Most NAS manufacturers force you to run ethernet, but the E1 can sit on a bookshelf wirelessly.
Final Verdict: A Great Entry Drug
The LincStation E1 isn't trying to be the most powerful NAS on the market. It is trying to be the NAS you actually buy because it doesn't hurt your wallet.
With tool-free drive access, active cooling, and that absurd 76TB capacity potential, this is an excellent entry point for anyone who is tired of paying monthly cloud fees.
If you want to dive deeper into the technical specs, check out the official product page at LincPlus here.
And if you are ready to roll the dice on the crowdfunding campaign, the Kickstarter project is live—though it is moving fast.
Disclaimer: Pricing and availability are subject to change as the crowdfunding campaign progresses.
Source: LincPlus Official Announcement
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| Main highlights of the LincStation E1 |
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| Design and port options of the NAS |