Buffalo · NAS buying guide
Buffalo LinkStation SoHo 720 8TB buying guide
Product facts and dated cost
Buffalo LinkStation SoHo 720 8TB · Exact identity: LS720D0802B
2 primary bays · 1.3GHz 6-core processor · 2GB RAM · 1 × 2.5GbE · Storage included; additional drives require separate planning
Catalog amount: $461.99 · historical · Price record: 2026-09-27T05:24:07.820664+00:00. Tax and shipping excluded.
Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer.
LinkStation SoHo 720 8TB: specifications and dated store comparison →Buffalo LinkStation SoHo 720 8TB is a populated 2-bay 2.5GbE file-sharing appliance, not an app NAS. Choose it for a mirrored library that stays comfortably below 4TB. No original throughput, noise or power test of LS720D0802B was accepted; 4TB SoHo and non-B LS720D numbers stay related only.
LS720D0802B · 2 bays · 8TB HDDs included · US configuration
This guide covers LS720D0802B, the US 8TB SoHo package with two 4TB HDDs included. We reread Buffalo Americas specifications, the SoHo 700 data sheet, firmware 2.04 notes, the March 2026 LS700 user manual (printed pp. 54, 66–72, 226), KB6060 and warranty terms, and current Newegg/CDW listings. TweakTown’s 4TB LS720D0402B-US test, PCMag’s LS720D 4TB mixed-folder test and Buffalo Japan’s LS720D0402 CrystalDiskMark figures are related hardware, not this capacity. ChooseCompute has not tested this NAS. See evidence and test gaps ↓
Is it a good fit?
8TB populated shared storage
Drives included, factory RAID 1, and a 2.5GbE port; plan usable space around 4TB.[1][4]
A backup destination
Keep a separate copy. RAID 1 and WebAccess are not backups; Buffalo’s warranty excludes stored data.[1][3]
macOS 26 Time Machine
Buffalo KB6060 (October 13, 2025) lists LS700 as compatible with macOS 26 Time Machine, but LS700 manual 35022143-13 (March 2026), p.80, says backups are no longer supported starting with macOS Tahoe 26. Confirm support for the installed firmware before relying on this workflow.[2][12]
Key specifications
Full specifications ↗Follow any specification for its full conditions and sources.
Living with it
What matters in everyday use
No accepted 8TB speed test
We did not accept an original experiment on LS720D0802B. TweakTown measured a 4TB SoHo LS720D0402B-US sample (RAID 1 CDM 296.00/188.50; RAID 0 CDM 296.25/250.73; DiskBench directions as on that SKU’s charts). PCMag measured a non-SoHo LS720D 4TB mixed folder at 85/80 MB/s. Buffalo Japan published 271.3/226.0 MB/s for LS720D0402. None of those figures is a measurement of this 8TB factory package.[9][10][8]
What the 2.5GbE port changes
A 2.5GbE switch or compatible client is required to use the faster link. Drive workload, RAID and the unknown bundled 4TB HDDs can still limit transfers.[1]
Check your Mac backup version first
Buffalo KB6060 (October 13, 2025) lists LS700 as compatible with macOS 26 Time Machine, but LS700 manual 35022143-13 (March 2026), p.80, says backups are no longer supported starting with macOS Tahoe 26. Confirm support for the installed firmware before relying on this workflow.[2][12]
What still needs a real-world test
We have verified the specifications, but have not found an original test that we can reliably apply to this exact model. The advice above follows the documented features; performance, noise and long-term reliability are not independently established here.
Common HDD combinations
Examples ordered by recorded drive unit price, which may be historical or an editorial reference. Check capacity, vendor compatibility, included storage and price evidence before choosing. These are component checks, not compatibility certifications.
- LinkStation SoHo 720 8TB + 2 × WD Red Plus 2TB (WD20EFPX, 2TB each) →
Component total: $771.97 · historical · Oldest price record: 2026-09-27T05:24:07.820664+00:00 · 4TB raw, before redundancy.
Historical price estimate. Calculated from separately purchased components, not a complete-system offer. NAS price record: 2026-09-27T05:24:07.820664+00:00; drive price record: 2026-10-09T01:23:41.974420+00:00. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Recheck component prices, stock, shipping and tax at the stores before purchase; even recent checks do not guarantee live prices.
- LinkStation SoHo 720 8TB + 2 × IronWolf 4TB (ST4000VN006, 4TB each) →
Component total: $841.97 · historical · Oldest price record: 2026-09-27T05:24:07.820664+00:00 · 8TB raw, before redundancy.
Historical price estimate. Calculated from separately purchased components, not a complete-system offer. NAS price record: 2026-09-27T05:24:07.820664+00:00; drive price record: 2026-10-09T03:58:24.994342+00:00. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Price observed at the store on the shown date. Confirm the current price and availability at the store. Recheck component prices, stock, shipping and tax at the stores before purchase; even recent checks do not guarantee live prices.
- LinkStation SoHo 720 8TB + 2 × WD Red Plus 4TB (WD40EFZZ, 4TB each) →
Component total: $851.97 · historical · Oldest price record: 2026-09-27T05:24:07.820664+00:00 · 8TB raw, before redundancy.
Historical price estimate. Calculated from separately purchased components, not a complete-system offer. NAS price record: 2026-09-27T05:24:07.820664+00:00; drive price record: 2026-09-27T13:58:17.239646+00:00. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Recheck component prices, stock, shipping and tax at the stores before purchase; even recent checks do not guarantee live prices.
Before you buy
Prices & costs to plan for
Compare the populated package, not an empty chassis
LS720D0802B includes two HDDs. On 2026-09-11 Newegg’s primary box was $461.99 sold by Newegg. CDW showed the exact MPN but no public price and 0-2+ day stock. The 2026-09-10 Best Buy marketplace card (Beach Audio Inc, unknown price) could not be reopened.[5][11][6]
Warranty is three years on SoHo; data is not included
Buffalo Americas lists LS720DB / LinkStation 700 SoHo at 3 years. Hardware replacement does not restore files.[3]
Compare stores for this exact model
LS720D0802B · 2 bays · 8TB HDDs included · US configuration Check the total delivered price at the store.
Current price needs checking
Check stores below
4 stores · 0 recent price observations
B&H
Seller not recorded
$461.99
Historical price
Currency not confirmed
Stock not confirmed · Condition not recorded
Observed Sep 27, 2026, 5:24:07 AM UTC[15]
View exact product at B&HBest Buy
Sold by antonline
$522.58
Historical price
Currency not confirmed
Stock not confirmed · Condition not recorded
Observed Sep 27, 2026, 1:47:57 PM UTC[14]
View exact product at Best BuyNewegg
Sold by antonline
$590.89
Historical price
Stock not confirmed · New
2 bays, 8TB total HDD capacity included (2 x 4TB)
Observed shipping: $0.00
Observed Oct 9, 2026, 1:12:06 AM UTC[13]
View exact product at NeweggCDW
Sold by CDW
Check price
Stock not confirmed · New
2 bays, 8TB NAS server, TAA compliant
Contact CDW for availability, shipping and a written quote. Not a current priced offer. Confirm live quote after login.
Observed Sep 11, 2026, 7:46:00 AM UTC[11]
View exact product at CDWPrices are dated observations. Confirm the model, seller, condition, stock and delivered total at the store. Older prices remain visible as history. Links may earn a commission.
Questions before buying
How much of the 8TB can I use?
With two equal disks in RAID 1, plan for about 4TB before formatting and system overhead. RAID 0 exposes more capacity but has no disk-failure tolerance.[1]
Does LS720D0802B support new macOS 26 Time Machine backups?
Buffalo KB6060 (October 13, 2025) lists LS700 as compatible with macOS 26 Time Machine, but LS700 manual 35022143-13 (March 2026), p.80, says backups are no longer supported starting with macOS Tahoe 26. Confirm support for the installed firmware before relying on this workflow.[2][12]
Is the HDD model supplied in the box guaranteed?
The exact current-stock HDD revision is not guaranteed in the reviewed documents. Historical review samples do not establish what a new order contains.[1]
Can I add memory, SSD cache or containers later?
No supported upgrade path or container-host workload was established in the cited US documents. Buy this configuration for its documented file and backup functions.[1]
What does the B suffix mean for warranty?
The current Buffalo Americas warranty table lists 3 years for SoHo. Check US seller eligibility and retain proof of purchase.[3]
Does remote access replace a backup?
No. WebAccess provides another way to reach the same stored files. It does not create a separate copy that survives device loss or data deletion.[1]
Does this unit support hot-swapping a failed drive?
No. The March 2026 LS700 user manual (printed p. 226) states the unit does not support hot-swapping. Power the unit down and follow the RAID-mode replacement steps. PCMag’s “hot-swappable” wording for LS720D is not the official procedure.[12]
What firmware should I install?
Buffalo’s current US table lists LS700 firmware 2.04 dated 2026-04-21. Units not yet on 1.98 must install 1.98 first. The 2.04 readme also warns about OneDrive bidirectional-sync deletion races and optional usage telemetry.[1][7]
Does management backup give me ZFS/Btrfs snapshots?
No. Settings can run full, incremental, differential, or management backup jobs with 1–400 (or unlimited) versions. Management backup stores point-in-time copies and can make the destination read-only. The manual does not document a native Btrfs/ZFS snapshot filesystem.[12]
Sources
Research updated Sep 11, 2026. Individual source check dates are listed below. Measurements belong to the named reviewers; tested configurations and software versions may differ from the product you buy.
- [1] Buffalo LinkStation SoHo 720 official specifications ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Specifications tables → LS720D0402B / LS720D0802B columns; Overview RAID 1; Downloads firmware 2.04 / NAS Navigator 3.1.6
- [2] Buffalo macOS 26 Time Machine compatibility ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · KB6060 → Model Series Compatibility; LS700 fully compatible; article updated 2025-10-13
- [3] Buffalo Americas warranty terms ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Network Storage table → LinkStation 700 SoHo / LS720DB 3-year; Limitations: data not covered
- [4] Buffalo SoHo 720 data sheet ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · PDF page 1 RAID 1 pre-configured; page 2 MODELS / ENVIRONMENTAL & POWER Max 48W / SHIPPING 8.1 x 3.6 x 5 in 5.1 lbs / ACCESSORIES OP-HDxBST-3Y / BOX CONTENTS AC adapter / NovaBACKUP 5 licenses
- [5] Newegg — LS720D0802B ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Buy box: Sold by Newegg, Shipped by Newegg, $461.99, Add to cart, 8TB (2 x 4TB)
- [6] Best Buy — LS720D0802B ↗
Checked Sep 10, 2026 · Baseline/open 2026-09-10: exact MPN and 8TB (2x4TB); marketplace seller Beach Audio Inc; price/stock not asserted. 2026-09-11 body blocked.
- [7] LS700 Series Firmware Updater 2.04 Windows readme ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Models LS710D, LS720D, LS720DB; 1.98 prerequisite; 2.04 CVE patches and OAuth email; 2.02 SFTP / SMB macOS option
- [8] Buffalo Japan LS720D0402 product page ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · CrystalDiskMark 5.12 Sequential Q=32 T=2 2GiB 271.3 / 226.0 MB/s; RAID 1 factory; hot-swap not supported
- [9] LinkStation SoHo LS720DB NAS Review ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Live 403; Wayback 2025-06-16 full article; figures 07/21/22/23; meta LS720D0402B-US
- [10] Buffalo LinkStation 720 Review ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Live 403; Wayback 2023-12-11 and UK mirror; LS720D 4TB RAID 1 mixed 4.9GB folder 85 MB/s write / 80 MB/s read
- [11] CDW — LS720D0802B ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Title MPN LS720D0802B 8TB; robots noindex; price not visible; Availability 0-2+ Days, ships once in stock
- [12] LinkStation 700 User Manual (35022143-13, March 2026) ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Printed pp. 54 USB compatibility footnotes; 66–72 LVM and backup modes; 226 no hot-swap
- [13] Newegg product price observation ↗
Checked Oct 9, 2026 · newegg-main-item; sha256:fd9c7cbd719a021c832b4f1f453df93c7a02e4d391617df34cf164173c3ce7c3
- [14] Best Buy product price observation ↗
Checked Sep 27, 2026 · Captured observation; sha256:4596a9d458f71e7d543ed8330c3f377a4df5ffd71c744e1a8e01882d92023dc9
- [15] B&H product price observation ↗
Checked Sep 27, 2026 · Captured observation; sha256:bfb56b3fd7960018aa84eef698bbe9f0b8d4dcbbaacadd8354c19f0d6da688aa
Research and review record
- Research: Grok 4.6 · Source research and data update
- Self-check: Grok 4.6 · Researcher self-check
- Independent review: GPT-6 (Codex) · Exact SoHo700 specifications and original PDF, dated manual/KB conflict, complete available original TweakTown figures, primary merchant condition and seller.
- Editorial integration: GPT-6 (Codex) · Editorial integration and validation
Independent review completed for the scope recorded in the audit.
Source evidence and review history (JSON)