Appleton, WI — Ugreen, a rising player in consumer electronics, has unveiled a new line of network-attached storage devices infused with artificial intelligence capabilities, aiming to bring advanced photo and file management to users' homes without relying on cloud services. The iDX6011 and iDX6011 Pro models, announced ahead of CES 2026, promise features like natural language search and on-device AI processing, but they come with price tags that rival entry-level desktop computers.
According to a report from The Verge, the base iDX6011 starts at $1,699 for the version equipped with 32GB of RAM, while the 64GB variant costs $1,999. The higher-end iDX6011 Pro, also with 64GB of RAM, is priced at $2,599. These figures cover just the computing enclosure; users must provide their own storage drives, supporting up to six SATA hard drives and two NVMe SSDs for a total capacity of 196TB.
The devices are powered by Intel's Core Ultra processors — specifically the Ultra 5 125H in the standard model and the Ultra 7 255H in the Pro — enabling a suite of AI-driven tools. Ugreen describes these as transformative for personal and professional file handling. For instance, the Universal Search feature allows users to query files using descriptive language, such as concepts or partial memories, to retrieve documents, photos, videos, and more.
"Search files the way you think, not the way computers require," Ugreen states in its product description, highlighting how users can type phrases like 'Dad on a bike' to instantly pull up relevant images through the AI Album system. This tool identifies faces, animals, objects, scenes, and text to categorize and retrieve media automatically.
Another standout is Uliya AI Chat, a built-in large language model that lets users ask questions about their stored files, summarize documents, generate notes, and interact with a private knowledge base — all offline. The Verge notes that this addresses privacy concerns raised by cloud-based services like Google Photos, which revolutionized photo search a decade ago but required uploading data to remote servers.
For audio enthusiasts or professionals, the Voice Memos function transcribes, translates, and summarizes recordings on-device, making it suitable for meetings, interviews, or family logs. Additionally, AI File Organization automatically sorts uploads by type, date, and name, ensuring neat and searchable archives from the moment files are added.
The hardware itself is designed for robustness and connectivity. Both models feature integrated power supplies, aluminum chassis, and magnetic mesh air filters for easy maintenance. They include twin 10Gbps Ethernet ports, twin 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 ports, multiple USB-A ports, an HDMI output, and a full-size SD 4.0 card slot. Inside, there's even a PCIe x8 slot for expansion cards.
The Pro model adds a small touchscreen for monitoring usage and an OCuLink port for connecting to an external GPU, potentially boosting AI performance further. Ugreen is also teasing its first external GPU enclosure at CES, marketed for gaming handhelds and offering USB-C connectivity, though pricing and release details remain unavailable.
Preorders for the iDX6011 and Pro are already live, with early-bird discounts bringing the entry-level model down to as low as $999. Ugreen positions the iDX6011 as ideal for families and individual creators, while the Pro targets studios and production teams needing more power.
The Verge's coverage raises practical questions about real-world performance, such as how long it might take to process terabytes of data. "I wonder how well they work and how long the box takes to fully ingest your files and retrieve results," the article muses, noting that results won't be instantaneous for large libraries. Despite this, the devices' design — avoiding external power bricks and incorporating easy-clean filters — earns praise for user-friendliness.
This launch isn't happening in a vacuum. The market for AI-enhanced NAS is heating up, with competitors like Zettlab, which crowdfunded a range of similar devices last year, and Minisforum, offering two five-bay AI NAS options. These alternatives provide varying levels of AI integration and storage configurations, though Ugreen's emphasis on high RAM — up to 64GB, more than many desktops — sets it apart.
The shift toward local AI in storage devices reflects broader trends in data privacy and edge computing. A decade ago, services like Google Photos made searching personal media effortless but at the cost of handing over control to tech giants. Now, with advancements in processors like Intel's Core Ultra series, companies like Ugreen are betting that consumers will pay a premium for on-premises intelligence.
Experts in the field have long anticipated this convergence of NAS and AI. While Ugreen hasn't released independent benchmarks yet, the company's claims suggest the iDX6011 series could streamline workflows for photographers, videographers, and home users alike. For instance, the ability to handle voice memos in real-time could prove invaluable in educational or professional settings.
Looking ahead, the CES 2026 showcase will likely feature more details on Ugreen's eGPU companion, which could extend the NAS's capabilities into gaming or accelerated AI tasks. As preorders roll in, early adopters may provide feedback on whether the high cost justifies the privacy and convenience gains. For now, Ugreen's entry into AI NAS underscores a growing demand for smart, self-contained storage solutions in an era of data explosion.
In Appleton and beyond, where remote work and digital archiving have become everyday realities, devices like these could reshape how families and small businesses manage their digital lives. Whether they achieve widespread adoption will depend on balancing innovation with affordability, but Ugreen's bold pricing and feature set signal confidence in the local AI revolution.