With all of that out of the way, if you feel you need a UPS, just buy the APC Back-UPS Pro 1500VA. It’s got a big enough battery so you can save your work and safely shut down without having to panic. While this APC model has 10 outlets, only five of them are connected to the battery (the other five do have surge protection, though). We feel five outlets are plenty and should cover most setups adequately (more so, really). This unit is vertically oriented, so while it doesn’t have a large footprint, it will resemble a computer tower. You could buy this one without reading the rest of our list and know you got a solid, reliable unit. Outlets: 5 battery, 5 surge-protected | Battery backup power: 1500VA/865W | Sine Wave: Simulated Keep in mind: If you decide to go this route, the Trip Lite lays on the floor horizontally, so it takes up more space than you might be used to. Outlets: 6 battery, 6 surge-protected | Battery backup power: 750VA/450W | Sine Wave: Simulated in battery backup mode, pure in standard mode It’s small enough to keep on your desk if you want. There’s no LCD screen, which is something we always like to see on a UPS, but if you have just a few smaller devices to power, this UPS can get the job done. Outlets: 4 battery, 2 surge-protected | Battery backup power: 425VA/225W | Sine Wave: Simulated So, the EC850LCD is a pretty modest unit, but it will allow you to save your work and safely shut down. Outlets: 6 battery, 3 surge-protected, 3 Eco | Battery backup power: 850VA/510W | Sine Wave: Simulated There are 12 plugs on the back of the tower. Six of those are battery backup plugs and the other six have only surge protection. You’ll also find a USB-A and USB-C plug for charging your mobile devices. It’s a little on the expensive side, but we like this as a solid pickup for mid-sized computer systems. Outlets: 6 battery, 6 surge-protected | Battery backup power: 1500VA/1000W | Sine Wave: Pure If that server is not in your office, then you can take advantage of the software that lets you control the APC UPS 2200VA remotely. Keep in mind these two points: It’s 100 pounds and costs around $1,000. But it’s hard to believe this off-the-shelf unit won’t meet your needs. Outlets: 8 battery and surge protected, 2 surge-protected | Battery backup power: 2200VA/1980W | Sine Wave: Pure There are four plugs with battery backup and an additional four plugs with surge protection. The outlets are nicely spaced out so you can plug devices in with larger plugs (such as those that come with routers and modems). Automatic voltage regulation can fix minor power fluctuations without fully kicking in the battery power. That’s better for your power consumption and overall battery health. You can stand the UPS up or lay it down, depending on what’s best for you. Outlets: 4 battery and surge protected, 4 surge-protected | Battery backup power: 800VA/450W | Sine Wave: Simulated This is designed to sit on a table, which gives you easy access to your plugs. Some of the plugs are pretty close together, while others are spaced apart. You’ll need to put some thought into plug placement with this unit. There’s also a USB-A port for charging your mobile devices. That’s a nice addition, but in 2021, we’d like to see a USB-C port here. Outlets: 5 battery and surge protected, 2 surge-protected | Battery backup power: 600VA/330W | Sine Wave: Simulated Our reviewer Erica fired up a mid-range gaming PC and LCD monitor and pulled only 14 percent of the capacity, which lasted around 40 minutes, including 30 minutes of gaming. That’s more than enough to finish up your game, save, and shut down. The software for the APC also allows some neat tricks like automatic power shut down of your computer in the event of a power loss. Our reviewer had a storm knock out her power, and she was pleased to find when she woke the next morning that the computer had shut itself down. If you have a high-end gaming rig, the last thing you want is for a power loss to mess things up. This gives you peace of mind that even if you’re away, your PC will be just fine. Outlets: 6 battery backup, 4 surge-protected | Battery backup power: 1500VA/900W | Sine Wave: Pure
On-Battery Runtime
Generally, you don’t need a UPS to last too long but it should be sufficient to start a standby power source or properly shut down the protected equipment. Some run for just a few minutes, while others will provide power all night long. Depending on your needs, make sure the on-battery runtime is ample.
Device Support
How many devices will you need to connect to your UPS? Some can accommodate as many as 12 devices, while others top out at just two. Some also provide USB ports, but not all.
Portability
Some UPS devices are made for home or business use, while others are built for travel and the outdoors. If you’ll need to take your device with you, you’ll want something with a more portable design that can fit in a handbag easily. You might even want a solar charging port so that you aren’t entirely dependent on electricity.
About Our Trusted Experts
Katie Dundas is a freelance journalist and tech writer who has written for Lifewire since 2019. She has thoroughly researched all products reviewed here. Jeremy Laukkonen is a tech writer and the creator of a popular blog and video game startup. He specializes in consumer technology, including uninterrupted power supplies. Erika Rawes is a tech reviewer who’s been writing for Lifewire since 2019. She is a consumer tech expert and tested the APC Gaming UPS on this list. Adam Doud has been writing in the technology space for almost a decade. When he’s not hosting the Benefit of the Doud podcast, he’s playing with the latest phones, tablets, and laptops. When not working, he’s a cyclist, geocacher, and spends as much time outside as he can.
