When it comes to the best surge protectors, it can be a little tempting to go for the cheapest model out there. That’s understandable. After all, investing in a quality protector isn’t the most attractive tech purchase you’ll ever make. Which is not to say that buying a good one doesn’t have its benefits. If you have electronic problems, one of the best surge protectors can prevent your favorite appliances from breaking down.
Choosing the right surge protector is not an easy process. Almost all major retailers have them in stock, meaning you have thousands of options to browse through. Fortunately, we’ve narrowed our list down to our six favorite models. My current favorite? That would be the APC Performance SurgeArrest 12, whose main selling points are its fail-safe mode and generous warranty.
Read on to get the inside scoop on the best surge protectors on the market right now. Just remember not to be too stingy with what may turn out to be a vital device.
The best surge protector you can buy today
In our opinion, the best surge protector or power strip is the APC Performance SurgeArrest 12, model P12U2. The unit offers 4,320 joules of protection, along with 12 electrical outlets and two USB ports. The surge protector is relatively slim and compact, making it easy to place behind media consoles or televisions. Not only that, according to APC’s product page, the SurgeArrest 12 undergoes testing by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
The SurgeArrest 12 also has a built-in failsafe mode, which cuts off power once internal components have been compromised. This will ensure that your electronic devices remain safe, even if it means having to pick up another unit. APC also offers a lifetime warranty and states on its website that if the circuit is damaged by a strong shock or power line surge and cannot offer 100% protection, it will “replace your damaged SurgeArrest free of charge.”
This product has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars with 22 reviews on B&H Photo. “It works great. And the green light around the edge looks cool and also makes it easy to find when you want to plug something in while you’re editing in a dark room,” said one reviewer who gave the surge protector 5 out of 5 stars. .
The Belkin 12-Outlet Surge Protector, model BV12234-08, is an excellent unit that provides a lot of protection, making it one of the best surge protectors and power strips on the market.
With 12 outlets and two USB charging ports, it matches the APC Performance SurgeArrest 12. It has a lower energy rating of 3,996 joules, but it’s still more than enough for most. It is also available in white.
In terms of size, it is relatively compact and can easily fit under a home theater setup. It also has a clip towards the bottom for cable management. The BV12234-08 also has room for large adapters, a recessed power button to prevent accidental shutdowns, and mounting holes for attaching to walls, baseboards, or furniture.
The surge protector is backed by a two-year limited warranty. Just be sure not to plug in a heater, generator, medical device, car, or any other major electrical device, as that will void your warranty protection.
This surge protector earned a 4.5 out of 5 rating on B&H Photo. “I love this. I would tell people to get this surge protector and use it for all their devices,” says one reviewer.
Anker is a brand that is more often found at online retailers like Amazon than at Best Buy. But the company has made a name for its clean white aesthetics, value and quality. The Anker PowerPort Strip 12 is no exception.
At the time of publication, the 6-foot version can be found for between $26 and $27. This undercuts the competition by around $10. Not only that, it has the surge power rating and equipment protection to match. However, the warranty on the surge protector only lasts 18 months. This surge protector is also UL listed. As for protection, it has a surge protection feature that will turn off the surge protector during a major power surge.
On Walmart’s website, this product has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5. “It’s so convenient to plug so many cables into one place. I’m so glad I learned about the Anker Strip Surge Protector,” said one reviewer. .
The CyberPower Desktop Charger is designed for a desktop, for connecting accessories or charging phones. Not only that, it includes a 10W Qi wireless charger.
The CyberPower Desktop Power Charger is built like a brick, and that’s a good thing. Even with its smaller size, it won’t slide around. It’s really great for the kitchen counter, where kids may need to plug in laptops to do schoolwork or charge devices.
The power cable is braided and robust, meaning it should withstand a fair amount of abuse. While it’s not a typical surge protector, we think it falls within a specific niche and is worth considering.
This product has received a favorable rating on the Home Depot website based on 34 reviews. One reviewer who rated the surge protector a 4 out of 5 said, “I liked it so much we bought 3.”
The Monoprice 12-Outlet Surge Protector with 2 Built-in USB Charger Ports is a solid piece of kit. The transparent rails on the side that light up to indicate both grounding and surge protection look stylish. And of all the units we tested, it was the sturdiest of the bunch, with a wide, flat base.
In terms of design, there’s plenty of room to plug in oddly shaped spikes. And the cable feels solid.
The Monoprice 12 also has lights that indicate whether the surge protection is working, and if the protection fails after a significant surge, the light will turn off. The device will automatically turn off to prevent damage to electronic components. It is also UL listed.
The reason the Monoprice 12 isn’t higher on our list is due to a poor warranty and lack of equipment protection. The one-year warranty, while not bad, is below the competition. This could be excused if the Monoprice 12 were a value leader. Unfortunately, at the time of publishing, it sells for around $28, which is more than the Anker PowerPort Strip 12.
This power strip has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on the Walmart website. One of 22 reviewers said: “Really useful. Works great. The USB outputs are useful and I don’t get any noise from the USB ports when using them with audio devices I’ve purchased with other USB chargers.”
Belkin’s 3-Outlet Mini Surge Protector with USB Ports is a little strange, but it could be useful for specific situations. Acting more like a wall faucet, the 3-Outlet essentially offers buyers additional ports on their walls. It also swivels, meaning it can sit both horizontally and vertically.
Compared to larger surge protectors, the 3-Outlet falls short. It doesn’t have as high a Joule rating at just 918, nor does it offer the same amount of equipment protection. But it has more surge protection than other basic power strips.
Still, it sits perfectly on the wall and can work well next to a nightstand to plug in a lamp and some phone chargers. For travel and small spaces, the 3-Outlet Mini Surge Protector with USB Ports can come in handy. Mainly use it for smaller devices.
This Belkin surge protector has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on B&H Photo. The surge protector “allows multiple items to be charged in third-world hotel rooms with a single outlet. It protects against primitive networks, with huge power fluctuations,” said one reviewer.
What to look for when purchasing a surge protector
The way most surge protectors work is by using metal oxide varistors (MOVs), which pert power back to the electrical source. Think of it as an automated levee or dam that can push a huge surge of water into a river to help keep your home safe. While MOVs are an efficient and cost-effective way for manufacturers to design surge protectors, they are not absolutely fail-safe. Whenever there is a significant surge, MOVs are degraded and sacrificed to ensure your electronic devices remain protected. That means surge protectors don’t last forever.
Additionally, a high current surge is what can really damage electronic components. Some surges may have a higher current than voltage, meaning that the voltage threshold to trigger the MOV may not be reached. There are other “non-slaughter” methods, such as Zero overvoltage. But a simple two-outlet Zero Surge model costs more than $200, surpassing all the items on this list by a wide margin. But if your budget allows, Zero Surge could be the way to go.
Most quality surge protectors and power strips have a built-in kill switch that will cause the surge protector to not work if it can no longer provide protection. Others could continue working without protection. All of the drives on our list have the added security of shutting down or notifying the user once the internal components have degraded to a point of inadequate protection.
And keep in mind that not all power strips offer surge protection. Some act as nothing more than an extension of an existing wall outlet. Some might add a layer of minimal surge protection. So regardless of shape or size, all of the units on this list will provide high levels of protection.
You will also notice that the surge protectors we recommend have high joule protection ratings. A joule is a measure of energy. The average lightning strike releases about a billion joules of energy in less than a second! The higher the joule rating, the more protection it offers. A higher joule rating also means that a surge protector can absorb more energy before failing. Generally, for most video game and electronics consoles, including the elusive PS5 and Xbox Series X, 2,000 joules or more will be more than enough to keep your devices safe.
