While they aren’t glamorous pieces of tech, surge protectors play an important role in a tech setup. Not only do they add extra power outlets, enabling you to create entertainment hubs, workstations, and more, but they keep your expensive gaming PC, 4K TV, or console safe from power surges, lightning storms, and more. Additionally, some have ports for coaxial and Ethernet cables, shielding them from electrical damage, as well.
If you're buying nicer electronics and hate the idea of some fluke with your electrical destroying them, you need a surge protector. Thankfully, they aren’t that expensive, and there are plenty of options. Some are loaded with outlets for a home theater setup, while others are more compact to protect your devices when traveling. We’ve even included an option with a backup battery to ensure you can save your precious data before powering down your device. So, check our favorite surge protectors below - and click here to see them in the UK.
TL;DR These are the Best Surge Protectors
- Belkin USB Power Strip Surge Protector
- AmazonBasics 8-Outlet Power Strip Surge Protector
- APC SurgeArrest P11VNT3
- TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip HS300
- Belkin PivotPlug BP112230-08
- Tripp Lite 2-Outlet Traveler
- APC SurgeArrest P12U2
- Anker PowerExtend USB-C 3 Capsule
- Refrigmatic WS-36300
- Cyberpower CP1500PFCLCD UPS
Belkin USB Power Strip Surge Protector
Best Surge Protector
Not all power strips are created equal, and this Belkin power strip turns one outlet in your wall into a strip of 12 well-placed outlets. This flexible setup sports six vertically-aligned plugs in the center, then three on either side, which allows you to use bulkier plugs without losing access to the others. You even get two high-speed USB-A ports to charge a tablet or smartphone. The wall plug is also angled, so you still have access to the second wall outlet, while the six-foot extension cord is durable and long for easy access to the strip.
Belkin delivers 3,996-joule protection to your electronics, safeguarding them from surging, overloading, short-circuiting, and fluctuations. A green or red light will glow, indicating whether the plug is grounded and protecting against surges, so you’ll know if there is an issue with the power strip and if your devices are safe from potential voltage spikes.
AmazonBasics 8-Outlet Power Strip Surge Protector
Best Budget Surge Protector
For surge protection on the cheap, grab this AmazonBasics strip. Costing just $25, you get 4,500-joule surge protection and 400V to 500V voltage clamping, ensuring that your sensitive, expensive electronics like computers or TVs don’t get damaged during an inevitable spike. There’s even a bright green LED light on the strip, indicating active surge protection, while fireproof MOVs prevent sparks or fires from occurring during those thermal events.
Besides surge protection, you get eight outlets with five ports on one side and three more spacious ports on the other for larger plugs, so you’ll have room for a fairly robust entertainment center or PC setup. You also get the option to upgrade the durable six-foot cord length for a couple more bucks to eight, 10, or 12 feet. As an additional safety measure, there are sliding outlet covers to prevent little fingers or other things from getting electrocuted.
APC SurgeArrest P11VNT3
Best Multi-Port Surge Protector
The APC SurgeArrest is a pick for those who need heavy protection for loads of devices. You get 11 outlets in a friendly layout for bigger plugs, each with a sliding cover, alongside phone, DSL, coaxial, and Ethernet ports to protect each part of your PC or entertainment rig. It even comes with four hanging holes and an eight-foot right-angle power cord that rotates 180 degrees, so you can easily hang it on the wall if you prefer.
After plugging in and switching on the APC SurgeArrest, an indicator light notifies you if surge protection works, whether an overload occurs, or even if bad wiring is plaguing the building’s electrical system. When it comes to protection, this powerstrip absorbs up to 3,030 joules, while a voltage clamping of 400 volts should be plenty for your more sensitive electronics. Protecting your Ethernet will throttle the connection down to 100Mbps, but it’s hard to beat this extra insurance for your electronics.
TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip HS300
Best Smart Home Surge Protector
If you’ve got a space full of smart home gadgets, why not add a surge-protecting power strip to the mix? You can control the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip’s six outlets independently via Alexa, Google Assistant, or a mobile app for more capabilities, and you don’t even need a hub. Those plugs can be grouped together and commanded or set on schedules, and when connected to Wi-Fi, it’s even possible to control them from anywhere and monitor energy usage.
The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip offers more than just its six outlets with smart functionality, as you also get a 1,710-joule breaker to protect against large surges. A status light also lets you know when the strip needs replacement, ensuring you maintain protection post-surge. And it doesn’t stop with just AC outlets, as there are three USB ports to charge up smaller electronics.
Belkin PivotPlug BP112230-08
Best Surge Protector for Oversized Plugs
For some reason, many electronics still use large, frustratingly shaped charge bricks, which means plugging them all in, especially to the same powerstrip’s a pain. That’s where the Belkin PivotPlug comes into play, you still get four averagely arranged standard outlets down the middle, but each of the eight outlets lining the sides can pivot up to 90 degrees, helping accommodate all your devices. Given the 12 outlets and the pass-throughs for coaxial, DSL, and telephone connections, cable management is essential, so its cable trap is a nice bonus to keep your setup tidy.
As far as surge protection goes, the 4,320-joule-rated Belkin PivotPlug is a perfect companion for the safety and longevity of your electronics. There are two indicator lights on the strip; one glows green to let you know your equipment is secure, while a red light tells you if the outlet is grounded. It doesn’t stop with surge protection, as it reduces electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference for a better performance out of certain devices.
Tripp Lite 2-Outlet Traveler
Best Portable Surge Protector
Even if you’re traveling, it doesn’t mean your expensive portable electronics, like a smartphone or laptop, need to be subjected to potential spikes that could brick them. The Tripp Lite 2-Outlet Traveler is a small two-port portable surge protector with 1,050 joules of shielding and respectable clamping voltage to protect more sensitive electronics. Two LED indicator lights also tell you when the outlet is grounded and if it’s protecting against surges or spikes—just keep an eye on the status light to know when to replace it.
You don’t need to worry about the Tripp Lite 2-Outlet Traveler fitting in your bag either, as it weighs less than four ounces, and its three-prong plug is retractable, so you can even pop it in your pocket if need be. DSL and Telephone ports are also available to prevent surges from damaging your internet or phone equipment. And this surge protector even has a limited lifetime warranty, so it should be easy to replace if it ever stops working.
APC SurgeArrest P12U2
Best Surge Protector for Equipment and USB
If you’ve loads of peripherals that all need to be protected and plugged in separately, the APC SurgeArrest P12U2 is for you. This strip has eight closely-spaced outlets in the center, along with one in each of the four corners to accommodate oversized plugs. That’s a total of 12 AC outlets, and to round out its connectivity, you also get two USB ports with 2.4 amps of charging power for your phone, headphones, or other devices.
The APC SurgeArrest P12U2 is a solid option for keeping your electronics safe against spikes thanks to its 4320 joules of surge protection. However, similar to the other APC on this list, the surge suppressor may do either of the following after a failure: 1. cut off power to attached devices, or 2. simply light the status indicator, depending upon how the MOVs fail. It’s important to remain diligent in checking to ensure the safety of your devices.
Anker PowerExtend USB-C 3 Capsule
Best Fast Charging Surge Protector
The Anker PowerExtend USB-C 3 Capsule lets you charge your devices quickly and safely. You get two USB-A ports delivering 15W of power and a USB-C port offering an impressive 45W, though the three ports are cumulatively limited to 60W at one time. That means your electronics can juice up way quicker than they would with your typical blocks, while three other AC outlets let you plug in even more peripherals.
It doesn’t stop there, as the Anker PowerExtend USB-C 3 offers additional peace of mind with its, though somewhat light, 300 joules of surge protection. You’ll also find indicator lights on the powerstrip to let you know when it’s on, grounded, and protecting against surges. A few extra safety features, like fire resistance, overload protection, and over-temperature control, further your safety and the safety of your devices.
Refrigmatic WS-36300
Best Appliance Surge Protector
Beyond PCs, consoles, and other entertainment devices, appliances are equally expensive to replace if you fry their insides. The Refrigmatic WS-36300 combats this issue, working with larger appliances that include fridges up to 27 cubic feet, as well as ice makers and air conditioners up to 5000 BTU—which means it works for the stylish Xbox Series X Mini Fridge. Just keep in mind this is a surge protector and not a power strip, so it only works with one electronic.
To use it, you simply plug it in, wait three minutes, then plug your appliance into the polarized socket. A series of labeled lights lets you know whether the voltage is high, low, or normal and if there is a time delay. When the Refrigmatic detects a significant variance from the 120-volt standard, it will automatically disconnect, offering up to 1,081 joules of surge protection to save your devices from damage due to spikes, instant surges, power failure, voltage fluctuation, and load shedding.
CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD UPS
Best Uninterruptable Power Supply
While surge protectors are great, preventing work or game save loss is ideal. This uninterruptable power supply (UPS) from CyberPower protects against surges and keeps your electronics going for a limited time during blackouts. It should run for 2.5 minutes at a full load or 10 minutes at half capacity for enough time to save important work before shutting your machine down. And if there are slight power fluctuations, automatic voltage regulation lets this UPS correct the issue without switching to the battery, extending its battery life.
On the CyberPower, all 12 outlets have 1445 joules of surge protection, while six connect to the battery, ready to take advantage of its 1000W should power be lost. There are additional ports to plug in more electronics, including an ethernet, USB-C, and USB-A. A detailed LCD on the front chassis also displays the UPS battery status and power conditions.
Where to Get the Best Surge Protector in the UK
What to Look for in a Surge Protector
What Surge Protectors Do: Surge protectors may look like power strips, but they add a shield to your devices that can save you tons of cash during a power surge. Most surge suppressors use a device called a metal oxide varistor (MOV) to divert excess electricity to the ground, “clamping” or reducing the voltage coming through the outlet to levels that won’t damage your electronics.
MOVs: MOVs don’t last forever. Depending on the design, they can either continue to work as a standard power strip (after a surge destroys it) or fail “safe,” cutting off power to your gear and becoming a fancy doorstop. We recommend using a suppressor that opens the circuit when the MOVs eventually fail, ensuring your equipment isn’t left unprotected. The downside is your stuff may power down unexpectedly, and you’ll have to buy a new surge suppressor to get back in business.
Joules: The joule rating reflects the amount of energy a surge protector can defend your equipment from, but it’s also an indirect measure of the life of a surge suppressor (so one with a rating of 4,000 joules will last about four times longer than one with a 1,000-joule rating). The clamping value measures how much voltage gets through during any single spike (the lower the number, the better). These generally go from 333 volts to 500 volts. Most surge suppressors also include a circuit breaker which can trip if a surge still gets through.
Warranties: While many promise restitution in event of a failure, and the subsequent equipment damage that may occur as a result, you are unlikely to actually collect on it.
Brian Barnett writes reviews, wiki guides, deals posts, features, and more for IGN. You can get your fix of his antics on Twitter (@Ribnax) or check out his show on Twitch (The Platformers).
