Products at a Glance
How we picked the best surge protector
Searching for the best surge protector can be a challenge if you’re not entirely sure what to look for. There are so many different products flooding the market that it’s so tempting to just buy the first one that you come across. However, it may not be the right product for your needs.
But what kind of features should you be looking for? How many outlets do you need for your cable setup? How much power will it need for all of your devices? What kind of safety features should you be looking for to protect yourself from electrical surges?
There’s no need to worry. We’ve researched and reviewed hundreds of products to find the best protector for your needs. We looked at factors such as a number of outlets, price, safety features, and many more. So let’s take a look.
Product Reviews
- 6 smart outlets
- Voice control
- Energy monitoring
- Easy to control
- Pricey
The Kasa Smart HS300 surge protector easily earns the top spot on our list. This particular protector comes with a range of great features that make it one of the best products on the market. A standard surge protector will simply allow you to plug multiple devices into one wall outlet. This surge protector takes it to the next level and comes with a whole range of fancy features.
This particular surge protector features 6 smart outlets. These can be individually controlled so that you can power one, two, or all of your devices as you need to. This will be great if you want to save electricity when you’re not using your devices! Some devices such as laptops or TVs will still use electricity when plugged in, however, this smart feature saves you from having to unplug them when you don’t necessarily need to use them. This option also features 3 USB connectors for you to charge your devices.
Another handy feature is that you can easily control your Kasa Smart HS300 from anywhere via the cell phone app. Thanks to the Kasa Smart app, you can power up or power down your office before you get there. You can also monitor how much energy each device consumes. Handy if you want to turn any devices off that are using too much power.
You can also rest assured that your devices will be protected from any sudden power surges. This surge protector offers you ETL certified protection to shield sensitive electronics. You won’t have to worry about your devices getting damaged!
Overall the Kasa Smart HS300 comes with a range of fantastic features that makes it a worthy investment.
- 6 outlets
- Sudden power surge protection
- 2 USB ports
- Lifetime warranty
- Expensive
The Tripp Lite Isobar surge protector is another great choice if you’re looking for a more premium product. This particular protector will be able to protect your plugged in devices from any sudden power surges and ensure that they won’t break. In the unlikely case that the protection circuit gets damaged, the surge protector is designed to automatically switch off so as to protect your plugged in devices. The built in LED lights will indicate when power is sent to the surge protector.
This surge protector gives you 6 standard outlets for you to use, as well as 2 USB ports. This will be great if you have a variety of devices that you want to plug in. The USB ports are a handy feature if you want to quickly charge your cell phone while in the office, and will mean that you don’t have to sacrifice one of the 6 outlets for your charger. All 6 of the outlets have been widely spaced out to allow for bulky plugs or transformers.
Another handy feature of this option is that it’s super easy to install in your home or workplace. It comes with a 10 foot cord for you to place behind furniture or just to give you ample room between wall sockets and your devices. The surge protector features a mounting design so that you can install it onto your wall for easier operation.
To give you more peace of mind, the manufacturer is offering a lifetime guarantee. If your connected devices or equipment get damaged due to power transients, the manufacturer will repair or replace it up to the value of $50,000.
The Tripp Lite Isobar surge protector is a great choice if you want superior protection for your devices and equipment.
- 12 outlets (8 rotating, 4 stationary)
- Lifetime guarantee
- Space saving design
- Quiet operation
- Pricey
The Belkin 12 outlet pivot-plug power strip is the perfect choice if you have a lot of devices or equipment that needs power in your office or home. This particular surge protector comes with 12 outlets for you to use. Perfect if you have a lot of equipment in one area of the office that needs multiple outlets! The surge protector comes with an 8 feet cord to give you plenty of room to work with.
Another great feature of this surge protector is that the outlets allow for saving space. 8 of the outlets rotate to make room for bulky adaptors. There are also 4 static outlets in the middle of the surge protector to help you power the maximum amount of devices from a single power strip. This will save you from having to buy multiple surge protectors to power your home entertainment system or office workspace.
This protector features damage resistant housing to ensure its durability. Everything about this surge protector keeps your safety in mind, as well as protecting your equipment. It carries a 4,320 joule energy rating and has a maximum spike voltage of 6,000 volts. Great for giving you peace of mind! The protector has also been designed with quiet operation in mind so as to not disturb you.
What’s really great about this particular surge protector is that the manufacturer is so confident in it that they offer a lifetime guarantee. The device is also protected by a $300,000 connected equipment warranty to reassure you. This means that in the unlikely event that any of your connected equipment becomes damaged from power surges, Belkin will repair or replace them up to the value of $300,000.
All in all the Belkin 12 outlet pivot-plug power strip is a solid choice if you need more power outlets in your office while keeping them protected.
- 12 outlets
- Budget friendly
- 8 Feet cord
- LED indicator lights
- Bright light
The Amazon Basics 12 outlet power strip is just the thing you need if you want a more budget friendly surge protector. This particular surge protector will give you all the protection you need but at a more affordable price. It comes with 12 outlets to allow you to plug in all of your electronics. The surge protector has been designed to be heavy duty so that it can offer you protection around the clock.
A handy feature of the Amazon Basics surge protector is that it features LED lights to indicate when the device is powered up. This will show you that your equipment is protected from any sudden power surges. The surge protector also features an integrated power switch which comes with a 15Amp overload resettable circuit breaker. So you’ll know that your devices and equipment are as protected as they can be.
This surge protector can protect all of your sensitive electronic devices from power surges that can occur. This includes computers, TVs, and more. The Fireproof MOV gives your devices and equipment additional protection from any sudden surges and spikes.
The slim design of this surge protector makes it a great fit for any home or office space. The outlets are widely spaced to allow for bulkier adapters that some equipment come with. The outlets themselves also feature sliding covers for safety. The surge protector also features a back keyhole wall mount so that you can easily position it on the wall or counters should you so wish.
The Amazon Basics 12 outlet power strip is perfect if you’re looking for great surge protection but at a more affordable price.
- 4 outlets and 4 USB ports
- Remote and voice control
- Schedule and timer function
- Surge and overload protection
- Not as many outlets
If you’re looking for a smaller surge protector that will still offer you outstanding protection, then the Teckin smart power strip is the choice for you. This particular surge protector comes with 4 standard outlets, as well as 4 USB ports. This makes it a great fit for your home environment, and saves you from having to buy power supply adapters for your phone or tablets. You can simply plug their USB cables into the ports! This smaller surge protector won’t take up too much space in your home.
A unique feature of this particular surge protector is that it features remote and voice control. This means you can easily turn on certain appliances without having to manually plug them into the surge protector. The Teckin smart power strip is compatible with voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Home. This can help you save on electricity and only turn on devices as you need them.
Another handy feature of the Teckin smart power strip is that you can set a timer or schedule how long plug outlets are supplied with electricity. This is a fantastic way to keep on top of your energy bills and ensure that you only power your appliances when you need them. You can set the precise time that you want your devices to access power.
You’ll get superior surge protection with this particular power strip. The power strip has been designed to switch off automatically if the power is greater than 1250W/10A. This works to protect the surge protector itself as well as all of the devices you have plugged into it.
The Teckin smart power strip is the perfect choice for your home environment.
Things to consider
Safety features
Ultimately you will want a surge protector that will come with a range of safety features to protect your devices from any sudden power surges. Any sudden power surges can damage your devices or equipment beyond repair, potentially costing you thousands of dollars to get them replaced. This can happen during storms and other extreme weather events. So it’s key to have a quality surge protector to keep all of your devices protected.
One of the most important things to consider is how much maximum voltage you will need from your surge protector. This will depend on the devices you plug into it and how much electricity they require in order to work. Take a look at how many volts your chosen surge protector is able to protect against. The higher the voltage it’s able to withstand, the better.
Number of outlets
A key factor for you to consider is how many devices you will need to power. This will determine how many outlets you will need. If you’re looking for the best surge protector for an office environment, you will likely need more outlets for all of the office equipment. If you’re at home, you may have a number of devices such as a TV and gaming consoles that you use as an entertainment hub. This will dictate how many outlets you need in order to power all of them.
You should opt for a surge protector that comes with as many outlets as you need. There’s no point in opting for a smaller surge protector with 4 outlets if you have 6 devices. You’ll still have to switch around which devices are plugged in.
Another handy thing to consider is whether you want USB ports on your surge protector, too. This will be handy for charging devices such as phones or tablets without having to use one of the standard outlets.
Size
Once you’ve picked the right surge protector for your needs based on the protection it offers and how many outlets it has, you will need to think about its overall size. Depending on the environment that you need it for, you may be restricted by your available space. A bulky unit will be more of a pain to hide behind furniture. Surge protectors with a slim design will be easier to store out of sight.
How long do surge protectors last?
Surge protectors typically last three to five years, but frequent blackouts will reduce their life span so a quicker replacement might be necessary.
What surge protector is recommended?
For normal home use, protecting computers, and audio/ visual equipment choosing one with a joule rating of 1000 is recommended. If you have a lot of equipment or very power-intensive hardware then a joule rating of 2000 should be required.
What can I use with a surge protector?
Smaller less power consuming equipment such as computers, tablets, and smaller smart appliances can be plugged into surge protectors. However, larger home appliances can be damaging and shouldn’t be used.
Our Verdict
The Kasa Smart HS300 surge protector easily earns our spot of top pick. While it comes at a price, it offers a range of great options to make it more user friendly than some cheaper products.
Next up is the Tripp Lite Isobar. This surge protector is a great choice if you want superior protection, as well as great peace of mind thanks to the lifetime guarantee.
Third in our lineup is the Belkin 12-Outlet Pivot-Plug Power Strip. This surge protector is an excellent choice if you need more power outlets for your equipment while also giving you superior protection against sudden power surges.
The Amazon Basics 12-Outlet Power Strip comes in a well respected fourth place. This particular surge protector is an excellent choice if you want great functionality but at a more affordable price.
Rounding off our list is the TECKIN Smart Power Strip. This particular surge protector is the perfect choice for your home as it gives you a range of great features at a great price.
And so our guide to the best surge protector comes to an end! We hope you now know all there is to know about how to protect and power your devices, whether that’s at work or at home. All of the products we’ve discussed above will be perfect for your needs. Have any questions for us about the best surge protector? Drop us a line in the comments below and we’ll be happy to help you!