I Tested 16 Surge Protectors. These Top Picks Are Perfect for Winter Upgrades

Accell D080B-051B (Out of stock): It looks like a squid or maybe a six-legged octopus. (Hexapus?) I feel like that’s reason enough to buy it, but it may not be for everyone. Its main advantage is that instead of rigid plugs on a flat frame like most surge protectors, it has five short cables with the plugs at the end. The Accell is rated at 1,080 joules. Most surge protectors will continue to transmit power when they exceed their joule rating, but the D080B-051B has a built-in safety, cutting off power so your equipment is protected against further surges. You will have to buy a new one if this were to happen, but the goal is to protect your most expensive equipment. It’s surprising that more surge protectors aren’t built this way. Most people probably won’t need this specific type of feature, but I’m sure some of you are looking at it and know exactly how it will fit into your home. Unlike other devices on my list, there is no warranty on connected devices, which means the company doesn’t have a program to replace your fried devices if this happens. Although with Accell’s unique built-in security, you may not need it.

THE Belkin SRA007p12tt6 is a sleek 12-outlet surge protector with a matte white finish that would work better on a desk or visible location than most other large protectors. Six of its outlets are widely spaced, and there are two 2.4-amp USB-A outlets and one 3-amp USB-C outlet (maximum combined output of 4.5 amps). The wall outlet is conveniently angled 90 degrees at the end of the 6-foot cable.

THE APC P6WU2 (Update: Currently unavailable) is a bulky wall-mounted design with six side outlets and two front USB ports. Depending on what you plug in, they may bunch up or not fit on the wall. The Amazon S9P658O300A00 can accommodate more outlets in a somewhat similar footprint. However, APC has a warranty on connected devices ($50,000), unlike Amazon. For something similar but smaller, check out the Belkin BSV300ttCW mentioned below.

THE Belkin BE112230 shares the flat design of the switched Belkin F7C01008q, just without the switch. It has six spaced outlets, 3,940 joules of protection and a warranty on connected equipment.

THE Belkin BST300bg is a decent travel alternative to the Accell. It has three sockets on the front and two USB ports on the top. The plug rotates so you can orient it in several ways. The Accell is a little smaller, but it’s a good runner-up.

The mural Belkin BSV300ttCW has three sockets and two USB ports, all on the front. Its most interesting design feature is a rimmed top surface that you can rest your phone on while it’s charging.

Cube-shaped Belkin SRA006p3tt5 is similar to the currently unavailable Anker in that it is a small protector at the end of a long cord. The Anker’s smaller size and dedicated USB-C connection are more convenient, but if you’re connecting larger wall warts, they’ll likely accommodate this better.