The 5 Best Power Strips
At this point, most people have more electronic devices than wall outlets. Between home equipment, like TVs and stereos, and portable electronics, like cell phones and tablets, we all need more outlets. The easiest way to get more outlets is to buy a power strip, or more likely, several power strips. Power strips not only give you more outlets. They can also provide surge protection, so that your electronic devices are not harmed by power surges. Some power strips also have USB ports, in addition to AC outlets. How many outlets you need, whether you need extra space for bulky chargers, how long you need the cord to be, and whether you want surge protection are all important factors to consider when shopping for power strips. We reviewed a number of power strips to find the top ones out there. Read on for our reviews of the 5 Best Power Strips.
Belkin Power Strip
Plug and Play
Our pick for best power strip is this one from Belkin. It provides 12 – count ’em, 12 – outlets for you to plug all of your electronic devices into. Six of them are regular outlets, and the other six are big outlets that have enough room to plug in the large, block-shaped power adapters without obstructing any other outlets. This is key, because those big power adapters often cover a second outlet on the power strip, thus preventing it from use. So you end up only being able to use half the outlets. Not with this intelligently designed power strip. This power strip also automatically directs the appropriate amount of power that each device needs to operate at its best. The cord is eight feet long, which gives you a nice amount of extension from the wall outlet you plug this strip into. This power strip will protect your devices against surges, with a maximum of 6,000 volts. Belkin is so confident in this strip, they offer a Connected Equipment Warranty.
Pros
- 12 outlets
- 6 big outlets
- 8 feet cord
- Automatic power distribution
- 6,000 volts surge protection
Cons
- Bulky
Anker PowerPort Power Strip
Cubes Are Cooler
For a spin on the traditional power strip, check out this one from Anker. It’s not in the usual thin, rectangular strip shape; it’s in the shape of a cube. It looks pretty cool, first of all. It also takes up very little space. This cube is only 2.5 cubic inches, so it can fit anywhere in your home, office, or in a bag for transport. The cube has three AC outlets, which are all big enough for any size charger. The cube also has three USB ports, so you can plug in any USB-powered device without needing the AC adapter. The cube protects against surges and is fire-retardant, so you can count on it to keep your devices safe.
Pros
- Cube shape
- 3 USB ports
- Fireproof
Cons
- The plug sticks out from the wall
- Only 3 AC outlets
Bototek Surge Protector
Max Protection
For superior protection against surges, take a look at this power strip from Bototek. It has an extremely advanced circuit design, which will prevent damage to your devices if and when there is an unexpected surge of power. If the surge is more than the maximum the strip can handle, the double-break safety switch will go off automatically and block the surge. The switch is specially designed to perpetually remain loose so that it never gets stuck; you can depend on it to work if it needs to. This strip is fire-retardant, as is the heavy-duty copper cord. The strip has 10 AC outlets and four USB ports.
Pros
- Advanced circuit design
- Double-break safety switch
- Heavy-duty copper cord
Cons
- USB ports have a max total of 3.4 Amps, so cannot charge two iPads at once via the USB ports
One Beat Desktop Power Strip
Cruising
If you want a power strip that does not have surge protection, this is a great one from One Beat. One Beat advertises this as the power strip for cruise ships, because cruise ships don’t allow you to use surge protectors. This strip has a flat squarish shape and is fairly compact, measuring 4.3 x 4.6 x 1.1 inches. It has three AC outlets and four USB ports. The USB ports have a maximum of 4.5 amps and use smart charging technology to charge your devices as fast as possible. The cord is five feet long and flat-braided, which makes it more durable and flexible than the typical extension cord. The plug is a right-angle flat plug, so it does not stick out; this allows you to have furniture flush against the outlet it’s plugged into.
Pros
- Max USB output of 4.5 amps
- Smart charging technology
- Flat-braided cord
- Flat plug
Cons
- No surge protection
GE Surge Protector
Classic
This is a simple power strip with that classic look from the venerable company GE. It is one outlet wide with six total AC outlets. The cord is 10 feet long, so it gives you extensive range from the outlet. It has a flat plug, so it will not get in the way of furniture. The outlets have safety covers that you twist to close, preventing anything dangerous from getting inserted into the outlets when they’re not in use. There are keyhole slots on the back, which make it super easy to mount this strip on the wall. This power strip has an integrated circuit breaker to protect your devices against surges and automatic shutdown technology in case of an overload.
Pros
- 10 feet cord
- Integrated circuit breaker
- Automatic shutdown technology
- Keyhole slots on the back
Cons
- Over-sized chargers will cover an additional outlet and prevent it from use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a power surge?
A power surge happens when something increases the electrical charge in the power lines and that results in more electricity flowing to your wall outlet. When the electrical current going into your device is more than it can handle, the device can get damaged.
Can I use multiple devices at once that are plugged into the same power strip?
Power strips with surge protection have maximums as far as the amount of power that can go through it at once. To see if it can handle all of your devices at once, check the product page for the maximum power on the strip you are interested in, and check how much power your devices need.
Can I plug one power strip into another power strip?
While you might be tempted to plug one power strip into another power strip in order to create more outlets, it is very dangerous and you shouldn’t do it. It can overload the first power strip and possibly cause an electrical fire.
Why Trust Us
With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.