Best picks · UPS
Best UPS battery backup for a home
Three units, one each for what must stay on: the network, a home office desk, and a gaming PC with a power supply that needs a real sine wave. Every figure is the maker's, and none is a test of ours.
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A UPS does one of two jobs. For a modem and router it is a small battery that keeps the Wi-Fi up through the outage: APC's chart gives the BE600M1 1 hour 22 minutes at 33 W. For a computer it is a bridge: enough minutes to save, close and shut down before the battery runs out. Buying the big one for the router wastes money; buying the small one for the PC loses work.
The three below cover the network, a home office and a gaming PC. The router guide sizes the first job from the adapter label, and APC vs CyberPower puts the two makers' own statements side by side.
The three, on the numbers that decide a desk
| Criterion | APC BE600M1 | CyberPower CP1500PFCLCDthe pick for a home office | APC BR1500MS2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 600 VA / 330 W | 1,500 VA / 1,000 W | 1,500 VA / 900 W |
| Output on battery | Stepped approximation to a sine wave | Sine wave | Sine wave |
| Topology | Standby | Line interactive, with AVR | Line interactive, with AVR |
| Transfer time | 6 ms typical, 10 ms maximum | 4 ms typical | 8 ms typical, 10 ms maximum |
| Runtime, the maker's figure | 52 min at 50 W; 23 min at 100 W | 10 min at half load; 2.5 min at full load | 36 min at 200 W; 7 min 55 s at 600 W |
| Battery | APCRBC154, user-replaceable | RB1290X2 or RB1280X2B by serial, user-replaceable | APCRBC163, user-replaceable |
| Software | PowerChute Serial Shutdown, Windows only | PowerPanel: Windows, macOS, Linux | PowerChute Serial Shutdown, Windows only |
| Warranty and equipment policy | 3 years; up to $75,000 | 3 years; up to $500,000 | 3 years; up to $500,000 |
APC publishes a runtime chart by watts; CyberPower publishes half and full load only, so the two columns are not on the same terms. Every figure is the maker's with new batteries, not a HoldBackup test. The equipment policies are the makers' programs with their own terms, not warranties.
Drawing of backup power equipment.
01 UPS
APC BE600M1
Sold as: APC BE600M1 UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector for Computer, Router, NAS
APC publishes five battery-backed outlets and a 600 VA / 330 W rating for the BE600M1. Use its runtime chart at your connected load, then check adapter spacing and the equipment’s waveform requirements. Its standby design is a candidate for a basic network setup, not proof that every modem, router or desktop will work with it.
- Rating
- 600 VA / 330 WSource for Rating: maker
- Topology
- Standby: switches to battery, no voltage regulationSource for Topology: maker
- Output on battery
- Stepped approximation to a sine waveSource for Output on battery: maker
- Battery-backed outlets
- 5, plus 2 surge-onlySource for Battery-backed outlets: maker
- USB charging
- 1 USB-A, 1.5 ASource for USB charging: maker
- Battery
- 12 V sealed lead-acid, user-replaceable (APCRBC154)Source for Battery: maker
- Recharge
- About 10 hoursSource for Recharge: maker
- Weight
- 7.69 lbSource for Weight: maker
- Runtime at 33 W
- 1 h 22 min, maker's chartSource for Runtime at 33 W: maker
- Runtime at 50 W
- 52 min, maker's chartSource for Runtime at 50 W: maker
- Runtime at 100 W
- 23 min, maker's chartSource for Runtime at 100 W: maker
- Warranty
- 3 years UPS, 1 year batterySource for Warranty: maker
- Equipment protection policy
- Lifetime, up to $75,000, on registrationSource for Equipment protection policy: maker
Runtime is APC's curve fit to measured data with new, fully charged batteries at a resistive load, not a HoldBackup test. Your adapters' real draw decides the number.
Maker's US pageAPC's US catalog, on Schneider Electric's site, lists it with Where to Buy and marks it not normally stocked in distribution.se.com Checked
What owners reportOwners report connecting it to firewall software over USB for monitoring and automatic shutdown, with mixed results depending on the system.Level1Techs forum, OPNsense issue on GitHub Checked
PriceAmazon sets it, and it changes. The button takes you to today's price.
Store linkPaid link
One small standby UPS for a modem and router.
Check price on AmazonHoldBackup earns a commission if you buy through this link. Amazon sets the price.
Best for
- The required network devices fit the battery-backed outlets
- The manufacturer’s runtime curve meets your duration at your load
- The connected equipment accepts the unit’s output
- Your internet provider’s network remains available
Skip if
- Your required runtime exceeds the published curve at your load
- You need AVR for recurring voltage fluctuations
- Your equipment needs an output waveform this model does not supply
- The provider’s network is down too
Specs from APC product page, APC datasheet (PDF), APC runtime chart.
Drawing of backup power equipment.
02 UPS
CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
Sold as: CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD PFC Sinewave UPS Battery Backup and Surge Protector
It is the one box on this page that covers the first job for almost every home. 1,000 W of pure sine wave output rides a desktop, a NAS, or a modem and router through the flicker, and its line-interactive voltage regulation corrects brownouts without draining the battery. CyberPower's chart gives 100 minutes at 50 W and 23 minutes at 300 W: minutes to shut down cleanly, not an evening of power.
- Rating
- 1,500 VA / 1,000 WSource for Rating: maker
- Topology
- Line-interactive, with voltage regulationSource for Topology: maker
- Output on battery
- Pure sine waveSource for Output on battery: maker
- Battery-backed outlets
- 6, plus 6 surge-onlySource for Battery-backed outlets: maker
- USB charging
- 1 USB-A and 1 USB-C, 3.1 A sharedSource for USB charging: maker
- Battery
- 2 × 12 V 9 Ah sealed lead-acid as sold, user-replaceable; CyberPower lists two replacement cartridges; cartridge RB1290X2, or RB1280X2B for serials beginning CR9, CXF or CQCSource for Battery: maker
- Recharge
- About 8 hoursSource for Recharge: maker
- Weight
- 24.9 lbSource for Weight: maker
- Runtime at 50 W
- 100 min, maker's chartSource for Runtime at 50 W: maker
- Runtime at 300 W
- 23 min, maker's chartSource for Runtime at 300 W: maker
- Runtime at 1,000 W
- 2.5 min, maker's chartSource for Runtime at 1,000 W: maker
- Warranty
- 3 years, batteries includedSource for Warranty: maker
- Connected equipment guarantee
- 500,000 USD, lifetimeSource for Connected equipment guarantee: maker
- Runtime at half load
- 10 minSource for Runtime at half load: maker
- Runtime at full load
- 2.5 minSource for Runtime at full load: maker
Runtime figures are CyberPower's chart for new, fully charged batteries at a resistive load, not a HoldBackup test. Read the chart at your load, and expect less as the batteries age.
Maker's US pageCyberPower's US page lists it with Purchase Online.cyberpowersystems.com Checked
What owners reportOwners report it works with home server and NAS shutdown software and lasts for years with fresh batteries. Forum owners also say the batteries can give out with no warning from the unit.TrueNAS forum, Unraid forum, The FPS Review forum Checked
PriceAmazon sets it, and it changes. The button takes you to today's price.
Store linkPaid link
One line-interactive, pure sine wave UPS for a desktop, NAS, or modem and router.
Check price on AmazonHoldBackup earns a commission if you buy through this link. Amazon sets the price.
Best for
- A desktop, NAS, or office gear that cannot lose power mid-write
- Modem, router, and the provider's box on one unit, with outlets to spare
- Brownouts are common: voltage regulation corrects them without switching to battery
- Active PFC power supplies, which some UPS units trip
Skip if
- You need hours rather than minutes
- The load has a motor: a fridge, a pump, a furnace blower
- You want something light: it weighs about 25 lb
- Batteries are lead-acid and need replacing every few years
Specs from CyberPower product page, CyberPower runtime chart.
Drawing of backup power equipment.
03 UPS
APC Back-UPS Pro BR1500MS2
Sold as: APC BR1500MS2 Pure Sine Wave UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector | 1500VA/900W Back-UPS Pro sinewave UPS for PC, Gaming, electronics. 10 Outlets. USB-C charging
The APC for a gaming PC or a loaded desk: a sine wave inverter, so a power supply with active PFC never sees the stepped output APC itself warns about, and voltage regulation that corrects sags without switching to battery. APC's chart gives 36 minutes at 200 W and 7 minutes 55 seconds at 600 W, which is time to save and shut down, not to keep playing. Six outlets are backed, four are surge only, two USB ports charge a phone, and the APCRBC163 cartridge is user-replaceable.
- Rating
- 1,500 VA / 900 WSource for Rating: maker
- Output on battery
- Sine waveSource for Output on battery: maker
- Topology
- Line interactive, with AVRSource for Topology: maker
- Transfer time
- 8 ms typical, 10 ms maximumSource for Transfer time: maker
- Outlets
- 6 battery-backed NEMA 5-15R, 4 surge-onlySource for Outlets: maker
- USB charging
- Type A and Type CSource for USB charging: maker
- Runtime at 200 W
- 36 minSource for Runtime at 200 W: maker
- Runtime at 400 W
- 15 min 8 sSource for Runtime at 400 W: maker
- Runtime at 600 W
- 7 min 55 sSource for Runtime at 600 W: maker
- Battery
- APCRBC163, user-replaceableSource for Battery: maker
- Software
- PowerChute Serial Shutdown over USB; Windows onlySource for Software: maker
- Display
- Multi-function LCDSource for Display: maker
- Weight
- 27.6 lbSource for Weight: maker
- Warranty
- 3 years UPS, 1 year batterySource for Warranty: maker
- Equipment protection policy
- Lifetime, up to $500,000, on registrationSource for Equipment protection policy: maker
Runtimes are APC's chart figures with new batteries at a resistive load, not a HoldBackup test. APC's equipment protection policy is not a warranty: it covers US 120 V products, needs registration, and claims go in within 10 days.
Maker's US pageAPC's US catalog, on Schneider Electric's site, lists it with Where to Buy and marks it not normally stocked in distribution.se.com Checked
PriceAmazon sets it, and it changes. The button takes you to today's price.
Store linkPaid link
One sine wave UPS with voltage regulation for a gaming PC or a loaded desk.
Check price on AmazonHoldBackup earns a commission if you buy through this link. Amazon sets the price.
Best for
- A gaming PC or a workstation with an active-PFC power supply
- A desk with a monitor, a console and a router on one unit
- Brownouts: voltage regulation works without draining the battery
- Replacing the battery yourself when it wears out
Skip if
- You run macOS or Linux: APC's shutdown software is Windows only
- You want minutes of gaming, not minutes to shut down: 600 W lasts under 8 minutes by APC's chart
- You only need a router: this is far more UPS than the job
Specs from APC BR1500MS2 datasheet (PDF), APC BR1500MS2 product page, APC runtime chart, APC equipment protection policy.
How we chose
- What must stay on, and for how long: a router for hours, a desk for the minutes it takes to save and shut down.
- Output waveform against the load: a stepped wave for adapters, a sine wave for any computer power supply with active PFC, as both makers advise.
- Topology: standby for the network, line interactive with voltage regulation where brownouts are common.
- Runtime as the maker publishes it, at a stated load.
- A user-replaceable battery, because every UPS battery wears out.
- Software that runs on your operating system, from the maker's own compatibility notes.
- Warranty and the equipment protection policy as stated for the US.
Every number is the maker's, from the spec page or manual linked beside it. HoldBackup has no lab, so nothing on this page was tested by us, and Amazon sets the price the button shows.
Owner lines summarize public forum threads, linked beside them. We don't verify what owners say.
Questions
Does a modem and router need a pure sine wave UPS?
No. A router's power adapter is a small switching supply that runs on a stepped sine wave, and APC sells its small standby units for exactly that job. Pure sine wave matters for a computer power supply with active power factor correction, which both makers say can misread a stepped waveform's zero point as a power failure.
How long will a UPS run my computer?
Minutes, not hours. APC's chart for the BR1500MS2 gives 36 minutes at 200 W and under 8 minutes at 600 W; CyberPower gives 10 minutes at half load for the CP1500PFCLCD. A UPS buys the time to save and shut down cleanly. For hours, look at a power station.
What does VA mean, and why is the watt figure smaller?
Volt-amperes are the apparent power the UPS can carry; watts are the real power your gear draws. The watt rating is the one to size by. A 1,500 VA unit from APC is rated 900 W and from CyberPower 1,000 W, and near that load both makers' figures fall to minutes.
Can I plug a laser printer or a space heater into the battery outlets?
No. APC's support page says not to plug a laser printer into a UPS at all, battery or surge-only outlets, because its current draw can sag the line and run the battery down, and a 1,500 W heater draws more than any unit here carries. Put the computer, the monitor and the network on the battery outlets.
Where does the price button go?
Straight to Amazon. Amazon sets the price and availability, and both can change.
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