Best Uninterruptible Power Supplies in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update February 21, 2024
If you want to keep your home and office electronics in good working condition, choose a reliable UPS (battery backup) to prevent ...Read more
PROS

Boost and Trim Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) balances out the excessive or insufficient voltage of the electrical grid to a stable level. What is more, the system adjusts to power surges automatically so you don't have to configure it manually.

CONS

The software's user interface is a bit complicated.

OUR VERDICT

The APC BR1500GI will be a perfect option for users that need extra protection for computer hardware and servers. The appliance features 10 outlets that can accommodate computers, laptops, monitors, and other gadgets and protect them from power surges with ease.

detailed parameters
TYPE

Line-interactive

POWER OUTPUT

1500VA / 865W

RUNTIME (HALF/FULL)

10 min / 4 min

TRANSFER TIME

10 ms typical (12 ms max)

OUTLET TYPE / NUMBER

10 x IEC-C13 outlets

RECHARGE TIME

8 hours

BATTERY BACKUP

APCRBC124 replaceable battery

POWER SURGE PROTECTION

Boost and Trim Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR), Automatic self-test, Data line surge protection, Resettable circuit breaker, Telephone data line surge protection

CONVENIENCES

LCD graphics screen, Adjustable voltage sensitivity, Adjustable voltage-transfer points, Audible alarms

INTERFACES

USB charging port, RJ11 analogue phone line, RJ45 network line

WARRANTY

3-year repair or replacement service

PROS

The One-step battery connector prevents it from discharging when the UPS isn't used. On top of that, the appliance is additionally equipped with a set of sockets that are protected from power surges.

CONS

The unit comes without a power cord.

OUR VERDICT

The APC BX-series is a powerful UPS that boasts simple management and complex protection of your personal computer, laptop, gaming console, and pretty much anything that has a 3-prong UK plug. An excellent pick for home use.

detailed parameters
TYPE

Line-interactive

POWER OUTPUT
1400VA / 700W
RUNTIME (HALF/FULL)
11 min / 2 min
TRANSFER TIME
8 ms typical (10 ms max)
OUTLET TYPE / NUMBER
6 x IEC-С13 outlets
RECHARGE TIME
8 hours
BATTERY BACKUP
APCRBC113 replaceable battery
POWER SURGE PROTECTION

AC power surge protection, Data line protection: RJ-11 DSL/Modem/Fax/Phone protection

CONVENIENCES

LED screen, Audible alarms, Automatic voltage regulation (AVR), Power management software

INTERFACES

USB type-B, RJ-11

WARRANTY
2 years
PROS

The unit has 6 outlets, allowing you to connect several laptops and desktop computers simultaneously. The PowerShute Shutdown Software makes it possible to shut down all applications properly without the loss of important data.

CONS

The alert sound is quite loud.

OUR VERDICT

Compact and reliable, the APC (BX950UI) 950VA offers the best value-power protection. It is suitable for regular users and small businesses who often suffer from power outages and doesn't cost an arm and a leg, making it a real bargain.

detailed parameters
TYPE

Line-interactive

POWER OUTPUT

950VA / 480W

RUNTIME (HALF/FULL)

7.5 min / 1.3 min

TRANSFER TIME

8 ms typical (10 ms max)

OUTLET TYPE / NUMBER

6 x IEC-C13 outlets

RECHARGE TIME

8 hours

BATTERY BACKUP

APCRBC17 replaceable battery

POWER SURGE PROTECTION

AC power surge protection, Data line protection: RJ45 modem/fax/DSL/10-100 base-T protection

CONVENIENCES

LED status screen, Audible alarms, Automatic voltage regulation (AVR), Shutdown software

INTERFACES

USB type-C, RJ45 analogue phone line, RJ45 network line

WARRANTY

2 years repair or replace

PROS

A digital display makes the use of the UPS easy and intuitive. The GreenPower UPS technology gives a significant increase in the operating efficiency of the device. 

CONS

Battery replacement is quite tricky.

OUR VERDICT

If you don't have a huge power requirement, the CyberPower CP900EPFCLCD can be your best bet. It can support up to 6 computers and safeguard your sensitive equipment from voltage fluctuations while saving you energy costs.

detailed parameters
TYPE

Line-interactive

POWER OUTPUT

900VA / 540W

RUNTIME (HALF/FULL)

7 min / 1 min

TRANSFER TIME

4 ms typical (10 ms max)

OUTLET TYPE / NUMBER

6 x IEC-C13 outlets

RECHARGE TIME

8 hours

BATTERY BACKUP

RBP0051 replaceable battery

POWER SURGE PROTECTION

Phone/Network protection RJ11/RJ45, EMI/RFI filtration, Surge protection

CONVENIENCES

Energy saving technology, Active PFC compatible, Automatic voltage regulation (AVR), Multifunction LCD readout

INTERFACES

USB charging port, RJ11 analogue phone line, RJ45 network line

WARRANTY

2 years

PROS

This UPS unit features the ability to start the battery from a complete halt, which will come in handy in case of a total power outage. For added convenience, the main unit features Type-A and Type-C USB charging ports.

CONS

It takes a considerable amount of time to fully recharge.

OUR VERDICT

The APC BACK-UPS ES (BE850G2) is an ultimate middle ground for users that are still on the fence about getting an uninterruptible power supply device. It is reasonably priced and has all the great features APC is known for, including the power surge protection system.

detailed parameters
TYPE

Line-interactive

POWER OUTPUT

850VA / 520W

RUNTIME (HALF/FULL)

15 min / 4 min

TRANSFER TIME

6 ms typical (10 ms max)

OUTLET TYPE / NUMBER

8 x IEC-C13 outlets

RECHARGE TIME

16 hours

BATTERY BACKUP

RBC17 replaceable battery

POWER SURGE PROTECTION

Automatic self-test, Data line surge protection, Safety-agency approved, Battery-protected and surge-only outlets

CONVENIENCES

LED screen, Adjustable voltage sensitivity, Audible alarms, Cold-start capable

INTERFACES

USB type-A, USB type-C, RJ45 analogue phone line, RJ45 network line

WARRANTY

3-year repair or replacement service

Great for Computers and Servers Alike

The APC BR1500GI is one of the premium-grade uninterruptible power supply units that can deliver quite a lot of power to the connected electrical appliances in case a power outage or a sudden blackout happens.

One of the more distinctive features of the BR1500GI is a built-in automatic voltage regulation system (or simply AVR). Although the system’s name may sound unimpressive, in actuality, it is an exceptionally useful set of transformers that allow regulating the voltage automatically. But the real thing that makes it so useful is that you don’t need to disconnect the built-in battery to re-route the voltage to the appliances that need it the most. And to top all that, all of this is done automatically and can be customised according to the type of connected devices.

Once the appliances are connected to the UPS, it will provide them with power protection from harmful spikes and power surges. As a neat little bonus, you will be able to activate power management software that will come in handy for handling sensitive hardware. The only downside of said hardware, however, is its complexity. Despite being quite user-friendly overall, this part of the package will require you to read up the user manual thoroughly. To aid you in the process, this power supply model features a high-contrast monochrome display that shows the current battery charge, as well as the status of the devices connected to it.

Connect Anything You Want

When it comes to numbers, the BR1500GI has quite a lot to offer, right from the get-go. Starting out, the appliance features 10 IEC-C13 outlets that can accommodate multiple devices simultaneously. What sets this particular UPS from the competition, though, is the fact that can deliver up to 220 V to all outlets. Moreover, the total power output, in this case, will stay at a stable mark of 865 watts. Combined with a total battery capacity of a whopping 1500 VA, the power supply will keep the connected hardware up and running for up to 10 minutes at partial capacity and up to 4 minutes at the maximum capacity, which is quite amazing, to say the least. These given time frames should be more than enough to either save the data or to reconnect the linked devices to a secondary power source.

Finally, this BR1500GI from APC is one of the top picks for the role of an uninterruptible supply unit for both household and professional use. Perfect for computers, laptops, monitors and fully-fledged servers it provides users enough time to save sensitive data and the ability to switch to a more sustainable power source or backup without losing internet or phone connection.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £387.48
Stock In stock
ASIN B0041MP81Y

Protection of All Multimedia Equipment

The BX1400UI is yet another UPS model from APC but this time around it comes in a more compact package compared to the bigger products in the series. Like many other APC devices, this UPS is a line-interactive one, which requires it to be connected to an existing mains power line at all times in order for the appliance to operate properly.

First of all, if you worry that your electronic equipment may become damaged as a result of power grid problems, we recommend you to acquire the APC BX-series Uninterruptible Power Supply. The device has a simple design and can warn you about any malfunctioning in an electrical network. To make your life easier, the appliance features an LED indicator on the front panel that will show the status of the device. The Six IEC-C13 outlets boast protection against harmful interference and power surges.

The battery backup allows you to finish running processes and switch off different multimedia appliances or connect them to a different power source in the event of a voltage drop or an unexpected power surge. By the way, the total power output of the UPS is 700W, quite enough to hook up all your sensitive equipment. Moreover, the appliance can be used to protect modem, DSL line, modem, fax and phone lines by connecting cables to the respective RJ-11 connectors.

It's All About the Numbers

The maximum transfer time of this particular uninterruptible power supply varies from 8 to 10 ms where 10 ms being the maximum value. Although one could assume that it can be too long to maintain the continuous flow of electric current, in fact, the transfer time is short enough to keep every electrical appliance up and running in case of a power outage. The runtime, on the other hand, is limited to 11 minutes at half capacity and 2 minutes at full load, when multiple devices are connected to the UPS at the same time.

What makes this particular UPS a good long-term investment is a fact that you can replace the internal battery once the original one starts losing its total capacity, which is a nice addition, considering that most of the models in the same price range don’t have that feature.

In the end, the BX1400UI proved to be a good budget solution for users searching for a decent uninterruptible power supply that is both powerful enough to handle multiple electronic devices and quite affordable at the same time. The appliance is easy to use and paired with its great protection capabilities, it can be utilised with pretty much any electronic device in your house.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £143.04
Stock In stock
ASIN B00T7BYPDG

VIDEO

Best-value Power Protection

If your budget precludes you from going with our top pick, the APC BX95OUI can be a great alternative. Sure, it has a lower capacity and peak power output (480 watts) than our more expensive models reviewed here. Still, you get sufficient power from it for computers, laptops, wireless networks, and other electronics, allowing you to use it for protecting your home and business devices alike.

Speaking of numbers, the APC BX95OUI can keep low-power devices going for up to one hour and more (if the computer isn't on), including your TV, router, internet modem or a few plugs for charging your gadgets. So, in the event of a power surge, you won't fall into the dead zone and will be able to top off your phone to stay connected.

Under a heavier load, this UPS provides around 7.5 minutes at a half capacity and 1.3 at a maximum. Of course, some computers can give your hours of juice, but this runtime is standard at this price range. Besides, that's enough time to finish your game, save work and properly shut down your computer.

Should you suffer from frequent power grid changes, the unit can help fix that too. Once it senses that devices start to lose power, it instantly corrects power fluctuations, allowing you to continue doing what you did without worrying about the health of your electronic equipment.

Good for Home and Business Computers

Like our other APC picks, this one has a nice tower design that fits neatly under the computer desk. And that's where it is best to place it because it has a rather short lead.

On the back of the device, you can find a battery connector for safe transportation, a USB port, allowing you to access additional features, and 6 outlets with battery backup and surge protection. The outlets are conveniently spaced out, giving you enough room to plug electronics and accessories with larger plugs. There is also a LED indicator on the front of the unit that visually "tells" you about the power status of the UPS.

Basically, this model has pretty much everything an individual or a small business organisation may need to protect their peripherals in case of an unplanned power outage.

Our only complaint would be that it is not possible to configure the alarm signal. It sounds quite loud and there's no option to mute it. However, it's not a deal-breaker for sure, especially given the price and functionality of the UPS.

To run to the chase, if you often suffer from power cuts and you're on a budget, we recommend getting this model. It offers the best-value power protection and is suitable for both home and office computers.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00T7BYX2Y

Active PFC compatible

The next UPS we get our hands on is the CyberPower EC850LCD. This unit is very easy to set and very easy to figure out thanks to the event monitor on the front panel. Plus, it has a compact tower design, making it easy to fit pretty much anywhere you want.

To start with, the CyberPower EC850LCD has a very elegant design, just as most other power protection products produced by CyberPower. Though quite heavy, it doesn't look bulky and takes only a little footprint, allowing you to neatly organise it in your home or office space. The feature we particularly like is that it has a digital display. It shows you where you are in terms of power in/out and total battery charge. What is also of note is that it has a muted battery alarm. This way, if you find the sound of alarm annoying, you can just turn it off.

As we've mentioned earlier, the EC850LCD is a good option for both home and office use. It has a total of 6 outlets, two of which are of the UK type. All of them are battery- and surge-protected. You will also find a USB port for charging your mobile devices.

The standout feature of this UPS, though, is that is Active PFC compatible. Naturally, this fact added to the unit's price but the benefits are well worth it. To prevent overload issues and meet the requirement of your equipment, the EC850LCD provides a true sine wave. Not only does it give you enhanced voltage regulation, but it also ensures much higher overall efficiency and saves you electricity costs.

Energy Saving

Whether you often have unexpected power outages or there's a problem with voltage in your area, this UPS can help. Not dissimilar to the competition, it has built-in Automatic Voltage Regulation that will fix all minor fluctuations, ensuring you get consistent power when you need it.

With regards to the battery, it isn't huge in this model. Clocked in at 540W, it provides up to 7 minutes of runtime at a half load and only 1 minute at a maximum capacity. Anyway, you should have enough time to finish what you've been doing and shut down.

Other than that, the CP900EPFCLCD-UK incorporates the proprietary GreenPower UPS technology, which effectively increases the operating efficiency of the device, helps in preventing overheat issues, and as a result, allows saving more energy costs.

All in all, the CP900EPFCLCD-UK has many features, making it an attractive option. It has all the connections you need and offers higher overall efficiency while giving you enough juice to keep going before the power comes back. So, if you have no huge power demand, this model will be a good choice.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £199.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B08TX3T75G

Power Supply That Has it All

The APC BE850G2 is a slightly smaller UPS unit compared to other products included on our list but its compact size doesn’t diminish its capabilities.

To start things off, the appliance features 8 IEC-C13 power outlets with 6 of them having surge protection. In addition to that, it has two USB power ports (Type-A and Type-C) that can be used to charge smaller USB-powered devices. Similarly to other models on the list, the BE850G2 has an analogue RJ45 port for a telephone line, as well as an RJ45 LAN network cable outlet.

As a means of displaying the current status of the internal battery and the connected devices, the UPS unit has a set of bright LED lights that will conveniently show you the charge levels with 25% increments. The only real drawback of the BE850G2 is its charging time. To be more precise, it can take up to 16 hours to fully charge the internal battery of the appliance, which coupled with its relatively low wattage output doesn’t make the whole kit particularly outstanding. That being said, the power supply has its uses, especially for smaller server rooms and workstations that don’t carry a lot of data that needs protection.

On the bright side, however, once the battery is fully charged the power draw of the appliance is minimal and won’t exceed 2 watts per hour, which is much lower compared to more capacious alternatives.

Not As Simple As It Looks

Speaking of capacity, we couldn’t let the battery capacity be omitted. Under its plastic housing panels, the device has a replaceable RBC17 battery that has a capacity of 850 VA. Moreover, this rather compact appliance can deliver up to 520 watts of power in total, which makes it a decent option for the price.

The variety of different UPS devices from APC can be quite staggering at first, however, each one of these models is designed for specific purposes or to support certain hardware and types of electronic appliances. This model, for example, is able to accommodate multiple computers, laptops, monitors, and even a couple of smaller gadgets like phones and tablets simultaneously.

To wrap things up, the BE850G2 will be a good option for users looking for a high-quality uninterruptible power supply that will operate flawlessly and won’t break the bank at the same time. Reasonably compact and quite portable, it won’t take a lot of space on your working desk or in the server room but will prove to be an irreplaceable piece of hardware, especially when it comes to protecting data and internet connection during power surges.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £126.79
Stock In stock
ASIN B0828G42KN

What Is an Uninterruptible Power Supply?

Most modern houses are stuffed with electrical devices. They all add to our life’s convenience, but electronic equipment is very sensitive to an unstable line voltage and power surges. The perfect solution is an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that can protect the vulnerable electronics as well as give you enough time to shut them down in a proper way. This device has a powerful battery backup to provide your electronics with temporary power supply and save all the important data on your computer if utility power fails. The UPS will secure your gaming PCs, computer monitors, all-in-one desktops and many other devices such as gaming consoles and laptops. In this review, we will help you pick the one your house or office needs to keep the hardware protected in case of a sudden voltage surge or even during complete power cuts.

In order to keep all the small gadgets powered in case of a major power cut, we also recommend taking a look at the best power banks that are available on the market. Perfect for home use as well as on the go, they will ensure that your phones and tablets are juiced up and ready to use at any given time.

What Features to Compare

UPS Type

The first tip we'd like to offer is, while choosing and purchasing an uninterruptible power supply, look at the UPS type. Today, there are two main types on the market: standby and line-interactive. The standby UPS is used to feed the plugged electrical appliances or recharge a flat battery (when the line voltage is satisfactory). During voltage interruptions or deviations, the device assures a battery backup. As for the line-interactive UPSs, they have an additional voltage stabilisation function. It means that in the case of voltage fluctuations the UPS stabilises a voltage using a transformer without any battery backup. If it is impossible to stabilise the voltage deviations during a power failure, the line-interactive UPS switches to a battery power supply in 3-4 milliseconds.

Battery Characteristics

The next thing you should keep in mind when choosing a UPS is battery characteristics. Firstly, consider the battery capacity measured in volt-amperes (VA) or Watts (W). Secondly, the UPS should have a 20% to 30% higher capacity than that of the electronics to be plugged in. To select an appliance with the appropriate power supply you should calculate how much energy would feed all the appliances you are going to connect to an uninterruptable power supply. For example, a 350-500 VA capacity would suffice for an LCD monitor, a PC with components of average parameters. UPS with 500-1000 VA power supply will feed game computers, high-power computers with two monitors. Uninterruptible power supplies with a capacity higher than 1000 VA will let you protect additional peripheral units. Another important characteristic is UPS wireless productivity. A standard UPS in household use provides your electronics with up to 15 minutes working under peak load conditions. This time is quite enough to save all your data and shut down your computer properly. Uninterruptible power supplies with reliable lead-acid batteries have a rather short recharge time, about 8 hours.

Power Surge Protection

One more important point in choosing a UPS is its power surge protection. In addition to a no-break power supply, modern devices provide efficient data line protection. For example, a telephone, a computer network. Each interface has input and output connectors. In between them, there is a filter correcting high-voltage interferences. You can connect a router to a USP via a network cable. The most modern uninterruptible power supplies support data transmission to your computer through a USB or a COM port. Thus, a UPS gives you essential data on battery backup condition and charging, on electric network performance; informs you if the UPS turns to a wireless power supply; properly shuts down the PC while you're away; saves all the open app data in case of a power surge or fault. You can monitor and adjust the device performance from your computer. UPS manufacturers usually supply specific software for this option.

Extras

The last important tip for selecting a UPS is to look through its extras. Contemporary devices have displays for monitoring UPS performance. As for the low-budget uninterruptible power supplies, LED indicators usually inform you about the device operation. Sophisticated models feature an LCD display with the detailed information on a USP condition and its performance, as well as an audible alarm. A quick UPS power battery replacement will add to your device's convenience. As a rule, the battery serves for 2–4 years depending on how often the battery backup is required. A replaceable device battery will prolong your UPS service life for a minimum of 2 years. Usually, UPS have both surge and battery backup outlets. You can use the former for appliances that need surge protection only. They will not affect a battery backup power, which will extend the battery useful life; the devices with more outlets of this kind are preferable.

Sources:

Other reviews