Status indicators can come in handy for letting you know when your device is fully charged. But if you choose one with an indicator that lights up, make sure you won’t have it in a bedroom at night where it will disrupt sleep. In some cases, this type of illumination can come in handy, though. If you have a charger that slides into a wall plug and it’s behind a piece of furniture, for instance, a light will help you find the appropriate slots. Some power strips ensure the protection of plugged electronic devices from power surges. A power surge is typically measured in Joules. Manufacturers use this unit of energy to denote the protection level of their devices. If you want better protection with the surge protector, look for higher numbers, but avoid going lower than 700 joules in an outlet surge protector. While this power strip has 8 outlets, they may be positioned not in the best way for you. 5 of the ports are right next to each other with almost no space between while the rest 3 outlets have some distance between each other. This won’t be an issue if your equipment has compact power plugs, but otherwise, one of the previous power strips would be a better option. Be advised that the power switch may feel loose to the touch, due to the overload protection feature.

With 12 outlets and two USB charge ports, it matches the APC Performance SurgeArrest 12. It has a lower energy rating at 3,996 Joules but is still more than enough for most. It’s also available in white. Some charging stations have smart chips built in. These chips detect the technology built into a phone and adapt the charge to match.Still, it sits cleanly on a wall and can work well next to a nightstand to plug in a lamp and some phone chargers. For travel and small spaces, the 3-Outlet Mini Surge Protector with USB ports can come in handy. Just use it mostly for smaller devices. Anker’s world-famous smart charging technically detects connected devices and adjusts voltage output to deliver a tailored, high-speed charge. Energy Efficiency: Consider power strips that are energy-efficient, such as those with individual on/off switches for each outlet. This enables you to switch off power to specific devices when not in use, saving energy and reducing your electricity bill. The Monoprice 12 also has lights that indicate if surge protection is working, and if protection fails following a major surge, the light will shut off. The device will auto-shut to prevent damage to electronics. It’s also UL Listed. Amperage/wattage indicates how much current a power strip can handle at most, in other words, how many electronic devices it can support without overload. The majority of power strips support up to 15 maps/1800 watts, and some come with circuit breakers for overload protection. You could ignore the limit of a device, but be ready to deal with overheating and increased fire risk. Surge Protection

Safety is important in a charger, not only to keep your home safe but to avoid harming your device. Look for a charger with built-in protection against overcharging, overheating, excessive voltage and short circuit. Another design plugs into a wall outlet. This type of charger works as an extension of your wall plug, giving you multiple outlets for power, as well as at least a couple for USB cables. You can use this to charge items like laptops while you’re also charging your smartphones and tablets. StandDesk is rather confident in the quality of their product and offers a 3-year limited warranty.This power strip is only compatible with US voltages, and therefore can not be used in other countries. Number of Ports: Look for a power strip that offers at least 12 ports. This will ensure that you have enough outlets to connect all of your devices simultaneously, without the need for additional extensions or adapters. And note, not all power strips offer surge protection. Some act as nothing more than an extension of an existing wall outlet. Some might add a layer of minimal surge protection. So, regardless of shape or size, all units on this list will give strong levels of protection. In terms of footprint, it’s relatively compact and can easily sit below a home theater setup. It also has a clip towards the bottom for cable management. The BV12234-08 also has room for large adapters, a recessed power button to prevent accidental shutoffs and mounting holes to secure to walls, baseboard or furniture.

U.S. households have an average of 11 electronic devices, including TVs, smartphones and tablets. Keeping all those devices charged can be challenging. You may have chargers plugged in around the house, which can not only be unsightly, but it can also be hard to remember where you have your phone plugged in when you need it.A nice feature of this power tool is the lit and covered power switch. Illumination will allow you to identify whether or not the device is on while the cover of the power switch makes sure that you won’t accidentally switch it off. Form Factor: Consider the size and design of the power strip. Look for a compact and lightweight option if you frequently travel or require portability. Alternatively, if you plan to keep the power strip stationary, you may prioritize a larger power strip with additional features. StandDesk made their power strip quite compact as well: it measures 35.4 x 1.6 x 1.4 inches. This means that you can easily install this power strip behind countertops, under cabinets, and in other confined out-of-view areas. You can install the power strip either vertically or horizontally.

The Belkin 3-outlet Mini Surge Protector with USB Ports is a bit of an oddball but could come in handy for specific situations. Acting more like a wall tap, the 3-Outlet essentially gives buyers additional ports on their walls. It also swivels, meaning it can sit both horizontally and vertically. AC outlets and 3 high-speed USB ports let you charge and power absolutely everything—from major appliances to your phone.It also features an illuminated and covered on/off button as well as better surge protection with a maximum surge rating of 1800 joule . With slot-based chargers, make sure the divider is firmly in place to avoid it tipping over when you aren’t nearby. If a larger item like a tablet tips too much, it could strain the divider, possibly causing it to no longer hold your device in place.