Best Surge Protectors of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

Chris Monroe/CNET When I tested these surge protectors there were three things I looked for: 1. Well-spaced sockets: One of the most important things was having enough outlets to fit the wall wart power adapters that come with most products. These bulky connectors usually take up two or more spaces on normal outlets and power strips. I physically checked each power strip to see if its outlets were sufficiently spaced to fit multiple warts. 2. A high joule rating (preferably 1,000 or more): A joule rating was required, and all my picks had joule ratings comparable to or higher than their competitors. It'd be great to have a minimum or recommended joule rating, but such a thing doesn't exist for these kinds of products. 3. Whether it came with a "connected device" warranty: I also gave preference to products that come with a guarantee in case your gear is destroyed by a power surge. Nearly all of my picks have this kind of warranty, often in the range of hundreds of thousands of doll ... Read full article.