Rank #1 in Best UPS Battery Backup 2026: 9 Ranked, and Why 2200VA Isn't 2200W
APC Back-UPS ES 850VA (BE850G2-UK)
- Rating
- 4.4
- Ratings
- 1,084
- Rank
- #1
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The APC Back-UPS ES BE850G2-UK takes the top spot in this guide. It is a 230V desktop uninterruptible power supply sold under an 850VA headline, priced at £124.97 and rated 4.4 out of 5 from 1,084 ratings, with eight outlets on the back — six battery-backed with surge protection and two surge-protection only — plus two USB charging ports, Type A and Type C.
Its own spec table is where the 850VA headline starts to wobble. The same listing gives Maximum Power as 800 Watts and Wattage as 800 watts, then gives Output Wattage as 520. Two of those entries are the same figure typed twice; the third sits 280W below them and describes the same product. The same table also lists the form factor as "Rack", which is not what a plastic-enclosed unit with eight rear sockets and two USB ports normally is. Work from the watt figure, not the VA number in the title.
Every figure on this page comes from the Amazon listing for this product. We have not tested the BE850G2-UK ourselves.
How those 1,084 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.4 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Price | £124.97 |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4 out of 5 from 1,084 ratings |
| Battery Backup Outlets | 6, plus 2 surge-protection only |
| USB Charging Ports | 2 (Type A and Type C) |
| Maximum Power (as listed) | 800 Watts |
| Wattage (as listed) | 800 watts |
| Output Wattage (as listed) | 520 |
| Form Factor (as listed) | Rack |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“Professional quality UPS that we are using to protect our home Wi-Fi from mains power outages and to provide emergency lighting. It could easily extend to cover a home office. Its heavy and bulky, but provides 6 UPS sockets and 2 additional surge protection sockets. Packaging suggests it will power an efficient laptop and router for around 40 minutes, down to 6 minutes for a 42 inch TV and gaming console. It also has some advanced features that we are not using as it's local to us.”
Verified purchase“Kicks in instantly on power cut and beeps to let you know. Keeps my router and mobile running for 4-5 hours which is useful as we have no mobile signal and the "brains" have abolished analog landlines - so WiFi calling is our only comms.”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best UPS Battery Backup 2026: 9 Ranked, and Why 2200VA Isn't 2200W.
Questions people ask
How much power can the APC Back-UPS ES BE850G2-UK actually deliver?
The listing gives three different answers. Maximum Power is 800 Watts, Wattage is 800 watts, and Output Wattage is 520. The model name quotes 850VA, so the figure to work from is the wattage in the spec table rather than the number in the title.
How many sockets does the APC BE850G2-UK have?
Eight in total. Six provide battery backup with surge protection and two are surge protection only. The listing also gives a surge protection rating of 310 Joules.
Can it charge a phone or tablet?
Yes. The listing specifies 2 USB charging ports, Type A and Type C, described as fast speed charging for smartphones and tablets.
What runtime and battery does APC quote?
The spec table states a runtime of 1 hour and 5 minutes, a battery charge time of 16 hours and a battery average life of 3.5 years. The battery cell type is sealed lead acid.
Does the APC Back-UPS ES come with a mains plug?
The spec table lists Power Plug Type as "No Plug", while the contents of delivery are given as the BE850G2-UK and a user manual. The unit is listed with 230 Volts input and 230 Volts output at 50Hz.
Does it protect data cables as well as mains?
Yes. The listing describes dataline surge protection, which it says safeguards equipment and files from surges travelling along data lines.
Comments
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