Head-to-head · Best UPS Battery Backups

APC Back-UPS 600VA vs Eaton 5P 1550

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Eaton 5P 1550 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (unrated vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about data center users needing rackmount protection — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #7 in Best UPS Battery Backups

APC Back-UPS 600VA

UnratedNo cited reviews$83.99as of Aug 1

The APC Back-UPS 600VA BE600M1 improves on the model before it with faster transfer times, better surge protection, and longer battery life. Reviewers measured 67 minutes of runtime at 40 Watts, against 43 minutes on the older unit. It's also more compact, at 10.8 x 4.1 x 5.5 inches, and adds a 1.5A USB port. What it drops is the Ethernet surge protection previous models included. Users recommend it for home offices and small workstations that need reliable power backup.

Strengths

— 67 minutes runtime with 40 Watt load versus 43 minutes on previous model
— 490 Joules surge energy rating versus 340 Joules on previous model
— Compact design at 10.8 x 4.1 x 5.5 inches versus 12 x 3.3 x 7 inches

Watch-outs

— No Ethernet line surge protection (RJ45 port) included
— Battery life expected to be 3-5 years with 3-year warranty

$83.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best UPS Battery Backups

Eaton 5P 1550

4.5

2 sources1 derived$760as of Jul 31

The Eaton 5P1550GR is a rackmount UPS for data center environments, rated 1550 VA / 1100 W with true sine wave output. Reviewers noted the compact 1U form factor and the 6 C13 outlets, which can be grouped programmatically so critical and non-critical equipment are handled separately. ABM battery management extends battery life and warns you ahead of a replacement. Performance is solid for the class, though swapping the battery is on the user and the included power cord runs only 6 feet. It fits anyone who needs dependable rackmount power protection.

Strengths

— 1U rackmount form factor with compact footprint suitable for data center environments
— True sine wave output waveform for reliable power delivery to sensitive equipment
— 6 C13 outlets with programmable groups for critical and non-critical device management

Watch-outs

— Battery replacement requires user intervention and is not plug-and-play
— Limited runtime options without extended battery capability
— Power cord is only 6-foot length which may require additional cable management

$760 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

APC Back-UPS 600VA

The APC Back-UPS 600VA offers faster transfer times a more compact design. However, it lacks Ethernet surge protection, unlike the Tripp Lite OMNI 1500LCD which provides more comprehensive surge protection for home setups

Eaton 5P 1550

The Eaton 5P 1550 offers a 1U rackmount form factor and true sine wave output, features not available in the Tripp Lite OMNI 1500LCD. However, it requires user intervention for battery replacement and has a shorter power cord compared to the more user-friendly APC Back-UPS Pro 1500VA.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	APC Back-UPS 600VA	Eaton 5P 1550
VA Rating	600	1550 VA
Outlets	7	6 C13
Runtime	67 minutes (40W load)	upwards of 70 minutes
Dimensions	4.13"D x 10.79"W x 5.47"H	—
Voltage	120 volts	120 volts
Topology	Standby	Line-interactive
Waveform	True Sine Wave	True Sine Wave
Input Voltage	120 V AC 1 phase	230V default (200/208/220/230/240V)
Battery Type	Lead-Acid battery	Sealed, lead-acid
Material	Plastic	Metal
Wattage	—	1100 W

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