APC BX1500M review
APC BX1500M UPS Battery Backup and Surge Protector (1500VA)
By Tom Calder
Key specs
The maker's figures.
- Rating
- 1500VA / 900W
- Outlets
- 5 battery backup, 5 surge-only
- Output on battery
- —
- Runtime (maker)
- —
900 W of backup across five outlets, enough for a desktop, monitor and router through a short outage, with automatic voltage regulation for brownouts.
- Best for
- A home office: computer, monitor and router
- Skip it if
- You only need to keep the internet on
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Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- 1500VA / 900W
- Voltage regulation
- 10 outlets
Worth knowing
- Bigger and heavier than a router-only unit
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Our review
APC's Back-UPS Pro BX1500M is a 1,500 VA, 900-watt uninterruptible power supply with ten outlets, five of them on battery, automatic voltage regulation and a stepped-sine-wave inverter. It keeps a desktop computer, a monitor and the home network running through a short outage and through brownouts. This review covers what it protects, what APC says about runtime and batteries, and when a smaller or a sine-wave unit is the better buy.
Who it is for
The BX1500M is for the home office: someone who works from a desktop computer and cannot afford to lose a document or a video call every time the lights flicker. APC's product page says the 1,500 VA tower has 10 outlets in total, 5 with battery backup and 5 that are surge protection only, and its manual rates the BX1500M at a maximum load of 900 watts. Plug the computer, monitor, modem and router into the battery side; printers and other peripherals go on the surge-only side, which APC says stays protected even when the unit is switched off.
It also suits anyone whose house sees brownouts. APC says the automatic voltage regulation corrects voltage dips and surges to proper levels without dipping into the battery. For a household that only wants the internet to stay on, our router battery backup comparison has smaller units.
What it does well
Transfer to battery is quick: APC's manual gives 8 milliseconds typical and 10 milliseconds maximum, fast enough that a computer's power supply rides through it. The surge energy rating is 789 joules. A USB data port lets APC's software shut a computer down cleanly before the battery runs out, which is the feature that turns a few minutes of runtime into saved work. The unit carries ENERGY STAR certification under the UPS V2.0 program.
The manual says the replacement battery for the BX1500M is the APCRBC124 cartridge, that the battery typically lasts 3 to 5 years, shorter with frequent outages or heat, and that the standard warranty is three years. Swapping the cartridge yourself is routine.
Limits to know before you buy
Runtime is short by design. APC does not print a half-load figure in the manual; it points to its online runtime chart, and a 900-watt desktop setup at full tilt will get minutes, not hours. A UPS bridges a blip and buys time to save and shut down. For a long outage, pair it with a power station or run only the network gear.
The inverter produces what APC calls a step-approximated sine wave on battery. Most computers and routers do not mind, but some desktop power supplies with active power-factor correction, and some sensitive audio gear, prefer a true sine wave; for those APC sells the BR1500MS2. The BX1500M weighs 24.3 pounds, is for indoor use only, and is rated for 32°F to 104°F. There is no USB charging port for phones.
How it compares with the other picks
On our router battery backup comparison, the APC BE600M1 is the compact pick for a modem and router alone, with far less capacity but a much smaller footprint. The APC BR1500MS2 is the sine-wave sibling of the BX1500M with six battery outlets. CyberPower's CP850PFCLCD and CP1500PFCLCD are the sine-wave rivals with an LCD readout. The BX1500M is the straightforward 900-watt choice when a stepped wave is fine.
If your computer is a laptop, it already has a battery; a router-size UPS plus the laptop is cheaper than this.
Verdict
A solid home-office UPS: ten outlets, voltage regulation, a quick transfer and a user-replaceable battery, from the brand that defines the category. Buy it for a desktop and a network that must survive flickers and brownouts.
Skip it if you only need to keep a modem and router alive, if your equipment needs a true sine wave, or if you expect it to carry anything through an outage measured in hours.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and US listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Schneider Electric (APC): Back-UPS Pro 1500VA BX1500M product page; APC: Back-UPS Pro BX850M/1000M/1350M/1500M user manual (PDF).
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you only need to keep the internet on: the BE600M1 is smaller.
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the US price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for Keeping a modem and router online
Read the review →Best for Sensitive electronics and desktop PCs
Read the review →Best for The most capacity here, with sine-wave output
See the comparison →Questions
How long will the APC BX1500M run my computer?
Minutes, not hours; the exact figure depends on load. APC's manual sends you to its online runtime chart rather than printing a number. The point of a UPS is to ride through blips and shut down cleanly.
What is the replacement battery for the BX1500M?
APC's manual and product page name the APCRBC124 cartridge. APC says the battery typically lasts 3 to 5 years, less with frequent outages or high temperatures.
Does the BX1500M produce a pure sine wave?
No. APC describes the on-battery output as a stepped approximation to a sine wave. Most computers and network gear are fine with that; for a true sine wave, APC's BR1500MS2 is the sibling model.
Can I plug a printer into the BX1500M?
Yes, into one of the five surge-only outlets. APC's manual says to use those for printers, scanners and other peripherals that do not need battery power.