CyberPower CP1500PFCLCDa vs APC BX1500M: Compare Watt Capacity and Battery-Backed Outlets
Both models are 1500VA, but the CyberPower is rated for 1000W and specifies pure sine-wave output, while the APC is rated for 900W and specifies a stepped approximation to a sine wave. CyberPower also provides one more battery-backed outlet (six versus five); choose by your measured watt load, equipment requirements, and how many plugs must stay on during an outage—not by the shared VA number.
Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-18
Source checked 2026-10-18 13:18 UTC
Products compared
Product A · ASIN B00429N19W
CyberPower CP1500PFCLCDa 1500VA/1000W UPS
Last observed offer
$239.95 List Price: $274.95
Per listed package.
Offer eligibility must be confirmed on Amazon.
Checked 2026-10-19 15:36 UTC. Price and availability may change.
Product B · ASIN B06VY6FXMM
APC Back-UPS Pro BX1500M 1500VA/900W UPS
Last observed offer
$189.99 List Price: $249.99
Per listed package.
Offer eligibility must be confirmed on Amazon.
Checked 2026-10-19 15:15 UTC. Price and availability may change.
Pickoryx may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through the paid Amazon links on this page, at no added cost to you.
The buying question
Which of these 1500VA UPS models better matches the actual watt draw, the desired on-battery waveform, and the number of devices that need battery backup?
CyberPower documents 1000W, pure sine-wave output and six battery-backed outlets; APC documents 900W, stepped-approximation output and five battery-backed outlets. Both are rated 1500VA, but that VA label alone does not establish load runtime.
Quick verdict
Choose CyberPower CP1500PFCLCDa 1500VA/1000W UPS if
- Your measured connected load is at or below 1000W and you need the additional 100W of published watt capacity over APC’s 900W rating.
- Your equipment requirements call for pure sine-wave output, or you want the manufacturer’s documented active-PFC compatibility statement.
- Six battery-backed outlets are useful for your setup.
Choose APC Back-UPS Pro BX1500M 1500VA/900W UPS if
- Your measured load is at or below 900W and the BX1500M’s stepped-approximation output meets the connected equipment makers’ requirements.
- Five battery-backed outlets are sufficient and the live offer makes APC the better fit for your budget.
When the recommendation changes
- The connected equipment load exceeds either unit’s watt rating or changes materially.
- Your equipment maker requires a particular UPS waveform or compatibility condition.
- More than five devices need battery backup, or fewer than six do and current offers make the APC better value.
- Your runtime target at the measured load cannot be met according to the applicable manufacturer runtime chart.
The differences that matter
Rated Watt Capacity And On Battery Waveform
CyberPower CP1500PFCLCDa 1500VA/1000W UPS
1500VA / 1000W; pure sine-wave output; active-PFC compatibility is listed.[1]
APC Back-UPS Pro BX1500M 1500VA/900W UPS
1500VA / 900W; stepped approximation to a sine wave.[2]
What this changes: Use measured watts and equipment requirements to determine fit; the specifications do not prove measured performance or universal compatibility.[1, 2]
Battery Backed And Surge Only Outlet Count
CyberPower CP1500PFCLCDa 1500VA/1000W UPS
12 NEMA 5-15R outlets: six battery-and-surge protected, six surge-only.[1]
What this changes: The battery-backed count determines how many essential plugs can receive backup; surge-only outlets do not supply battery power during an outage.[1, 2, 3]
Best for your routine
A measured load up to 1000W that specifically calls for documented pure sine-wave output and active-PFC compatibility
Best fit: CyberPower CP1500PFCLCDa 1500VA/1000W UPS
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
CyberPower lists a 1000W rating, pure sine-wave output, and active-PFC compatibility. Confirm the requirements of the actual equipment; this documentation does not guarantee compatibility with every device.
A setup needing no more than five battery-backed plugs and staying within a 900W load ceiling
Best fit: APC Back-UPS Pro BX1500M 1500VA/900W UPS
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
APC’s BX1500M page lists 900W and five battery-backed outlets. This fit recommendation does not establish a runtime or performance advantage.
Value and trade-offs
One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.
If either current offer costs more, weigh the gap against the specific 1000W versus 900W rating, the documented output waveform, and one additional battery-backed outlet. No feature establishes a fixed premium worth paying.
No price observations or price history were available for this comparison, so it cannot support a buy-now or wait recommendation. Compare current offers when you shop.
Limitations
- Before ordering, check that the U.S. offer is labeled CP1500PFCLCDa. CyberPower’s included-product line spells it CP1500PFCLCDA and notes that package contents can vary by region.
- The 120V/NEMA 5-15P CyberPower SKU was used; do not substitute specifications for another voltage or similarly named model.
- No shared-condition runtime or load test was performed. Compare each manufacturer’s runtime chart at your measured watt draw; VA and watt capacity do not by themselves say how long a setup will run.
- Pure sine-wave and active-PFC statements describe documented product features. They do not establish universal device compatibility or a safety guarantee.
- There is no current price observation or historical price series in this draft.
Questions shoppers ask
Does 1500VA mean the two UPS units provide the same usable load capacity?
No. Both pages list 1500VA, but CyberPower lists 1000W and APC lists 900W. Check the equipment’s measured watt draw against the watt rating and manufacturer guidance.
How many connected devices stay powered during an outage?
CyberPower lists six battery-and-surge outlets; APC lists five. Their remaining six and five outlets respectively are surge-only, so plug essential equipment into the battery-backed group.
Can I estimate runtime from the VA or watt rating?
Not reliably from those capacity figures alone. Use the applicable manufacturer runtime chart for your measured load and confirm that it meets your shutdown or backup target.
Methodology and sources
Compared the published watt ceiling and on-battery waveform, then counted battery-backed versus surge-only AC outlets. No runtime was inferred from the shared VA rating, and no measured performance or universal compatibility claim is made.
Research assistance organized published manufacturer product and support details. Pickoryx did not test either UPS or connected equipment.
View 3 sources
- 1.CP1500PFCLCDaCyberPower · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-18 13:18 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Exact SKU overview and specifications: model name, input/output, watts, waveform, outlet groups, 120V and NEMA connector: The official SKU page identifies CP1500PFCLCDa and lists 120V, NEMA 5-15P input, 1500VA/1000W output, pure sine-wave on-battery output, active-PFC compatibility, and 12 NEMA 5-15R outlets split six battery-and-surge plus six surge-only. The included-product line renders the model as CP1500PFCLCDA. The page cautions that contents may vary by region.
- 2.APC Back-UPS Pro, 1500VA/900W, Tower, 120V, 10 NEMA 5-15R outlets, AVR, LCDSchneider Electric Marketplace USA · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-18 13:18 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- SKU BX1500M; product overview and specifications: rated watts, waveform and outlet allocation: The U.S. Schneider Electric marketplace page identifies SKU BX1500M and lists 120V AC, NEMA 5-15P input, 1500VA/900W, stepped approximation to a sinewave, 10 total outlets split five battery backup and five surge-only.
- 3.What are the basic troubleshooting steps for the Back-UPS Pro model BX850M, BX1000M, BX1350M and BX1500M?Schneider Electric USA Support · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-18 13:18 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Product line/environment list BX1500M and troubleshooting advice for battery-backup versus SURGE ONLY outlets: Schneider’s support article explicitly includes BX1500M and distinguishes battery-backup outlets from SURGE ONLY outlets; it explains that equipment on a surge-only outlet will not receive backup during an outage. Used to confirm the practical meaning of the outlet categories, not to establish a performance outcome.