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APC Easy UPS BV650I vs Eaton 3S Gen2 UPS 3S550B

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against UPS units at a similar price

The Eaton 3S Gen2 UPS 3S550B scores 5.6/10 overall, ahead of the APC Easy UPS BV650I at 5.0/10.

The APC Easy UPS BV650I leads on topology and waveform.

The Eaton 3S Gen2 UPS 3S550B leads on NAS and server integration and UK outlets and build.

They score the same on capacity and runtime and battery.

The biggest difference is NAS and server integration, where the Eaton 3S Gen2 UPS 3S550B scores 7/10 to the APC Easy UPS BV650I's 4/10.

APC Easy UPS BV650I

APC Easy UPS BV650I

5.0/10verdict: wait for deal

The APC Easy UPS BV650I is for people who want to keep a router, modem and a few small devices running through short power cuts. It offers 375 W and six battery-backed IEC outlets on a line-interactive design. Anyone who needs confirmed NAS shutdown signalling or a confirmed pure sine wave should check the UK specification first.

Typically about £63.08 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Eaton 3S Gen2 UPS 3S550B

5.6/10verdict: wait for deal

The Eaton 3S Gen2 3S550B is a small standby UPS for a home desk or a compact homelab. It suits someone protecting a NAS, router and switch who wants USB-triggered shutdown and a user-replaceable battery. It doesn't suit anyone who needs a confirmed waveform, a published runtime or network management.

Typically about £83.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightAPC Easy UPS BV650IEaton 3S Gen2 UPS 3S550B
Topology and waveform25%5/104/10
NAS and server integration25%4/107/10
Capacity20%6/106/10
Runtime and battery15%5/105/10
UK outlets and build15%5/106/10
Overall5.0/105.6/10

Specifications

SpecAPC Easy UPS BV650IEaton 3S Gen2 UPS 3S550B
Capacity (VA / W)650 VA / 375 W550 VA / 330 W
TopologyLine-interactive (AVR-based)Offline/Standby
Output waveformStepped approximation to a sine wave (taken from the US-market 120V BV650 page; not confirmed for the UK SKU)not listed
Outlets6 x IEC C13, battery-backed6 UK outlets: 3 with battery backup and surge protection, 3 surge-only
Runtime at half load10 minutes at 120 Wnot listed
USB / network managementnot listedUSB port (HID-compliant), Eaton UPS Companion software, auto shutdown function; no Ethernet or network card
BatterySealed lead-acid12 V / 5 Ah sealed VRLA, one battery, user replaceable

Strengths and weaknesses

APC Easy UPS BV650I

  • + 375 W rating leaves room above a 100-150W load
  • + Six IEC C13 outlets, all battery-backed
  • + Line-interactive design with automatic voltage regulation
  • − Waveform and USB shutdown support unconfirmed for the UK model
  • − Alarm cannot be silenced, according to owners
  • − Conflicting discontinuation dates; replaced by BVR650I

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need confirmed automatic NAS or server shutdown over USB
  • Anyone who needs a confirmed pure sine wave output
  • Owners with loads well above 150W who need longer runtime
Read the full APC Easy UPS BV650I review ›

Eaton 3S Gen2 UPS 3S550B

  • + USB port is HID-compliant, with automatic shutdown support
  • + Battery is a single user-replaceable sealed unit
  • + Six UK outlets, three of them with battery backup
  • − Offline/standby topology; Gen2 waveform not confirmed by Eaton
  • − Half-load runtime isn't published by the manufacturer
  • − No Ethernet port or network card

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need a confirmed pure sine wave output
  • Anyone needing network-card monitoring for several servers
  • Users who need a published runtime figure before buying
Read the full Eaton 3S Gen2 UPS 3S550B review ›

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