'Plug in tons of items in one spot' — our tech writer's favorite surge protector is on sale for just $10 (50% off) at Amazon
I wouldn't say I'm afraid of the dark, but I'm not a fan of scurrying around in it in the middle of the night. I used to reach for my phone's flashlight to guide me to the kitchen for a glass of water so as not to wake up the rest of the house, but then I came across this 2-in-1 surge protector outlet and motion sensor night light on Amazon. It had gotten over 5,200 five-star reviews, so I decided to give it a shot.
Before the Powrui Multi Plug Outlet Surge Protector came into my life, my bedside double outlet was occupied with my lamp and phone charger — I didn't have room for a night light. But this thing offers that ... as well as four additional outlets! Turns out that you really can have it all.
When I first opened the Powrui Multi Plug Outlet Surge Protector, I realized that it's a little ... thick. It doesn't lie flush against the wall, but this didn't bother me because I put it in a corner of my bedroom that no one would really see. That said, you should take a look at your home's outlets before purchasing — it only fits over duplex receptacle outlets with a single screw. Simply remove your existing outlet's center screw, plug this in and screw in its (considerably longer) middle screw.
Like most other surge protectors, once it's plugged in, it's ready to use. This one offers six AC outlets, two USB ports and a USB-C port. The USB-C port is especially helpful if you have a MacBook or the latest iPhone 15. If you don't think you need the USB-C port, the brand also makes a surge protector without it (and while a little pricier, that one has over 50,000 five-star reviews).
Now, about that night light. It has a "dusk to dawn" sensor that only turns it on when the room goes dark. However, there's also a touch sensor at the top with three levels of brightness. Simply touch it to turn the light on, change the brightness or turn it off. If you want it to light up at night, touch the top to turn it to your desired brightness, and if the room is currently bright, it will stay lit for a few seconds before turning off. Then, when the lights go down, the night light will automatically turn on to your chosen setting. I have mine set on the lowest brightness — it's a pretty gentle, warm light that doesn't bother me when I sleep.
All in all, I've found this surge protector to be incredibly helpful. I've had it for two years, and it's still going strong.
Don't need the USB-C port? The brand offers a similar surge protector without it for $17.
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.