Anker 12-Outlet Power Strip Review: Every Port in Use on My Desk

The Anker power strip on my computer desk is the reason every device on that desk has a place to plug in. It is the central hub of the whole workstation: full tower Windows desktop, Mac mini, speakers, a light system, an ethernet switch, battery chargers. Twelve AC outlets plus two USB-A and one USB-C, and I am using every single one of them.

Grade: A—if you actually have a lot of devices and a single place to plug them in.

Which Anker power strip this review covers

I bought the Anker power strip with surge protection, the 12-outlet desktop model. The Amazon Special Link in this review points to that exact listing, ASIN B09SG2Q23M: 12 AC outlets, 2 USB-A ports, 1 USB-C port (rated at 20 W per the listing), 5-foot extension cord, surge protector with a 2100-joule listing claim, and TUV Listed per the listing. That is the unit I have and the unit I am reviewing.

Note that my transcript said “anchor.” That is my own pronunciation. The brand on the listing is Anker, the same brand as the USB-C hub I reviewed separately. I am not reviewing any other Anker power strip, including the wall-tap style or any of the smaller 6-outlet or 8-outlet variants.

Everything I say is about my own unit. I have not tested the current retail version against my older unit. If you buy one, evaluate it on its own listing.

Living with it

I bought the strip in January of 2025 and have had it on my computer desk ever since. It sits behind the monitors and under the desk, with the cord running to the wall outlet. It has been on and running, with everything I described above plugged into it, for about a year and a half.

The reason I bought it was simple: I had too many devices for the wall outlets behind the desk. A full tower Windows desktop, a Mac mini, a pair of speakers, a small light system that lights the back of the desk, an ethernet switch for hardwiring some devices, and battery chargers for AA/AAA rechargeable batteries and other small batteries. That is a lot of plugs.

When I opened the box and started counting outlets, I had to count them out loud: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Twelve AC outlets. Plus the two USB-A ports and one USB-C port on the side. I was skeptical I would fill all 12, but I have.

There is a little on/off switch on the strip. I do not actually use the switch to cut power — the strip stays on so the desktop, the Mac mini, and the rest of the desk can keep running. The switch is there as a circuit breaker / reset, which I have not had to use.

The 5-foot extension cord was the right length for where I wanted to put the strip. The wall outlet is up high behind the desk, and the strip sits under the desk where I can reach it. The cord was long enough without being so long that I had a lot of slack to manage.

The strip has worked like a champ. No tripped breaker. No melted plugs. No failures. No flickering. The USB ports work for charging phones and small devices, although I do not typically charge through them because my desk has plenty of dedicated chargers already.

What I like

• Twelve AC outlets. I thought 12 was overkill. I was wrong; my desk fills all 12.
• Two USB-A and one USB-C port on the side. Even if I do not always use them, the convenience is there when I need it.
• 2100-joule surge protection per the listing. I have not stress-tested it against a real surge, but the listing advertises the rating.
• TUV Listed per the listing. I am reporting the listing’s safety mark, not making my own certification claim.
• On/off switch as a circuit breaker / reset. I have not had to use it.
• Five-foot cord was the right length for my setup.
• Year and a half of constant use, every port occupied, no complaints.

What annoys me

• Twelve outlets do not increase circuit capacity. The strip is plugged into one wall outlet. The total amperage I can draw is whatever that single circuit supports. I have not pushed it, but it is worth knowing.
• The 2100-joule rating is the listing’s claim. I have not tested it. Treat the number as the manufacturer’s claim.
• TUV Listed is what the listing says. I have not opened the unit to inspect the certification mark on the case. I am reporting the listing, not making an independent safety claim.
• It is a corded strip, not a wall tap. It needs to be on the floor or under the desk. If you want something that mounts on the wall with no cord, this is the wrong product.
• I count my devices in my head. Twelve sounds like a lot, but on a busy computer desk it fills up faster than you think.

Who it is for, and who should skip it

If you have a busy computer desk or workstation with a lot of devices and you want them all on one strip with surge protection, this is the right tool. Twelve outlets sounds excessive until you start plugging in desktop, mini, monitor power bricks, speakers, lights, ethernet switches, and battery chargers.

Skip it if you only need a few outlets. A six-outlet or eight-outlet strip is a better fit for most people. Skip it if you want something that mounts on the wall with no cord. This is a corded desktop strip.

Verdict

A year and a half on my computer desk, every port in use, no failures, no complaints. That is the review.

Grade: A—if you actually have a lot of devices and a single place to plug them in. Buy the linked listing if your use case matches mine.

For the nerds

Detail	My Anker power strip	Linked Anker Power Strip with 2100J Surge Protector
Brand	Anker	Anker
Total AC outlets	12	12
USB-A ports	2	2
USB-C port	1	1
USB-C output	Per listing	20 W (listing claim)
Surge rating	Per listing	2100 joules (listing claim)
Cord length	5 ft	5 ft
On/off switch	Yes	Yes (per listing)
Safety listing	TUV Listed per listing	TUV Listed (per listing)
My use pattern	Always on, every port used	—
Devices plugged in	Windows desktop, Mac mini, speakers, light system, ethernet switch, battery chargers	—
My ownership	Bought January 2025, ~1.5 years	—

Twelve outlets on one strip do not increase the capacity of the wall circuit behind the strip. The total draw is whatever the single wall outlet and branch circuit support.

The 2100-joule surge rating is the listing’s claim. I have not tested the strip against a real surge event. Treat the number as the manufacturer’s claim, not an independent measurement.

TUV Listed is a third-party safety certification mark. The Amazon listing advertises this. I have not opened the unit to verify the certification mark on the case. I am reporting the listing, not making an independent safety claim.

The 20 W USB-C output is per the listing. I do not typically charge through the strip’s USB-C port, so I cannot confirm the actual delivered wattage. Treat the number as the manufacturer’s claim.

This is a different product from the CCCEI 10-outlet garage power strip I reviewed separately. That strip is yellow, corded, has a 10-foot cord, 10 outlets plus USB ports, and a 2700-joule listing claim. This Anker is a black desktop strip with a 5-foot cord, 12 AC outlets plus 2 USB-A and 1 USB-C, and a 2100-joule listing claim. Different jobs, different form factors.

Check the current Anker 12-outlet power strip price and availability on Amazon.

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