Both are 1500 VA CyberPower mini-tower UPS units with line-interactive topology, automatic voltage regulation (AVR) and 12 outlets [2][4]. The split is what each feeds your gear during an outage: simulated sine wave from the CP1500AVRLCD3’s battery, sine wave from the CP1500PFCLCD’s [2][4]. Here’s what that means for NAS, router and active-PFC PC owners, per CyberPower’s own pages.

Scope: two CyberPower tower UPS models. CyberPower’s product pages point to resellers, so both buy links go to Amazon [1][3][11][12]. CyberPower’s US pages say “Sine Wave” where many shoppers say pure sine wave.

Which to pick

• Pick the CP1500PFCLCD if anything on the battery outlets has an active-PFC power supply, or you can’t confirm that it doesn’t. Our pick because: CyberPower lists it as active PFC compatible, with sine wave on battery [3][4], and says computers with active-PFC supplies “require sine wave AC power” [8]. It also has the higher watt rating, 1000 W against 900 W [2][4]. It’s the higher price tier.
• Pick the CP1500AVRLCD3 if you’ve confirmed nothing on battery needs sine wave and you want coax protection. Our pick because: CyberPower pitches its simulated output as backup “for equipment that does not require sine wave output” [1], and protects Ethernet and coax lines on both its product page and datasheet [1][2]. It’s the lower price tier.

How we chose: research-based. We used CyberPower’s US product pages, datasheets, warranty statements, a user manual and CyberPower explainer pages (cited below). This comparison covers two CyberPower models only. We have not physically tested these UPS units. All runtime, power and waveform figures are CyberPower’s own.

Side-by-side

	CP1500AVRLCD3	CP1500PFCLCD
Waveform on battery	Simulated sine wave [1][2]	Sine wave [3][4]
Waveform on utility power	Sine wave [1][2]	Sine wave [3][4]
Active PFC compatible	Not listed on product page or datasheet [1][2]	Yes (product page) [3]
Capacity	1500 VA / 900 W [1][2]	1500 VA / 1000 W [3][4]
Topology	Line interactive [1][2]	Line interactive [3][4]
AVR	Single boost; correction range not listed on product page or datasheet [1][2]	Single boost; +11.5% under/over-voltage correction [3][4]
Runtime, half / full load	12 min / 3 min [1][2]	10 min / 2.5 min [3][4]
Batteries	2 × 12 V / 9 Ah, user-replaceable [1][2]	2 × 12 V / 9 Ah, user-replaceable [3][4]
Outlets	12: 6 battery + surge, 6 surge-only [1][2]	12: 6 battery + surge, 6 surge-only [3][4]; 2 widely spaced [3]
USB charge ports	2: 1 USB-A 2.4A, 1 USB-C 15W [1][2]	2: 1 Type-A, 1 Type-C, 3.1 A shared [3][4]
Communication	USB, serial [1][2]	USB, relay (dry contact), SNMP/HTTP with optional RMCARD205 card [3][4]
Management software	PowerPanel Personal [1][2]	Conflicting: PowerPanel Business (product page and datasheet feature list) [3][4] / PowerPanel Personal (datasheet spec table) [4]
Data line protection	Ethernet (RJ45 in/out, 10/100/1000) and coax (RG6 in/out) [1][2]	Ethernet (RJ45 in/out, 10/100/1000, PoE compatible) [3][4]; coax: RG6 in/out appears only in the datasheet’s spec table [4]; the product page [3], the datasheet’s feature list [4] and the user manual [7] list network protection only
Surge suppression	1500 J [1][2]	1445 J [3][4]
Weight	23.8 lb [1][2]	24.9 lb [3][4]
Warranty	3-year limited, batteries included [1][2][5]	3-year limited, batteries included [3][4][6]
Connected Equipment Guarantee	Up to 500,000 US dollars [1][2][5]; term listed as lifetime on the product page and datasheet [1][2], but the warranty statement gives no lifetime term [5]	Up to 500,000 US dollars [3][4][6]; term listed as lifetime on the product page and datasheet [3][4], but the warranty statement gives no lifetime term [6]
Price tier	Mid	Premium

Price tiers are relative to the products in this article. Each tier is based on CyberPower’s listed US MSRP on its product pages [1][3], checked October 21, 2026 (ET); CyberPower’s pages point to resellers rather than selling direct. We don’t list street or retail prices because they change. Check the current price before you buy.

Simulated vs sine wave: what CyberPower says

On utility power, both spec tables list sine wave output [1][3]. The difference appears only on battery [2][4].

CyberPower’s glossary calls simulated output a “stepped, approximated sine wave” for gear that can run without sine output [10]. Its Power Blog says “This type of manufactured wave form is good for most situations,” but notes the wave hits zero each time polarity switches [9]. Its Feature Focus page adds that simulated sine wave “momentarily creates a zero power gap” that an active-PFC supply may not recognize, which could mean a sudden shutdown or extra component stress [8].

Active PFC: the question to answer first

CyberPower ties the choice to the power supply [8]. The CP1500PFCLCD’s spec table lists active PFC compatibility as yes [3], and its manual adds that ENERGY STAR computer requirements (version 7.1) call for active PFC on supplies above 100 watts [7]. Neither the CP1500AVRLCD3 product page nor its datasheet lists active PFC compatibility [1][2].

Our take: look for “active PFC” on your PC or NAS power supply’s spec sheet or label. If it’s there, CyberPower’s guidance points to the CP1500PFCLCD [8]. If you can’t find it, check with the power supply’s maker before you buy.

NAS and router setups

Both datasheets list home networking, routers and modems as typical uses [2][4]. The CyberPower pages we checked don’t say which NAS or router power supplies use active PFC. Only the six battery-backed outlets on each unit stay powered in an outage [1][3].

Our take: the waveform matters for whatever sits on the battery outlets. Network gear whose maker doesn’t ask for sine wave fits the CP1500AVRLCD3’s described use; add a NAS or desktop with an active-PFC supply and pick the CP1500PFCLCD. Either way, check that the NAS supports USB UPS shutdown.

Runtime, ports and data lines

CyberPower lists 12 minutes at half load and 3 at full for the CP1500AVRLCD3, against 10 and 2.5 for the CP1500PFCLCD, with the same two 12 V / 9 Ah batteries [2][4]. Our take: each figure uses that unit’s own rated load (450 W versus 500 W at half), so it isn’t like-for-like.

The CP1500PFCLCD adds a relay port and optional SNMP/HTTP monitoring [3][4], plus two widely spaced outlets [3]. CyberPower’s documents disagree on its software: PowerPanel Business on the product page, PowerPanel Personal in the datasheet’s spec table [3][4]. They also disagree on coax: only the datasheet’s spec table lists an RG6 coax pair [4], while the product page, the datasheet’s feature list and the user manual list network protection only [3][4][7].

Warranty and guarantee

Both have a three-year limited warranty covering the batteries and a Connected Equipment Guarantee of up to 500,000 US dollars, listed as lifetime on the product pages and datasheets [1][2][3][4]. The warranty statements themselves give no lifetime term; the only period they state is three years for the UPS [5][6]. They pay the fair market value or the original purchase price of the damaged equipment, whichever is less, reduce that by any insurance payout, and cover only the original purchaser [5][6]. They also require claims within 10 days, apply to consumers, and exclude surges that enter through unprotected network, phone or coax lines [5][6].

The bottom line

Our take: for anything with an active-PFC supply, the CP1500PFCLCD is the model CyberPower’s guidance points to, at the higher tier [3][8]. The CP1500AVRLCD3 suits gear that doesn’t need sine wave, at the lower tier [1][2].

Buy

• Buy the CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD3 on Amazon
• Buy the CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD on Amazon

Want the full picture? See our guide: Best CyberPower UPS battery backups for a NAS and router, which also covers the CP850PFCLCD and NAS shutdown setup. How we pick and source products: How we research.

Related: Best budget NAS for Plex and Jellyfin · Best Wi-Fi 7 routers for 1–2.5 Gig internet

GearSift isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by CyberPower or Amazon.

Real gear for a better everyday.

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Sources (all checked October 21, 2026, ET)

1. CyberPower, CP1500AVRLCD3 product page (overview, specifications, MSRP, FAQ) (specs): https://www.cyberpowersystems.com/product/ups/intelligent-lcd/cp1500avrlcd3/
2. CyberPower, CP1500AVRLCD3 datasheet (PDF, linked from the product page) (specs): https://images.salsify.com/image/upload/s–srjjFJpm–/5ac8b0512e34b023352e3ba61f8db431b437ad84.pdf
3. CyberPower, CP1500PFCLCD product page (overview, specifications, MSRP, FAQ) (specs): https://www.cyberpowersystems.com/product/ups/pfc-sinewave/cp1500pfclcd/
4. CyberPower, CP1500PFCLCD datasheet (PDF, linked from the product page) (specs): https://images.salsify.com/image/upload/s–oMTfEGGZ–/53ea2bc2a4d8e5790b069ae439a9e03cb629e205.pdf
5. CyberPower, CP1500AVRLCD3 limited warranty and Connected Equipment Guarantee statement (PDF, linked from the product page) (specs): https://images.salsify.com/image/upload/s–29EbpUzy–/52ff1a330f77fef6e56ce24fc3b2c219e9671c5f.pdf
6. CyberPower, CP1500PFCLCD limited warranty and Connected Equipment Guarantee statement (PDF, linked from the product page) (specs): https://images.salsify.com/image/upload/s–5PSARmz1–/b93af3dff4a14aa69b86b4a3c0df51883e83fbc5.pdf
7. CyberPower, CP1350PFCLCD/CP1500PFCLCD user manual (PDF, linked from the product page) (specs): https://images.salsify.com/image/upload/s–kk1dXPC6–/c725f7d2903e29be30b14afea3cf39f1e3b08f97.pdf
8. CyberPower, Feature Focus: “Active Power Factor Correction Supplies for IT Equipment” (specs): https://www.cyberpowersystems.com/feature_focus/active-power-factor-correction-supplies-for-it-equipment/
9. CyberPower Power Blog, “How to choose the right CyberPower UPS Battery Backup for ENERGY STAR® rated desktop computers” (March 18, 2020) (specs): https://www.cyberpowersystems.com/blog/how-to-choose-the-right-ups-for-energy-star-computers/
10. CyberPower glossary, “Simulated Sine Wave Output” (specs): https://www.cyberpowersystems.com/glossary/simulated-sine-wave-output/
11. Amazon, CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD3 product page (buy page): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCMLLSHL
12. Amazon, CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD product page (buy page): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00429N19W