Head-to-head · Best Task Desk Lamps

BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 vs BenQ ScreenBar Pro

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.2). The gap is mostly about Monitor-based knowledge workers who want glare-free desk lighting that adds no clutter and eases eye strain over long sessions. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Task Desk Lamps

BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2

4.3

3 sources$199as of Aug 1

The BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 clips to the top of a monitor and throws an asymmetric beam forward onto the desk, so it lights the work surface without bouncing glare off the screen. AppleInsider scored it 5 out of 5 and XDA praised the coverage and the easy adjustments; HowToGeek was more measured at 7 out of 10 on value. It is expensive, and the rear backlight matters most in a dim room.

Strengths

— Asymmetric front beam rated above 1,000 lux with no reflections on the screen
— Tri-zone rear backlight balances a bright screen against a dark wall
— Wireless puck controller handles brightness and colour temperature from the desk

Watch-outs

— Premium price for a light bar next to a capable basic desk lamp
— The backlight benefit is mostly noticeable in darker rooms
— USB-powered, so it needs a free port or the included adapter

$199 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best Task Desk Lamps

BenQ ScreenBar Pro

4.2

3 sources1 derived$139as of Aug 1

The BenQ ScreenBar Pro is the motion-sensor light bar XDA calls the one most people should buy, sitting between the entry ScreenBar and the Halo. It is BenQ's brightest at over 1,000 lux, with an ultrasonic sensor that lights up the moment you sit down and an asymmetric beam that avoids screen glare. It skips the Halo 2's rear backlight and is still pricey, but as a slightly cheaper, motion-smart light bar it is an excellent pick.

Strengths

— Brightest ScreenBar yet at over 1,000 lux of central illuminance
— Ultrasonic motion sensor turns the light on as you sit and off after you leave
— Asymmetric optical design lights the desk without screen glare or reflections

Watch-outs

— Lacks the Halo 2's tri-zone rear backlight for behind-the-screen glow
— Still a premium price versus a traditional desk lamp
— USB-C powered, requiring a free port

$139 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2

The pick for monitor work, with the BenQ ScreenBar Pro as its close sibling and the only other light bar here. Unlike the articulating BenQ eReading LED Desk Lamp, Dyson Solarcycle Morph and TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp (TT-DL13), it takes up no desk space at all, but it only lights the area in front of the screen.

BenQ ScreenBar Pro

The motion-sensor sibling of the BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2, slightly cheaper but without the Halo 2's tri-zone rear backlight. Like the Halo 2 it clips to the monitor and saves desk space, unlike the freestanding BenQ eReading LED Desk Lamp, Dyson Solarcycle Morph and TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp (TT-DL13).

Specs side-by-side

Spec	BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2	BenQ ScreenBar Pro
Type	Monitor light bar	Monitor light bar
Brightness	>1,000 lux center	>1,000 lux center
Color Temperature	2700K-6500K	Adjustable
CRI	>95 (full-spectrum)	—
Power Source	USB	USB-C
Features	Tri-zone rear, 500 lx	Ultrasonic motion (60 cm)
Dimensions	5.6"D x 19.7"W x 4.3"H	5.31"D x 19.68"W x 3.62"H

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