BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 review
An 18 degree anti glare front light plus a backlight, which is the pairing that actually reduces eye strain.
An LED monitor light bar with a wide adjustable ambient backlight, ASYM-Light front lighting at an 18 degree anti glare angle, a wireless controller with a built in display and a motion sensor.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Backlight | Wide adjustable ambient backlight reducing contrast between screen and surroundings |
| Front light | ASYM-Light precision lighting at an 18 degree anti glare angle |
| Control | Wireless dial for brightness, colour temperature and modes, with a built in display |
| Sensor | Motion sensor |
| Mounting | Clamps to the top of a monitor |
Specifications above come from BenQ's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- An asymmetric beam angled at eighteen degrees puts light on the desk and not on the screen, which is the entire technical trick and it works.
- The backlight is the part that separates the Halo from a plain light bar, because reducing the contrast behind the screen is what actually reduces the adaptation your eyes keep making.
- A wireless dial rather than touch controls on the bar itself means adjusting brightness does not involve reaching over your monitor.
- It takes no desk space, which in a small setup is worth more than the light quality.
Where it falls short
- Two hundred dollars for a light is a lot, and a forty dollar monitor lamp does the front lighting part competently.
- It depends entirely on your monitor's thickness and curvature falling within the clamp's range, so check before ordering.
- Eye strain has several causes, and lighting is only one. Screen distance, break frequency and uncorrected vision matter at least as much.
- Blue light blocking is not what this does, and it should not be. The evidence for blue light glasses reducing eye strain is weak, and this addresses contrast instead, which is the better supported explanation.
What owners report
Published owner reports consistently describe reduced evening eye fatigue and praise the absence of screen glare, which is the specific claim the asymmetric optics make. The wireless dial gets favourable comment as a small convenience used daily.
The criticism is price, and reports comparing it with cheaper light bars generally conclude the backlight and the controller are what you pay for rather than better front lighting. That is a fair summary and it means the cheaper options are genuinely worth considering.
Who it suits
- Anyone working at a screen in the evening in a dimly lit room.
- Small desks where a lamp would take space that does not exist.
- People whose current desk lamp reflects off the screen.
Who should skip it
- Well lit rooms where the contrast problem does not exist.
- Anyone whose monitor is outside the clamp's thickness or curvature range.
- Budget buyers, where a forty dollar bar does the front lighting.
Alternatives worth considering
Over 1000 lux central brightness with an ultrasonic motion sensor and the same asymmetric approach, without the ambient backlight. If contrast behind the screen is not your problem, this is the better value.
Check price on AmazonA hundred and sixty dollars less, with the same asymmetric optical principle, auto dimming from an ambient light sensor, and certification to IEC/TR 62778 and IEC/EN 62471 for blue light hazard. The honest starting point.
Check price on AmazonCommon questions
Do monitor light bars reduce eye strain?
They address one contributor: the contrast between a bright screen and a dark surround, which forces your eyes to keep adapting. That is a better supported explanation for evening screen fatigue than blue light is. Distance, break frequency and correct spectacle prescription matter at least as much.
Is this better than a desk lamp?
For screen work, generally yes, because a desk lamp usually puts some light on the screen and creates glare. The asymmetric optics here are designed specifically to avoid that. A desk lamp is better for reading paper and for tasks away from the monitor. Our desk lamp versus clip light comparison covers the alternatives.
What about blue light glasses?
The evidence for blue light glasses reducing eye strain is weak, and the mechanism people assume is not well supported. Reducing contrast and taking breaks are better supported approaches. Our blue light glasses versus screen breaks comparison sets out what the research actually shows.
Will it fit my monitor?
Check thickness and curvature against BenQ's stated range before ordering, because the clamp design has limits. Very thin monitors, very thick ones and strongly curved panels are the cases that fail, and that is the most common return reason.
Halo 2 or ScreenBar Pro?
The Halo adds the ambient backlight behind the monitor, which is what reduces the contrast between screen and wall. The Pro is brighter on the desk for sixty dollars less. If you work in a dark room, the backlight is the reason to pay more.
Keep reading
- Monitor light bar vs desk lamp
- Blue light glasses vs screen breaks
- Desk lamp vs clip light
- BenQ ScreenBar Pro review
- Philips Hue starter kit review
- ADHD desk organisation
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.