Test: BenQ ScreenBar Halo lights up your desk brilliantly!

Sometime ago, I discovered the concept of the ScreenBar from BenQ. At first perplexed about the need for a monitor lamp, I ended up not being able to live without one!

Indeed, I spend many hours at my desk on my computer in a relatively dark room, far from any windows and with somewhat weak lighting via spotlights on the ceiling. Throughout the day, the lighting in the room where I am changes depending on possible rays of sunlight or nightfall. And when you are focused on what you are doing, you do not always pay attention to the lighting in your office. However, good lighting greatly reduces visual fatigue from long sessions spent on your computer. Especially if you alternate between your screen and paper documents!

So it is for this reason that I have definitely adopted the BenQ ScreenBar on a daily basis and that I will have a hard time going back!

Going back? Surely not! But moving forward with the latest version of this superb lamp I wouldn't say no! So when BenQ offered me to Testing the Halo ScreenBar, the latest addition to the range, I jumped at the opportunity!

ScreenBar Halo, when elegance rhymes with productivity

The first thing that strikes you when you receive the ScreenBar Halo is the attention to detail. The packaging of the lamp is really neat and gives a first impression of quality.

Unpacking is therefore a real pleasure and allows you to appreciate the finish of the ScreenBar. The latter is composed of a long gray tube in brushed metal inside which is aligned a long series of LEDs of two types (warm / cold).

At the center of the tube is fixed a sort of balance/clamp which will allow the device to be fixed to the top of the screen and ensure its stability using a sort of counterweight which is wedged against the back of the screen… But, and this is the new feature of this model, This pendulum is itself equipped with a lamp.

The second building block of the Halo ScreenBar is a remote control with rounded shapes and also very elegant. The term remote control does not do it justice since it is really a very high-quality accessory, combining modernity and discretion.

Installing the lamp is really very simple. Once unpacked, simply position it on top of your screen, wedge it with the clamp/balancer and connect the USB cable of the device to a power source, whether it is your screen itself, the computer tower or any other USB-A power supply.

Be careful though, because this ScreenBar model is relatively power-hungry (6.5W) compared to other devices in the range, due to its rear lighting.

In my case, the USB output of my screen is not powerful enough for the Screenbar Halo while it worked perfectly with the less energy-consuming ScreenBar. Too bad, because the big advantage of connecting it to the screen is that as soon as it goes into standby mode, the ScreenBar turns off. Ideal for saving energy! However, the lamp still turns off when the computer goes into standby mode. Basically, everything will depend on your installation and configuration. If you have a screen with a sufficiently powerful USB output, it should work without any problem.

3 lighting modes to suit all configurations

One of the main differences between the Halo ScreenBar and the ScreenBar I tested previously is the existence of 3 lighting modes. These 3 lighting modes are very interesting because they will allow you to adapt your use of this lamp according to your activity. This functionality is made possible by the addition of a lamp on the balance which is wedged on the back of your screen.

Here are the 3 lighting modes enabled by the ScreenBar Halo:

Front lighting

The LED bar on the front of the ScreenBar illuminates the entire area in front of the screen. It's the ideal configuration for optimizing your concentration.

Rear lighting

The lamp illuminates the area behind your screen to create ambient lighting.

Front and rear lighting

This lighting arrangement is particularly interesting because it allows you to reduce the light contrast between your screen and your working environment.

By the way, the front lighting dims slightly to balance the overall brightness contrast in case both the front and rear lighting are on.

Bluetooth remote control

The other main difference between the ScreenBar Halo and other models in the range is that it has a Bluetooth remote control.

This very elegant remote control operates using 3 AAA batteries (included). The battery compartment is accessible using a magnetic panel located under the device.

To save battery life, the remote goes into sleep mode after a few seconds of inactivity. You then have to wave your hand over it to wake it up and use it.

On the top of the remote control, a touch surface with 5 cryptograms allows access to the different settings: brightness, lighting warmth, automatic mode, favorites and lighting mode selection. Finally, the upper part of the body of the remote control is actually a completely silent wheel allowing you to adjust the intensity of the different settings.

The only small drawback of this remote control is that its surface gets dirty quickly and shows fingerprints, as is the case with the screen of our smartphones, for example.

Compatibility with most screens

The design of the ScreenBar is really clever since it can adapt to most current screens, whether classic or curved. Indeed, it has a patented clamp system with counterweight with an opening radius that can reach up to 180°, thus allowing operation with the thickest screens.

Finally, the BenQ ScreenBar Halo fits 1000R-1800R curved screens with a thickness of 0,7 cm to 6 cm and screens with a curvature of 1,6 to 4,2 cm thanks to a small accessory provided for this purpose.

And in practice?

To try it is to adopt it !

90% of the time I use the lamp, I use the automatic setting. With one click, the lamp automatically adjusts itself and provides optimal lighting based on the ambient light.

The rest of the time, and especially in the evening, I tend to use slightly warmer and cozier lights. Switching between the two is very easy, especially by using the favorite modes button.

At first, using the remote control can be a bit annoying. You have to get used to the fact that it is not immediately responsive... Exiting standby is quick, but you have to think about it before you want to manipulate the settings. It takes some getting used to! Exiting standby is very simple by passing your hand over the remote control.

I also found the lighting mode change button to be a bit finicky at times, but by using it a lot, I eventually got the hang of it.

Ultimately, I find this accessory really well thought out and really very useful on a daily basis. The first time I tested it, I did it out of curiosity, wondering what the real point of such a lamp could be. After several months of testing, the ScreenBar really convinced me. It greatly improves my comfort when I am in front of my computer… especially for working or doing office work.

In short, I couldn't do without it!

Characteristics

Conclusion

The BenQ Halo ScreenBar has truly revolutionized the way I work from home. By combining ambient lighting with illumination of the screen and the area in front of the screen, it creates a little bubble in which it is truly very comfortable to work with. On a daily basis, this accessory improves my concentration, my productivity and my comfort while integrating elegantly and discreetly into my work environment.

While this model's increased energy consumption (due to the rear lighting) and the fingerprints left on the Bluetooth remote control can be criticized, it's still a device I could hardly do without today.

If you want to treat yourself by improving your daily comfort, the ScreenBar Halo is a very good investment at €169.90!