Lastly, not all light bars offer the same functionality. As I mentioned before, biased lighting with an additional strip at the back is a feature that you should absolutely pay attention to, unless your monitor has a strip of LEDs doing that for you already. Secondly, brightness and color temperature adjustment are also crucial. If you buy a bar that only comes in a cold, clinical K, then it’ll not fit all situations, and you’re likely to get frustrated with it along the way.
I tested out my first monitor light bar a few years ago, the BenQ ScreenBar Halo, offering premium build quality and a premium price tag to go along with it, as well as a wireless puck I had to keep on my desk. In total, the device’s MSRP was $179, which is fairly steep for a glorified handful of lights. While it was excellent and boasted an enormous number of features, this was mostly matched by the much cheaper $60 Xiaomi Computer Monitor Light Bar, with the exception of the biased lighting features.
So, definitely shop around for what makes the most sense for you. As an example, this Razer Monitor light bar has Matter support packed into it, but requires some finicky software and an app – I’ve simply never used it, and you probably shouldn’t have to do that for a strip of lights. So, while some monitor light bars are crammed full of features, use your own discretion to pick something out that is perfect for you.
So, where does that leave us? The market is very segmented, and you’ll have to shop for something specifically for your setup. In my personal experience, it’s elevated the comfort of my desk immensely, and is often overlooked by many. Right now, I can firmly say that I really can’t live without one anymore, and if it breaks, I’ll likely just get a new one instead of a standard lamp. Just don’t overspend on one unless you’re a huge BenQ fan or have the dollars to burn.
Above, we've listed a few name-brand options for you to check out. Just note that certain manufacturers, such as Quntis, also offer options for those with curved displays.
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Sayem Ahmed is the Subscription Editor at Tom's Hardware. He covers a broad range of deep dives into hardware both new and old, including the CPUs,\u00a0GPUs, and everything else that uses a semiconductor. ","collapsible":{"enabled":true,"maxHeight":250,"readMoreText":"Read more","readLessText":"Read less"}}), "https://slice.vanilla.futurecdn.net/13-4-13/js/authorBio.js"); } else { console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); } Sayem Ahmed Social Links Navigation Subscription Editor Sayem Ahmed is the Subscription Editor at Tom's Hardware. He covers a broad range of deep dives into hardware both new and old, including the CPUs, GPUs, and everything else that uses a semiconductor.
perseco It should be noted that you shouldn't get one of these if you have an OLED monitor. For OLED users, look for other options like ambient backlighting to reduce the light's impact on your monitor colors. Reply
Dementoss You could just get a conventional, adjustable desk lamp, like an Anglepoise or, in that style. Mine is tall enough to be able to stand out of the way behind my monitor and reach over it and, I can point it anywhere I want. Better still, it's solidly built from stainless steel and, it was not over-priced because of the gamer tax. Reply
bit_user Dementoss said: You could just get a conventional, adjustable desk lamp, Yup. I have a CFL lamp (due to its age) pointed at the white wall behind the monitor. Gives the room a nice ambiance and is definitely easier on the eyes. Reply
bit_user kealii123 said: Is this a joke No. If you don't have decent ambient lighting at your desk, you should try it. Ideally, I'd have lighting with two different color temperatures. Maybe a 6.5k for more wakeful hours and a warmer light around 3k for late night. Instead, mine is just daylight (6.5k), but at least it's not very bright. I also don't run my monitors very bright. Reply
TheOtherOne For me, the ONLY thing to "consider" is whether to spend over $100 for something like this or not… 🤔 Tough decision to make it seems! 😬 Reply
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/peripherals/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/peripherals/a-monitor-light-bar-is-the-most-underrated-upgrade-you-can-make-to-your-setup-but-not-all-of-them-are-born-equal-so-heres-how-to-choose-one-that-fits-you#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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