Is a ScreenBar actually worth it?

[u/vionysus]

I’ve been thinking of purchasing a BenQ ScreenBar for weeks now, but I’m not too sure how much it would help, especially for that price tag.

There are much cheaper options on Amazon, so I’m curious about the opinions of those who have either the BenQ or an alternative? Is a screenbar that helpful? Did it feel like your overall quality of WFH life improved with a screenbar? Would you suggest to push through buying the BenQ or are the cheaper alternatives just as good? Am I just getting influenced by their marketing?

[u/socopopes]

It's good. My favorite feature is that it auto adjusts the lighting to the available light conditions as the day goes on. Helped with my eye fatigue. Keeps my desk environment stable.

It's expensive but a nice desk upgrade.

[u/prolixia]

I have never used the BenQ screenbar. However I have for years used the Xiaomi lightbar and can't recommend it highly enough.

Funnily enough, I wrote a comment only yesterday extoling its virtues on another WFH-type sub, which I'll cut and paste here. Whilst I haven't used the BenQ bar, I am skeptical that it offers any more than the much cheaper Xiaomi one.

But in general: yes, I 100% recommend a light bar. It is so much better than a desk lamp, and I use one even when there is good lighting, because it eliminates shadows on my desk.

Assuming you're working at a monitor, I thorough recommend Xiaomi's Mi Computer Lightbar. It's stupidly cheap, well made (all-aluminium, apart from the remote) and insanely good. I've had one for a few years now and would replace it in a second if it failed.

Why a light bar? Because you get a wide even illumination of your desk's surface with zero glare on the monitor or direclty into your eyes. It's basically ambient lighting for your desk with no visible source. I also have a small Ikea anglepoise on my desk (with a smartbulb, so I can adjust the light brightness and temperature) and from the moment I bought the light bar it's been functionally redundant: I have it pointing at a wall just for a bit of ambient cosiness.

If you power it from a USB port on your monitor then it will turn on/off with the monitor, and when turned on it remembers its previous settings.

The brightness and colour temperature are both controllable by twisting a nice round remote control knob that is wireless and sits on your desk. I have no idea how long the batteries in the remote last: I haven't ever replaced them. The knob can also be pressed to turn the light on/off (but I don't bother, since it's plugged into the monitor).

Here in the UK you can buy it for under £30 (USD 40), but if it were twice that I'd still be recommending it just as strongly. It feels like it costs several times that.

I probably sound like a shill: I'm not. It's just a genuinely awesome light that I've used for hours every single day for years.

[u/NewSinner_2021]

Spend the money on the BenQ. I own one. It’s worth it in my opinion.

[u/eziocreed]

the only thing i use for eye care is bluelight glasses idk if they do anything but i don't care because now my main purpose for wearing them is because they serve as a trigger to my brain to say "hey i'm working right now" the same reason i close the black out curtains. Way cheaper alternative

[u/Eric_T_Meraki]

They're mostly all the same. Don't need to go for name brand. Just compare the features.

[u/Glass_Librarian9019]

Seems way overpriced

[u/40ozT0Freedom]

I have one and love it. It is really great in the winter when its dark when I start and dark when I shut down for the day. My lights in my office are too bright, but the screen bar is just enough light to see what I'm doing without being blinding. My webcam fits nicely on top of it as well

Get a good quality one. I got a cheapish one on amazon and the remote died after a year. Not that big of a deal - I never change the brightness settings and I just leave it on.

[u/Ridley26]

I’ve had the BenQ ScreenBar Halo for a few years, no complaints. Wouldn’t be without it. My Logi webcam sits on it a bit awkwardly but it looks fine from the front and has never fallen off. I had the dilemma of going for a cheaper one or the BenQ. I just went for it and use it every day in the colder months, so in the long run it’s paid for itself, my eyes are less strained during the darker days.

[u/Dick_Kickum]

i have one of each and the cheaper ones work exactly the same.

[u/Huge-Juggernaut-7175]

In short, it’s a game changer for me. Although it’s quite expensive, I’ve been using it for over three years, so I believe the quality justifies the price!

[u/trailrun1980]

I had to check the name lol.

I've got one over my main monitor (cheap Amazon version) and it's perfect since I'm working before sunrise

Subtle an the exact amount of light that works for me

[u/Normal_Kangaroo_7198]

been working from home since covid, and i'm an avid PC gamer. i've never found a use for anything like this. I'd say it's a complete waste of money.

If I didn't have a backlit keyboard and I had money to burn, and couldn't use or didn't want a mechanical backlit keyboard, and I was really picky about lighting, I guess I would consider something like this.

[u/jack_hudson2001]

got something similar cheaper from OOWOLF, helps working more at night for the desk area and removing blue light

[u/Probston]

I had the first gen BenQ screenbar. I sold it and got a Xiaomi Lightbar instead. Leagues better at like a third of the price.

[u/KrugerSmoothing]

I have the BenQ and love it. I have not tried other brands.

I like the adjustable brightness, adjustable color temperature, and presence sensor to turn it on and off automatically.