BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 vs Desk Lamps: Do Monitor Light Bars Work?
Monitor light bar or desk lamp? We compare the BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 with the Honeywell LED desk lamp and Govee Smart Table Lamp 2.
Short answer: yes, monitor light bars work. If most of your day is spent at a screen, the BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 lights your keyboard and desk without glare on the display, adds a backlight to soften the contrast with a dark room, and frees up desk space. A desk lamp like the Honeywell LED lamp is cheaper and better for paper and hands-on work. A smart lamp like the Govee Table Lamp 2 is best for ambient color and voice control.
Updated October 2026: this post originally covered the first ScreenBar Halo and the TaoTronics desk lamp. It now covers the ScreenBar Halo 2 and the Honeywell LED desk lamp we currently recommend.
Light bar vs desk lamps: quick comparison
| BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 | Honeywell LED Desk Lamp | Govee RGBIC Smart Table Lamp 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Glare-free screen work | Budget task light | Smart home and ambient color |
| Mount | Monitor clamp (0.43–6 cm; curved 1000R–1800R) | Desk stand | Tabletop |
| Lighting | Front (ASYM-Light, 18°) + backlight | 5 color modes, 7 brightness levels | 500 lm, 2700K–6500K + RGBIC |
| Color temperature | 2700K–6500K | 5 modes | 2700K–6500K |
| Controls | Wireless dial with display, motion sensor, auto-dimming | Memory, 1-hour auto-off | App, voice, Matter, touch |
| Power | USB, 5 W | USB adapter (USB charging port built in) | Corded adapter |
| Check price | Halo 2 on Amazon | Honeywell on Amazon | Govee on Amazon |
What a monitor light bar does differently
- No screen glare. The Halo 2's ASYM-Light front lighting shines down at an 18° anti-reflection angle, so it lights the desk without bouncing off the display.
- Backlight. A wide, adjustable backlight lights the wall behind your monitor, which reduces the contrast between a bright screen and a dark room.
- No desk footprint. It clamps to the top of the monitor, so there is no lamp base or arm on the desk.
- Hands-off control. A motion sensor turns it on and off, auto-dimming adjusts to ambient light, and the wireless dial shows exact brightness and color values.
The downsides: it costs much more than a basic lamp, the wireless dial needs recharging (up to about three months per charge), and there is no smart-home integration.
Where a desk lamp is still better
A lamp can be aimed anywhere. That is better for reading paper spread across a desk, sketching or crafts. The Honeywell LED desk lamp gives you 5 color modes and 7 brightness levels, remembers your last setting, switches off after an hour, and has a USB port to charge your phone. It does take up desk space, the build is basic plastic, and there are no smart controls.
If you want smart or ambient light
The Govee RGBIC Smart Table Lamp 2 works with Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings and Apple Home via Matter. It puts out 500 lm with 2700K–6500K whites plus RGBIC color effects, 64+ scenes and music-sync modes. It needs 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi for full features and is more of an ambient lamp than a focused task light.
Who should buy which
- Buy the ScreenBar Halo 2 if you work at a monitor most of the day, are bothered by glare or a dark room, or have no space for a lamp.
- Buy the Honeywell lamp if you want simple, adjustable task light for little money.
- Buy the Govee lamp if you want voice control, schedules and color scenes.
See all desk lighting we compared.
Monitor light bar FAQ
Do monitor light bars actually work?
Yes, for screen work. The BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 lights the desk in front of your monitor with ASYM-Light front lighting angled at 18° to avoid reflections, and it takes no desk space. A desk lamp is still better for lighting paper across a wide desk or aiming light somewhere specific.
What is new in the ScreenBar Halo 2?
We compare the current Halo 2. It has ASYM-Light front lighting at an 18° anti-reflection angle, a wide adjustable backlight, a motion sensor that turns it on and off, auto-dimming, and a wireless dial with a built-in display that shows exact brightness and color values.
Does the ScreenBar Halo 2 fit curved monitors?
Yes. The clamp fits monitors 0.43–6 cm thick, including curved screens from 1000R to 1800R.
Does the Halo 2 controller need batteries?
The wireless dial is rechargeable. BenQ rates it at up to about three months per charge.
What is a good cheaper alternative to a monitor light bar?
The Honeywell LED desk lamp has 5 color modes, 7 brightness levels, a memory function, a 1-hour auto-off timer and a built-in USB charging port. It takes up desk space and has no smart controls.
Bottom line
For screen-focused work, a monitor light bar beats a desk lamp, and the BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 is the one we recommend. If you mainly need light for paper or want to spend less, the Honeywell lamp is the practical choice.