Unlocking Productivity with BenQ's ScreenBar Halo
Tags: productivity, career, writing, watercooler
Published: 2024-05-03 16:19:44

Productivity is extremely important let's be honest it's significantly simpler to complete your work and tasks when you are in a comfortable environment. That is why we are willing to invest in good desktop setups that include ergonomic chairs, standing desks, wireless accessories and many other useful products.

Having a well-lit workspace is desirable because if you are working in front of a computer screen for hours then you are going to do whatever it takes to avoid getting eye strain.

ScreenBars also known as LightBars are lighting products which sit on top of your monitor and provide a natural and comfortable lighting experience for your desk setup. Over the years I have used various ScreenBars and today I had the opportunity to use one of the most recent models from BenQ called the BenQ ScreenBar Halo.

BenQ has a wide array of products which you can find on the [BenQ website](https://reurl.cc/oQQ27j), which I have listed below:

- Projectors
- Monitors
- Lighting
- Interactive Displays & Signage
- Remote Work & Learning
- Wireless Presentation

BenQ's commitment to Tech Driven Comfort through innovative solutions is what makes it such a popular tech company. They have products that cater to a wide audience.

Today we are going to take a look at the BenQ ScreenBar Halo and see why it is a game-changer for workspace lighting.

You can find the BenQ ScreenBar Halo on the [Amazon US](https://amzn.to/3SJNGDL) and [Amazon UK](https://pse.is/4qug92) websites.

## The Challenges of Traditional Workspace Lighting

Traditional workspaces usually have lots of glare and inconsistent lighting that can lead to eye strain and fatigue. The impact of poor lighting can be detrimental to your productivity and performance.

During the day this might not be a huge issue if you're in a well-lit environment, it's more so a problem when there is a lack of natural lighting or the environment has become dark. A simple solution to this problem would be to use a traditional desk light. While those are fine for reading books they were never designed for monitors which is why they create glare and reflections.

This is where a ScreenBar excels it's a modern solution to a common problem which we often overlook. It's not worth getting eye strain and a headache when there is a solution which compliments our desktop setup. The fact that ScreenBars have become commonplace in many people's computer desk setups on social media further drives this point.

Check out these before and after comparisons pictures of my monitor and workspace with and without the BenQ ScreenBar to see the difference:

### Lighted room

The first picture is with the lights on and with no BenQ ScreenBar attached to the monitor.

![Room with lights on monitor with no BenQ ScreenBar attached](https://res.cloudinary.com/d74fh3kw/image/upload/v1714677353/no-screenbar-light_sv9r3l.jpg)

The next picture is with the lights on and with the BenQ ScreenBar attached to the monitor. The ScreenBar light is also on in this one. It would look similar to the first picture just with the ScreenBar attached otherwise so now you can see the difference.

![Room with lights on and monitor with BenQ ScreenBar attached](https://res.cloudinary.com/d74fh3kw/image/upload/v1714677351/screenbar-light_traanx.jpg)

### Darkroom

The first picture is with the lights off and with no BenQ ScreenBar attached to the monitor.

![Room with lights off and monitor with no BenQ ScreenBar attached](https://res.cloudinary.com/d74fh3kw/image/upload/v1714677351/no-screenbar-dark_otd319.jpg)

The next picture is with the lights off and with the BenQ ScreenBar attached to the monitor.

![https://res.cloudinary.com/d74fh3kw/image/upload/v1714677348/screenbar-dark_snfgr1.jpg](https://res.cloudinary.com/d74fh3kw/image/upload/v1714677348/screenbar-dark_snfgr1.jpg)

I saved the best for last this is where you can see the BenQ ScreenBar making a huge difference in a dark environment. If you are a programmer who likes to work in the dark or late and with dark themes then a ScreenBar is a perfect companion.

Working with the light on late at night can be quite annoying and bothersome to other people. If you use a ScreenBar then the lighting is more self-contained and illuminates your desk environment, not the whole room.

## The ScreenBar Halo: Intelligent Lighting for Your Workspace

The BenQ ScreenBar Halo comes in a nice box with these contents nicely packaged inside:

- x1 ScreenBar Halo welcome box with Quick Start Guide and Service Information manual and foam cushion
- x1 ScreenBar Halo
- x1 ScreenBar Halo Controller
- x3 AAA batteries for ScreenBar Halo Controller
- x1 Accessory for a curved monitor

I created an unboxing and demo video on my socials which you can find on my channels:

[TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewbaisden/video/7364790544570092832)
[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/C6gtGO6NWBn/)
[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jM45cZUpI8s)

Here you can see the box contents after the box has been opened.

![BenQ ScreenBar Halo box contents](https://res.cloudinary.com/d74fh3kw/image/upload/v1714678388/screenbar-boxed_cohlni.jpg)

And here is what the BenQ ScreenBar Halo, controller and batteries look like out of the box.

![BenQ ScreenBar Halo, controller and batteries](https://res.cloudinary.com/d74fh3kw/image/upload/v1714678389/screenbar-unboxed_qxibcf.jpg)

### Overview of the ScreenBar Halo's features

The BenQ ScreenBar Halo has many cool features so let's go over some of them to see what it is capable of. Firstly it has 3 eye care care setting modes. The front and back lights work in tandem with each other to reduce glare and eye strain which leads to better eye comfort.

This is the first time I have seen a ScreenBar with a backlight which I thought was cool you can see what it looks like when it is on in this picture:

![BenQ ScreenBar Halo with backlight on](https://res.cloudinary.com/d74fh3kw/image/upload/v1714679221/screenbar-backlight_vtnxuq.jpg)

The next great feature is the smart wireless controller. It is well made, has weight to it and feels like it's built from premium metal and plastic like a high-end tech product. The controller lets you customise various settings and modes such as the brightness, colour temperature and backlight.

There is a dial around the base which you can turn to adjust the modes and settings and the main screen is touch-sensitive it all works well. I have used other ScreenBars before which are completely touch-sensitive so using a dial to make adjustments feels a bit different although it does feel smooth and reminds me of my Logitech mouse.

The ScreenBar also has real-time auto dimming which means that it can detect the ambient light and then adjust it to the optimum light level automatically.

## Conclusion

When you combine all of these features, it's easy to see how BenQ's Tech Driven Comfort methodology can make us much more productive. Today we learned how having a ScreenBar is worth the investment for your computer desk setup because it provides so many great health and productivity benefits.

BenQ has a great vision for creating innovative solutions that prioritise user comfort and well-being and you can find all of their products on the [BenQ website](https://reurl.cc/oQQ27j).