If you're like me, and spend hours looking at your laptop display, the BenQ LaptopBar is one thing you'll need. Honestly, I was quite skeptical I'd need it at first. Most laptop screens look bright enough to me, but after using the LaptopBar, I'm a convert.
Quick specs
- Dual colour LED, Center Illuminance 700lux (Height 30cm)
- Comes in black or white
- 160 mins battery life at 50% brightness
Unlike the standard monitor light bars, the LaptopBar doesn't use a counterweight system. Instead, you attach a magnetic sticker to the back of your laptop. The LaptopBar's battery magnetically attaches to this sticker, and you can put the light on top of it. You can also adjust the angle a little. If you find the coverage angle insufficient, the battery also has an extendable arm you can raise for even better angles. Battery life is rated at 2hr 40min at 50% battery life, though at max brightness, the LaptopBar lasted 1hr 50min. But even then, you can still plug a USB-C cable to keep it going.
Credit: Aloysius Low/Can Buy or Not
I mentioned I was skeptical at first, but the lighting effect is instantly obvious, and it's great. My eyes immediately felt less strained looking at the screen. I'm not exaggerating, here. I was so surprised I turned it off to check, and realised I preferred having it on. The light adds a nice and even ambient hue over the screen and keyboard, which helps soften the glare and contrast of the laptop's display. It's one of those things that you never know you needed, till you've tried it. I'll likely take this along with me on work trips if I know I'll be using the laptop a lot. It also comes with a small pouch that makes it easy to carry around.
The LaptopBar is particularly useful at night, when there's less natural light. It's also good under fluorescent lighting in the office, too. There are seven steps for the brightness, and adjusting it is as simple as sliding your fingers across the light strip. You can also wave your hand over the top of the LaptopBar to turn it on or off. Tapping on the small button at the left corner switches the slider to let you adjust the colour temperature instead of brightness. This is useful if you prefer a cooler or warmer hue. You can also set it to auto-dim by touching and holding the button for two seconds.
At S$229, the BenQ LaptopBar may seem expensive, but you're paying for the great design and eye comfort. The older I get, the more my eyes feel tired after a day of staring at the screen. This definitely helps to make it more bearable. Get it from Shopee (with a special launch price of just S$189).
Note: Review unit provided by BenQ.
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