The BenQ ScreenBar Halo and the standard ScreenBar are the two best monitor light bars you can buy — and they’re more alike than the price gap suggests. Both clip to the top of your monitor, both throw glare-free light onto your desk, and both auto-dim to the room. So what does the extra ~$70 for the Halo actually get you? Two things. Here’s whether they’re worth it.
At a glance
| Product | Best for | Rating | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BenQ ScreenBar Halo BenQ | Best Overall | $179.99 (verified 2026-07-10) — note: BenQ also sells a newer "Halo 2" at $199, this is the original Halo | Check price | |
| BenQ ScreenBar BenQ | Best Value | $109 (verified 2026-07-10) | Check price |
What’s actually the same
This is the important part, because it’s most of what you’re paying for in either model:
- Light quality. Both use the same asymmetric optical design that lights your desk and keyboard without casting glare on the screen. Side by side, the pool of light is indistinguishable.
- Auto-dimming. Both have an ambient light sensor that adjusts brightness to match the room.
- Color temperature. Both adjust from warm to cool so you can go cozy in the evening and crisp for focus.
- The clip. Identical weighted mount; fits the same range of monitors; takes up zero desk space.
- USB powered. Both run off a USB port — no wall wart, no desk clutter.
If your only goal is “stop my desk being dim without glare on the screen,” either one nails it equally.
What’s actually different
Just two things separate them:
- Wireless controller (Halo only). The Halo includes a wireless puck that sits on your desk; spin it to dim or change color temperature. The standard ScreenBar puts those controls as touch buttons on the bar itself, so you reach up to the top of your monitor to adjust. The puck is a small daily luxury — genuinely nicer, but not essential.
- Rear backlight (Halo only). The Halo has a second, rear-facing light that softly illuminates the wall behind your monitor. In a dark room it reduces the harsh bright-screen-against-dark-wall contrast that tires your eyes. The standard ScreenBar has no backlight.
That’s it. Everything else is the same bar.
Best overall: BenQ ScreenBar Halo
What we like
- Excellent, even light with no screen glare
- Wireless puck control
- Auto-dimming sensor
What to know
- Expensive
- Backlight is a nice-to-have, not essential
Best value: BenQ ScreenBar
For most people, this is the one to buy. Same light, same auto-dimming, same clip — for around $70 less.
BenQ ScreenBar
The smart-money pick: identical desk light, touch controls instead of the wireless puck, and no backlight.
What we like
- Same auto-dimming, glare-free light
- No desk footprint
- Cheaper than the Halo
What to know
- Touch controls on the bar itself
- No backlight
So, which should you buy?
- Get the standard ScreenBar if you want the best desk light for the money and don’t care about a wireless remote or a backlight. This is the right call for most desks.
- Get the ScreenBar Halo if you work in a dim room most evenings (the backlight earns its keep) and you’ll appreciate adjusting the light from a desktop puck rather than reaching up to the bar.
Either way you’re getting the best monitor light bar on the market — see how they stack up against the budget competition in our full best monitor light bars guide, or settle the premium-vs-budget question in BenQ ScreenBar vs Baseus.