It is not a typical piece of electronics that the owner of a new laptop would think about buying in the first place. However, it is interesting enough that it deserves attention. We tested the BenQ Laptop Bar smart LED lamp, which can illuminate the laptop desktop differently than other lamps.
Photo: BenQ
BenQ LaptopBar light bar.
Not so long ago, we brought some tips to improve the ergonomics behind the computer. One of the recommendations was the proper lighting of the work surface. Namely, it is not only the spine that suffers when working at the computer. In the same way, if not more, looking at the monitor can also take a toll on the eyes. Many people neglect this area of ergonomics. Limiting the blue light emanating from the display is nice, but not enough. Proper lighting of the desktop and the area behind the monitor is equally important. And it is this area that BenQ wants to improve with its new accessories.
Photo: Tomáš Švec
LaptopBar, BenQ The lamp is attached to the laptop using a magnet and a magnetic sticker.
What is LaptopBar? In the official description, BenQ describes it as a light bar with a folding arm and the possibility of height adjustment. We will also help with another description from the manufacturer’s website – “LaptopBar illuminates the laptop desktop with a central brightness of up to 700 lux, and at the same time expands the well-lit zone of 300 lux to an area of 50 x 30 centimeters for optimal visibility and eye comfort.” You may be wondering what the use of such lighting is for the owner of a laptop with a keyboard backlight. So that the differences between the brightness of the display, the backlight of the keyboard and the surroundings of the laptop are not too big. If you have to constantly refocus your eyes from the glowing display to the softly lit keyboard and all this in a darkened room, you are bound to quickly tire your eyes.
Photo: Tomáš Švec
BenQ, LaptopBar, BenQ LaptopBar.
Adjustable temperature and lighting intensity
BenQ solved this problem very simply. The lamp illuminates a working surface with dimensions of 50 × 30 centimeters with transitional intensity. The contact surface of the notebook is the most illuminated (700 lux). A little less area behind the edge of the notebook (500 lux) and at least the area just in front of the user’s torso (300 lux). The LED does not shine into the eyes or directly onto the display, so there is no risk of blinding or unpleasant reflections from glossy displays. At LaptopBar, we also appreciated the possibility to set the color temperature in the range from 2700 to 5700 Kelvin. That is, from warm yellow to completely white. While white light is better during the day, at night a light approaching the temperature of a conventional light bulb is more suitable.
Photo: Tomáš Švec
LaptopBar, BenQ The battery has a capacity of 2550 mAh.
The lamp is also suitable for frequent carrying, which corresponds to its design. The light bar itself is attached to the adjustable arm, which in turn is attached to the battery. In order for the lamp to hold on the laptop display, it is necessary to stick one of the two supplied magnetic stickers on its lid. The battery on the sticker sticks like nails and is not as unstable as it might seem at first glance. The only problem, or rather the specifics of the lamp, is the battery capacity. It can shine for approximately 160 minutes at half brightness on one charge. Is that enough? Hard to say. Less than three hours will be enough for most people, but if you use the lamp every day, you simply cannot avoid frequent charging via the included USB-C cable.
Photo: Tomáš Švec
LaptopBar, BenQ The LaptopBar simply connects to a rechargeable battery.
The sensors work surprisingly well
When designing the lamp, the manufacturer also thought of an intelligent lighting setting that adjusts the brightness based on the ambient light. However, in real use, we appreciated the manual setting more, thanks to which we could better hit our own preferences. The contactless sensor worked better than we expected. He could very well recognize the wave of the hand that controls the turning on and off of the lamp. BenQ charges 139 euros for the LaptopBar. If it were a simple lamp, the price would be too high, but considering the quality, design, ease of handling and also the setting options, it is more than reasonable.
Source: vat.pravda.sk
