(checked 2026-10-10)Small sample (1,295 ratings).
The most capable monitor light bar reviewers tested, with glare-free front light, a wall backlight, a motion sensor and a rechargeable wireless dial. It's also the priciest, and it can sit loosely on monitors with a smooth top.
Top complaints
- Expensive
Notebookcheck lists the price ($199 list) as its main con compared with ordinary LED desk lamps. Tom's Guide calls it the most expensive monitor light bar you can buy at $179 and suggests trying a cheaper one first. Amazon's review summary says opinions on value are mixed.
- Can sit loosely on smooth monitors
Notebookcheck lists 'a bit wobbly on smooth screens' as a con. It sat securely in the groove of a BenQ monitor but only somewhat loosely on a smooth 27-inch Samsung.
Source: Notebookcheck review - Almost everything runs through the puck
The bar itself has only an on/off switch; all other functions are on the wireless controller. The bar tilts only slightly forward or back, which Notebookcheck notes is meant to prevent glare.
Source: Notebookcheck review
What owners love
- Even, glare-free light
Notebookcheck found the illumination flawless and glare-free, brightest in the center and still reasonably bright at the edges. Amazon's review summary also highlights ample light without glare.
- Motion sensor and auto-dimming
Tom's Guide's favorite feature: the light turns off when you leave and comes back on as you approach. Notebookcheck says presence detection works exceptionally well and shuts the light off after five minutes; auto-dimming adjusts to room light.
Source: Tom's Guide, Notebookcheck review - More in the box than the original
Tom's Guide notes a USB-C power adapter, a webcam mount, a rechargeable wireless dial and a clamp that fits both flat and curved displays, plus a wider, brighter backlight and front light (800 to 1,000 lux) than the first Halo.
Source: Tom's Guide
- You've never tried a light bar (start cheaper)
- Your monitor has a very smooth, flat top edge
- You'd rather spend under $100
- Lighting a desk without glare on the screen
- Night work in a dark room (front light plus backlight)
- Webcam users (mount included)
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Tom's Guide: The ultimate monitor light bar, recommended over Quntis and Xiaomi if you have the budget, though first-time buyers should try a cheaper bar.
- Notebookcheck: Pleasant, glare-free light and very easy setup and controls; the downsides are the price and a slightly wobbly fit on smooth screens.
- TechRadar: An editor who has used the original Halo for years calls it an underrated accessory and says the Halo 2 is the one he'd buy next.