BenQ ScreenBar Halo Review: No More Glare on Video Calls
- Clamps onto the monitor, so it takes up zero desk space
- Auto-dimming sensor actually adjusts to the room, not just a fixed schedule
- Wireless control ring is easier to reach mid-call than a desk lamp switch
- Only clamps monitors between 0.4cm and 3cm thick — check your bezel first
- Light spreads less evenly on monitors wider than 34 inches
We bought the BenQ ScreenBar Halo after three separate readers asked about fixing video-call glare, and tested it against a standard desk lamp for six weeks.
Why we tested this specific problem
Most desk-lighting advice online is about avoiding eye strain while reading. That's real, but the more common complaint from remote workers is looking washed out or shadowed on video calls. The ScreenBar's selling point is that it lights your face from above the screen instead of from the side, which is the actual fix for that problem.
Six weeks of video calls, before and after
We ran the same desk setup with a standard desk lamp for two weeks, then switched to the ScreenBar Halo for four. The difference on camera was immediate — no glare on the glasses of the tester who wears them, and no harsh side-shadow on faces during afternoon calls when the sun was lower.
The auto-dimming sensor, actually tested
We deliberately changed the room's overhead lighting mid-session multiple times during testing. The sensor adjusted within a few seconds every time, which matters more than the marketing copy suggests — a light that doesn't auto-adjust ends up either too bright or ignored within a week.
Our verdict
At just over $100, this is the single cheapest fix we've tested for looking better on video calls, and it clamps on in under two minutes with no tools. The only people we wouldn't recommend it to are ultrawide-monitor owners, where the light spread gets noticeably uneven past 34 inches.
Specs
Frequently asked questions
Will this fit a curved monitor?
BenQ makes a separate curved-monitor version — the standard Halo is designed for flat panels. Check your monitor's curve rating before buying the standard model.
Does it actually reduce screen glare?
Indirectly — it lights your desk and face instead of your screen, which is what removes the washed-out look on video calls. It won't fix glare from a window behind your monitor.
Is the auto-dimming sensor reliable?
In our testing it responded within a few seconds to overhead lights turning on or off, and we never had to manually override it during a six-week test period.