Product test
BenQ Helo 2: the best screen bar so far
by Lorenz Keller
The Screenbar for laptops is surprisingly good
18/2/2026
Translation: Elicia Payne
Pictures: Lorenz Keller
With the laptop lamp, BenQ is launching the first mobile screen bar for laptop monitors. I was sceptical to begin with, but now I think the concept makes perfect sense.
I’m a Screenbar fan. An LED lamp like this has been sitting on my monitor for years and serves as office lighting. The light is cast directly onto the desk – along the screen, so to speak. This means there are no reflections, the light doesn’t dazzle, and I still have pleasant lighting exactly where I need it.
Magnetic adhesive on the laptop – unfortunately, it’s a must
BenQ has now shrunk the concept and adapted it for mobile working. I had to try it out, I thought, and ordered a laptop lamp from the manufacturer as a test device. What I didn’t think about in my initial euphoria is that I somehow have to attach the lamp to my MacBook.
I can simply hang Screenbars for classic monitors on the case, as the edge is thick enough at the top and the construction is stable enough. The lamp is placed on top and supported at the back by a counterweight. With the thin and flexible laptop screens that won’t work.
BenQ’s solution? Magnets. But since the back of most laptops aren’t magnetic (or not magnetic enough), I have to stick a rubberised magnetic sticker in silver or anthracite on the back.
This was something I really wasn’t sure about. On the one hand, because the sticker looks ugly. On the other hand, because I have a protective film from Dbrand on the MacBook and I’m afraid of damaging it when I remove the adhesive. Spoiler alert: it did exactly that.
Still, you can easily remove the magnetic sticker without leaving any residue, but it’ll be destroyed in the process. So you can’t just stick it on when you need the light. And the company doesn’t recommend using it on a film or cover.
From dreary hotel room to an office on the go
I was critical, and not just because of the sticker. Would such a small battery-powered lamp be any good at all? But then I find myself sitting at a small table in Italy, the ceiling light only partially illuminating the room. Answering emails, writing articles, making video calls – it’s all possible, the light from my MacBook screen is more or less sufficient.
Then I switch on the BenQ laptop lamp – and I’m shook. It’s really nice. The LED strip doesn’t reflect, but simply illuminates the keyboard and part of the desk. This is much more relaxing for my eyes than working in a semi-dark room.
I like the screen bar so much that I use it every day when I’m out and about, even if it’s a bit more complicated than a permanently installed light on my desk at home. As soon as I close the laptop, I have to remove the lamp because it protrudes over the edge. The same goes for when I put the MacBook in my bag.
Still, the light creates a pleasant office atmosphere wherever I am. I don’t have to worry about the lighting because I always have my own desk lamp with me. And if necessary, I can even use it as a light for important video calls.
Magnet’s good, touch is bad
The BenQ laptop lamp consists of two parts: the light strip with touch fields for operation and a holder with USB-C connection and integrated battery. The strip doesn’t just hold magnetically to the back of the laptop, but also magnetically to the bar. The advantage of this design is that I can easily adjust the height and tilt so that the light shines exactly the way I want it to.
Its bracket can even be opened up so that the light strip’s attached to an arm. This is useful if you want it to shine more strongly from above over the edge of the screen. I can fold it back and illuminate myself, for example for video calls.
What’s worth noting is that the thing weighs 180 grammes. If I position the MacBook screen at more of an angle than normal, the hinge might not be able to support this weight any more. It wasn’t an issue in everyday office use, but depending on the laptop model and hinge thickness, this can have an impact.
In my opinion, BenQ made the biggest mistake with the operation. The manufacturer from Taiwan has gone for touch technology. If I tap on the top of the lamp, it switches on. At the same time, a small LED strip’s activated, which serves as a slider for the brightness and light temperature. Unfortunately, it’s imprecise and cumbersome. Physical buttons or rotary controls would’ve been a better choice.
During installation, I often accidentally switch the light on and off. Sometimes, I have to tap several times until I hit the touch activation on purpose. I don’t really have full control over the strength and colour settings. It’s more or less luck if I can select the seven temperature settings.
Good battery life, but expensive
The battery lasted around six hours in each test. However, a low brightness level was enough for me on most days. At 50 per cent brightness, it still lasted around three hours. I can charge the lamp at any time via USB-C and use it simultaneously – via an external charger as well as via the slot on the MacBook.
The lamp’s available in two colours and costs around 120 to 140 francs.
Pretty expensive for a gadget I only need a few times a year. I’ve no use for it at home since there are better solutions for larger monitors, some of which are much cheaper.
The only other time I can imagine using the BenQ laptop lamp is with a very small home office screen. Or if you only work from your laptop at home. The LED lamp’s ideal for anyone who travels a lot and often uses their laptop in places with poor light.
In a nutshell
Nice light for your mobile office
If you mainly work on your laptop, you should take a closer look at the BenQ laptop lamp. It makes working more pleasant, especially when travelling in poor lighting conditions. The LED strip shines light onto the keyboard and the table without reflecting or being reflected in the screen. It can also be used as a video light for calls.
To use it, a magnetic adhesive must be stuck to the back of your laptop, which breaks when removed. Not exactly an elegant solution for your expensive portable computer. My test revealed imprecise touch operation, which resulted in inaccurate setting selections – I wasn’t a fan.
Pro
- Small and compact
- Six hours of battery life
- Flexible design
- Nice glow for working on the go
Contra
- Touch buttons imprecise and annoying
- Inelegant attachment with magnetic adhesives
- Expensive
Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.
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