When setting up the perfect workstation or gaming setup, lighting isn’t just a detail—it’s imperative!
The right lighting can improve your focus, reduce eye strain, and make the space more aesthetically pleasing. And what could be better than a sleek monitor light bar to achieve this?
We often come across popular brands like BenQ, only to be discouraged by their sky-high price tags.
But what if I told you that you could get a product that competes with the BenQ Halo for literally half the price?
Yes, you heard that correctly!
The Xiaomi Light Bar—also goes by the name Xiaomi Mijia Light Bar—is available at the killer price of $69.99. And honestly, it’s one of the best light bars out there. It has a premium built, and great functionality at a truly affordable price.
In this review, we’ll take an in-depth look at the Xiaomi Mi Computer Monitor Light Bar to see if it indeed lives up to its promise of being a budget-friendly yet high-quality option for your setup.
In This Article
First Impression
My first reaction was simply WOW!
I know packaging is rarely mentioned in product reviews, but I feel like it is important herein. Given the price point, honestly, I wasn’t expecting a lot, but Xiaomi certainly exceeded my expectations.
The product comes in a well-presented box that exudes professionalism, something you’d expect from products at least twice the price.
Inside the box, we’ve got the light bar, a USB-C power cable, which is a nice modern touch, a wireless remote puck, and an instruction manual.
The presentation and unboxing experience was really satisfying!
Built Quality & Design
Moving on to build quality and design. I must say, it’s literally top-notch!
The Xiaomi Light Bar has an all-metal construction and a sleek, minimalist design. It has a matte black finish, contributing to its premium look and feel. The base, in particular, is heavy and solid, giving excellent stability.
The light bar connects to the base via a strong magnet. This allows you to easily adjust and rotate the light bar to the ideal position. Behind the base, there is a USB-C port.
Speaking of the overall design, It is minimalistic, yet elegant and practical.
Setting it UP!
Now installing and setting up the light bar is quite simple. To start, place the base on your monitor’s top bezel, snap the light bar onto the base via the magnet connection, and plug in the USB-C cable. And that’s it!
However, to turn it on, you’ll need to use its wireless remote.
Note: The wireless remote doesn’t come with any battery (AAA type), so you’ll need to purchase it separately.
To turn on the light, simply press the dial. To adjust the brightness, rotate the dial. To change the color temperature, press and hold the dial while rotating it.
Brightness/Temperature Levels
Regarding brightness levels. I’ve noticed a common issue with many lights: they’re just too bright, even at their dimmest setting, particularly when sitting in a dimly lit space.
That is not the case with the Xiaomi Monitor Light Bar, however.
The lowest brightness setting is sufficiently dim to provide subtle lighting on your desk (in a dark room) without straining your eyes. The maximum brightness also does not cause any discomfort.
As for temperature levels. The light bar offers a wide range from 2700K (warm white) to 6500K (cool white). This allows you to adjust the color temperature according to your personal preference or the environment you’re in.
It’s all about getting the balance right, and Xiaomi seems to have nailed it.
Wireless Control
I’ve got to say, the wireless control is honestly a game-changer. I love how smoothly it works—it makes everything feel more intuitive. With the wireless dial, adjusting the brightness and color temperature becomes super easy and satisfying.
You simply rotate the dial to adjust the brightness levels, and press and hold while rotating to change the color temperature.
It’s straightforward, no messing around with buttons or complicated menus.
Plus, my favorite part is that it remembers my last settings. Now I don’t have to redo my preferred brightness and color temperature every time I turn the light on.
Also Read: Best Monitor Light Bars
Some Downsides to Consider
The Remote Control Puck Collects Fingerprints
Besides its super convenient wireless controller, there’s a bit of a downside I’ve noticed—the remote control puck really does collect fingerprints.
It’s not a huge deal, honestly, but it’s something I see every time I use it and could be a slight annoyance to some.
I’ve gotten into the habit of wiping it down every now and then. But it would have been nice if Xiaomi had thought about this issue during design.
No Auto Dimming
One feature I’ve noticed the Xiaomi light bar lacks is auto-dimming. Initially, I thought I’d miss this feature. But then I realized something. A few of my friends who have a BenQ light bar with auto-dimming rarely use it.
They say it doesn’t work very well—it either makes the room too bright or doesn’t adjust the brightness appropriately.
I’ve come to appreciate the manual control with the wireless dial.
It enables me to adjust the brightness exactly the way I want it, rather than relying on an automatic system that misses the mark.
No Backlight
Xiaomi light bar does not have a backlight like the BenQ Halo light bar does. This may turn off certain people because, frankly, backlights look pretty neat when they’re turned on.
But, to be genuine. Given the price and other features that the Xiaomi light bar offers, it’s understandable why they skipped this.
Backlight indeed adds an appealing aesthetic touch. But the primary function of a light bar is to light up your workspace, correct?
And that’s exactly something the Xiaomi light bar does very well.
Personally, I’m not concerned about the lack of a backlight. It’s nice to have, but not necessary. What counts most to me is how well it lights up my desk, and the Xiaomi light bar doesn’t disappoint.
Our Verdict
So, is the Xiaomi light bar worth it? Absolutely yes!
In overall terms, it is a solid pick for anyone looking for the best value-for-money option on the market.
The aesthetics and functionality of this screen bar is as good as the premium options, if not better.
There are a few minor considerations including, that the remote collects finger prints (due to the material used), the lack of auto-dimming mode, and no backlight.
Other than that, It works like a charm!
The brightness is spot on, the light temperature is adjustable, and the wireless control dial adds an extra level of convenience.
All in all, the Xiaomi light bar is the best value-for-money option for anyone in need of an adjustable, high quality and functional light bar.
