If you’re searching online to find out the best monitor light bar for your setup, odds are you have run into two popular picks—Xiaomi Mi Computer Monitor Light Bar and BenQ Halo.
Both of these devices are built with the same goal in mind— to improve your viewing experience.
The BenQ Halo is considered a flagship product in this category. At the same time, the Xiaomi Mi Light Bar appears as an affordable alternative.
Now you might be wondering that with nearly a $100 difference in price, is that even a fair comparison?
Well, let’s figure out.
In This Article
Aesthetics & Built Quality
Starting with aesthetics and built quality. And I’ve got to say that both lights are quite literally top-notch!
The Xiaomi light bar features a simple yet elegant design that perfectly demonstrates its minimalistic approach. It has a solid full metal built with a matte finish, giving it a premium look.
What I appreciate most is its minimal branding. There’s only an info strip on the back, hidden from the front view.
The BenQ Halo, on the contrary, has a more futuristic aesthetic. It’s slightly bulkier than the Xiaomi light bar. Both, however, attach firmly and offer stability without any slipping or sliding.
Where the BenQ Halo shines (quite literally) is in its backlight feature, which Xiaomi lacks. The backlight makes a notable difference in the overall look and feel of the light bar. However, it comes at a higher price.
Another difference is the length between the light bar and screen. The Xiaomi light bar is attached more closely to the screen. Whereas the BenQ is a bit further away.
That said, neither product causes glare on the screen. But, if you turn the brightness up far too high, you might see reflections from your keyboard or desk on your monitor.
Regarding color options, both are available in a single color. The BenQ Halo is available only in space gray. Whereas Xiaomi is available solely in black.
All in all, both devices have a premium built quality and offer a modern design.
Remote Dial
Now, let’s look into the remote dials. Each device includes wireless remote dials (or we say puck) for easy lighting adjustments, but the remotes themselves are quite distinct in many aspects.
The Xiaomi features a very minimal matte black puck. It’s almost enigmatic, with no buttons or visible indicators. It’s simple and sleek, but sometimes that minimalism leaves me fumbling in the dark (literally and figuratively). That’s primarily because I have a black desk, and when the light is off, I can’t find the remote.
On the other hand, the BenQ Halo’s control dial is more sophisticated. It has visual information, with icons indicating specific settings.
I have to admit, Halo’s design is quite impressive. The controls are more intuitive—you can touch what you want to change and then just turn the dial-up. I love the ease and elegance of it.
The top part is made from a glossy material, which looks great, although it does tend to catch fingerprints like a magnet. Nevertheless, not as much as the matte black Xiaomi puck does.
Another exciting feature of the Halo’s remote dial is its proximity sensor. When you wave your hand over it, the controller lights up. It’s a small feature as a matter of fact but adds to the overall premium feel of the device.
All things considered, both dials have their unique feel. But I find the BenQ Halo’s remote dial to be more user-friendly, aesthetically appealing, and feature-rich.
Performance
In terms of performance, both light bars function very similarly. That said, there are a few differences worth pointing out.
First, regarding brightness, Xiaomi is slightly brighter than BenQ at its maximum setting. Even though I rarely use either at the maximum brightness, but It could be useful in certain scenarios.
As for color temperature. I don’t see much difference between the two.
Where BenQ takes the lead is in its wider illuminance coverage. The Halo has a 50 cm length and a lamp head that can be adjusted up to 35°. Hence, It provides an exceptional 500 lux brightness over a spacious 65 cm x 40 cm² area.
This feature was certainly the biggest thing I noticed when I first turned it on—it lit up my entire table!
That said, even with its broader coverage, I can’t quite justify a $100 price difference.
Though, it’s clear that the BenQ Halo has a slight edge.
Compatibility
Speaking of compatibility, The BenQ Halo can be placed stably on any monitor with thickness range from 0.7 cm to 6 cm and curvature between 1000R and 1800R.
They went even further by providing a useful add-on in the box—a soft spacing pad for curved monitors. This spacing pad can be very useful if your monitor is not within the supported curvature range.
On the other hand, the Xiaomi light bar fits well on most monitors, including curved displays.
It even manages okay with super thick monitors. Though it doesn’t clamp on quite as perfectly as it does with thinner ones. That said, still it does a decent job, no complaints.
What Halo has, and Xiaomi Doesn’t?
Halo offers everything that Xiaomi does, but does Xiaomi have everything that Halo brings to the table?
Here are some notable features that Halo has and Xiaomi doesn’t:
Integrated Backlight
One of my favorite features of the BenQ Halo is its integrated backlighting. A perk you won’t find with Xiaomi’s light bar. Anyway It’s not just about aesthetics—though it does make your setup look more polished.
The backlight creates a soft, ambient glow behind your monitor. As a result, It considerably enhances the all-around viewing experience, aesthetics, and lessens eye strain.
What’s better, it saves you from buying a separate backlight.
So no extra spending and no more clutter!
Webcam Compatibility
Now this is something most light bars don’t have, including the Xiaomi light bar. Honestly, it’s a real deal-breaker for some people. And BenQ has solved one of the biggest headaches we all face with monitor lamps.
Halo seamlessly integrates with the BenQ IdeaCam. This means you can position your webcam in the center of your monitor (right where it should be). Having said that, it comes at an additional cost. You’ll have to buy their specific webcam to get things working.
But, what If you’re someone who already has a webcam? Or you don’t want to purchase the IdeaCam?
Worry not we have an option here!
If you want to attach your own webcam, not the IdeaCam on the Halo, you can get their webcam accessory (at an extra cost of $20). With that small mounting piece, you can attach nearly any webcam on top of the Halo light bar.
So it doesn’t matter what type of cam you prefer, BenQ is at your service!
Auto Dimming Mode
I must say, Halo’s Auto Dimming Mode is like having a personal assistant for your eyes.
This feature is designed to automatically adjust the brightness of your screen and light bar in accordance with the surrounding lighting conditions.
To be real, It’s not perfect—but generally, It’s a useful feature to have; particularly for those who want all things automated. It makes one less thing for you to worry about in the middle of your work.
Favorite Light Mode
Last but not least, let’s talk about my most Fav feature of the Halo, The Favorite Light Mode!
As the name suggests, this feature lets you save your preferred light settings as a “favorite”. Once saved, you can easily switch to this mode whenever you want.
It’s like having your own personalized lighting preset. It’s one of those small automations that just make my day-to-day routines a bit easier. And I absolutely love it!
Wider Illuminance Coverage
How much area the light can cover is a notable consideration, in particular for certain individuals who have a wider desk.
Now, I know some people might argue that Xiaomi does a quite decent job in terms of light coverage. And honestly, they’re not wrong.
However, the Halo takes things to just another level. It covers more area (65 cm x 40 cm²) than most of the other alternatives out there. That said, making the whole experience considerably more appealing.
Our Verdict
Undoubtedly, Halo takes the top spot. It’s a flagship monitor light bar with all the bells and whistles.
Some of the most practical features that we’ve found are backlight, webcam compatibility, and favorite light mode. All these together make it one of the best lamps in the market.
Having said that, these additional features don’t justify spending an extra $100. But, if budget is not an issue for you and you want the cream of the crop—then go for the Halo.
In comparison, Xiaomi is not far behind either. It provides all the necessary features at a considerably lower price point. It’s the best value-for-money pick you’ll find in the market.
Xiaomi light bar only lacks a few advanced features that we’ve already covered above.
Other than that, its premium quality build, design, and performance is as good as, if not better than, others. It’s still a solid choice that won’t disappoint you.
In the end, it’s now about your preference, budget, and priorities. Both devices are top-notch and you can’t go wrong with either one!
