First look: BenQ adds two new overhead monitor light bars for iMac and multi-display power users, now available in Singapore

Most power users who spend long hours are already familiar with BenQ’s ScreenBar series of monitor lights. These compact, over-monitor illumination lights are highly valued for reducing contrast glare, making it easier to concentrate and do attention-intensive tasks at your PC workstation or swanky work desk.

BenQ is adding more options to its extensive range (including the backlight-capable ScreenBar Halo 2). The two new additions are designed specifically for multi-monitor setups and for Apple macOS users who need a monitor light that aesthetically matches their Apple-branded monitor PC, the iMac.

Without further ado:

BenQ iScreenBar (for iMac users)

Do you own an iMac and wished you had an overhead monitor light that not only reduces contrast glare, but also matches the colour of your macOS workstation? This ScreenBar variant is the answer.

The iScreenBar matches the iMac’s aesthetic, right down to its sleek metallic unibody design. To mount the light, it includes a magnetic arm that connects directly to the PC’s USB-C port for power supply. It also includes magnetic cable-management hooks (note that this magnetic clip style is compatible only with 2021 and later iMac models).

Other features include intelligent dimming, where the iScreenBar can sense your iMac entering an online meeting or video call and dim the centre bunch of LEDs. This prevents the monitor light from messing with your front camera’s auto-exposure settings. At the same time, it helps you maintain a natural, well-lit appearance, which might help make you looking more approachable or professional.

The light is also integrated with macOS to grant personalised lighting settings. Once connected, you can manually control the temperature (2,700K to 6,500K, ANSI White 8 quadrangles colour standard), adjust brightness, and more. It even detects which app is active on your iMac and applies your customised lighting profile accordingly (e.g., lights suitable for web browsing in Safari versus binge-watching on Netflix).

You can also rotate (up-down) to move the light closer to or farther from your keyboard, although BenQ said its patented AYSM-Light path is already optimised to prevent light from being cast directly into your eyes or onto the monitor.

iScreenBar specifications:

• Material: Aluminium alloy, PC/ABS
• 0.23kg, 50 x 6.5 x 7.8cm
• 50,000-hour LED lifetime
• 5V/2.1A power input, 10.5W power consumption
• 750-lm luminous flux
• 2700K to 6500K temperature range

BenQ ScreenBar Max

Multi-monitor users, your monitor light has arrived. BenQ knows it can get silly to buy multiple monitor lights and attach them to all your displays, so they now offer the ScreenBar Max: a single, comprehensive monitor light on its own arm for all your monitors at once. 

The BenQ ScreenBar Max is optimised for a dual-monitor setup. It takes all of BenQ’s past ScreenBar lessons and applies them to lighting multiple panels at once. Its AYSM-Light pathing patent is the star of the bar, using a unique AYSM-TriZone Light path to shape and illuminate only your workstation while keeping it off the screens.

A key perk of this path light is that ScreenBar Max can accommodate unusual monitor layouts, e.g., one portrait and one landscape, tilted dual monitors, and even curved ultrawide ones.

For desks with 6cm-or-thinner tabletops, users can use the included Secure Desk Clamp to secure the ScreenBar Max. If your tabletop is thicker, BenQ offers an Optional Desk Base (2.5kg, 16.8 x 23.4cm wide; sold separately) to hold the monitor light in place.

BenQ recommends extending the light’s neck about 5cm past your monitors for the optimal viewing experience, and the mounting rod has three adjustable heights to accommodate differently sized monitors: 55cm, 63cm, and 71cm.

Like the iScreenBar above, the ScreenBar Max can also auto-detect the user via a motion-based mmWave sensor when the user comes within 60cm (±10 cm) of the monitors. The lights itself also feature an impressive array of controls (stepless brightness, favourite light profiles, switching front/back lights, auto-dimming, etc.) that really speaks to most multi-monitor power users.

ScreenBar Max specifications:

• Colours: Dark Grey only
• Material: Aluminium alloy, PC/ABS, polycarbonate, zinc alloy
• 2.65kg, 85 x 75.5 x 37.4cm
• 50,000-hour LED lifetime
• 24V/1.5A power input, 36W power consumption, 100~240V adapter included
• 1,400-lm luminous flux
• 2700K to 6500K temperature range

Pricing and availability in Singapore

Both the iScreenBar and the ScreenBar Max are available on BenQ’s official e-commerce platforms:

They are retailing at the following official prices:

• BenQ iScreenBar: S$319 (with a launch price of S$289)
• BenQ ScreenBar Max: S$519 (launch price S$479)