BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 vs Rain Design mStand
Comparing BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 (a monitor light bar that lights your desk and the wall behind your screen without glare on the display) with Rain Design mStand (a one-piece aluminum laptop stand that raises your screen closer to eye level). Here's how they stack up on price, features and user ratings.
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BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2
Rated0.0out of 5(0)A monitor light bar that lights your desk and the wall behind your screen without glare on the display
Read the full BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 review →Rain Design mStand
Rated0.0out of 5(0)A one-piece aluminum laptop stand that raises your screen closer to eye level
Read the full Rain Design mStand review →At a glance
| Attribute | BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 | Rain Design mStand |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | Rated0.0out of 5(0) | Rated0.0out of 5(0) |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Category | Desk setup | Desk setup |
| Best deal | — | — |
| Plans | — | — |
BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 features
- Front light plus a tri-zone backlight that lights the wall behind your monitor
- Front light covers an 85 x 50 cm (33.5 x 19.7 in) area at 500 lux
- Stepless brightness on both lights; 2700K to 6500K color temperature
- Rechargeable wireless controller that BenQ says lasts up to 3 months per charge
- One controller can run two Halo 2 light bars
- Presence sensor turns the light on when you sit down and off when you leave
- Auto-dimming to a recommended 500 lux
- Clamp fits flat and curved monitors 0.43 to 6 cm thick, curves from 1000R to 1800R
- Webcam accessory included; powered over USB-C
Pros
- Backlight eases the contrast between a bright screen and a dark room
- Works on curved monitors as well as flat ones
- Wireless controller with a numeric display for exact settings
- Takes no desk space, unlike a regular lamp
- Webcam accessory in the box so your camera can sit above the bar
Cons
- Premium-priced compared with basic monitor light bars
- Needs its own USB-C power source, using the included adapter or a port
- The controller is one more thing to keep charged
- Presence sensor may switch the light off if you sit very still for 5 minutes
- Overkill if your room is already well lit
Rain Design mStand features
- Made from a single piece of anodized aluminum
- Raises the laptop to a height of 5.9 inches (150 mm)
- 10 x 7.5 inch (253 x 190 mm) footprint
- Weighs 3 lbs (1.46 kg)
- Tilt design brings the screen closer and helps airflow
- Aluminum acts as a heat sink to help cool your laptop
- 2-inch cable hole in the back
- Rubber pads keep the laptop off the metal
- Space underneath to store a keyboard
Pros
- Solid one-piece aluminum build
- Fits all MacBooks, including the 16-inch MacBook Pro
- Cable hole keeps chargers and cords tidy
- Room underneath to tuck a keyboard away
- Comes in six colors
Cons
- Fixed height and angle; nothing adjusts
- Heavy for carrying in a laptop bag
- You need a separate keyboard and mouse to use it comfortably
- The swivel version (mStand360) is a separate product
- Costs more than basic plastic or folding stands
The verdict
BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 edges ahead with a 0.0/5 rating from 0 reviews. Choose BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 if you value: backlight eases the contrast between a bright screen and a dark room. Choose Rain Design mStand if you value: solid one-piece aluminum build.