BenQ ScreenBar Halo vs Elgato Key Light Comparison

BenQ ScreenBar Halo

Dual-colour LEDs adjust from 2700 K to 6500 K, with a CRI of 95 or higher. BenQ rates illuminance at 800 lux at 45 cm, covering 63 x 40 cm at 500 lux. A rear backlight lights the wall behind the monitor, which acts as bias lighting and reduces the contrast between a bright screen and a dark room.

Elgato Key Light

Elgato rates the panel at up to 2,800 lumens with colour temperature from 2,900 K to 7,000 K. That range runs from warm tungsten to cool daylight. Spec-based reasoning: with more output in reserve, the panel can run at a low percentage for calls and still have headroom to fill shadows in a larger room or a recording.

BenQ ScreenBar Halo

The bar is aluminium, with an asymmetric optical design that throws light down onto the desk rather than onto the screen. A counterweight clamp holds it on the monitor. The clamp fits flat and curved monitors, including curved displays from 1000R to 1800R. The single USB-C lead is the only cable to the monitor; the controller is wireless.

Elgato Key Light

The aluminium-framed panel uses 160 LEDs behind a frosted diffuser and sits on a telescopic pole with a desk clamp. The pole raises the light above eye level, where key lights work best. The padded clamp fits desks up to 60 mm and frees desk space compared with stand-based lights.

BenQ ScreenBar Halo

There is no app: brightness, colour temperature, auto-dimming and the backlight are all set from the wireless controller.

Elgato Key Light

Elgato Control Center on Windows and macOS, the mobile app and Stream Deck all set brightness and colour temperature; an Elgato Light Remote is sold separately.

BenQ ScreenBar Halo

BenQ lists monitor thickness ranges of 0.7 to 6 cm for flat screens and 1.6 to 3.8 cm for curved screens. Because it sits on the monitor, it can block a webcam clipped on top. Mount the webcam on a separate arm or below the screen if both are needed.

Elgato Key Light

Because it works independently of the webcam, it improves whichever camera is in use. That makes it a natural partner for a premium webcam such as the Logitech MX Brio, whose sensor still depends on light reaching the face. Brightness and colour are adjusted from the app, a Stream Deck or the optional remote rather than on the panel.

BenQ ScreenBar Halo

Installation is tool-free: place the clamp on the monitor and connect the USB-C cable to a port or adapter. Power draw is up to 6.5 W at 5 V 1.3 A. If a monitor's USB port can't supply that, a phone charger can power it instead. The wireless controller runs on three AAA batteries, and its dial adjusts brightness without reaching up to the monitor.

Elgato Key Light

Mount the clamp to the desk edge, slide on the pole and panel, and plug in the mains adapter. Control Center then finds the light over Wi-Fi. As general lighting practice, a key light sits about 45° to one side and slightly above eye level. The light uses 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, so networks that are 5 GHz-only or restrict new devices need checking first.