BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 vs ScreenBar Pro: Which One Fits Your Desk?

The Halo 2 and the Pro both clip to the top of your monitor, both list the same color range, and both turn off when you walk away. The real gap is a glowing rear light and a wireless controller, and whether those are worth paying extra for. That is the whole decision, so I will spend most of this page on it.

I have not owned either bar. This comparison comes from BenQ’s own spec pages, the current Amazon listings, and published reviews from Notebookcheck, Tom’s Guide and a French comparison site, DeskUp. When those sources disagree, I say so instead of picking the tidier number.

BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 vs Pro at a Glance

What the Two Bars Share

Most of the headline features match. Both throw their main light forward onto the desk from an asymmetric lens, which BenQ designs to keep the beam off your screen. Both cover 2700 to 6500 K, both have auto-dimming that targets 500 lux, and BenQ lists both as flicker-free and tested to the IEC TR 62471 photobiological standard. On brightness, BenQ’s spec pages quote 500 lux over an area of about 85 by 50 cm for each. Tom’s Guide and DeskUp both mention peak output above 1,000 lux at the center, which is not a contradiction, since one number is the work area and the other is the hot spot. All of these are maker figures, not measurements.

The sensor is also shared. BenQ lists an ultrasonic presence sensor on both, and Tom’s Guide called it the standout feature of the Halo 2 because it keeps working without any Wi-Fi. If you read an older review saying only the Pro has one, check its date.

The Rear Glow: What You Actually Pay Extra For

The Halo 2 adds a backlight that sits behind the monitor and glows onto the wall. BenQ splits it into three zones and says it covers 423 percent more area than the first-generation Halo. The idea is to soften the contrast between a bright screen and a dark room. Notebookcheck’s reviewer found the front light better for work and documents and the rear light better for evening gaming, and said both can run at once.

The catch is physical, not technical. DeskUp points out that the backlight only helps if a wall sits close behind the screen. If your monitor stands in the middle of a room or in front of a window, you are paying for light that has nothing to land on. That is the single most useful question to ask yourself before choosing the Halo 2.

Controls: Wireless Controller or Touch on the Bar

The Halo 2 comes with a round wireless controller that charges over USB-C. BenQ rates it at up to three months per charge and says one controller can run two bars. Notebookcheck reported about two hours to charge and noted the charging cable is not in the box, and DeskUp reports the controller is slow to wake and can store several lighting modes. The Pro has no controller. You tap controls on the bar itself, and DeskUp says it remembers only one favorite mode. BenQ lists 8 color temperature settings and 16 brightness levels on the Pro, which is plenty for most desks.

Whether this matters depends on how often you change the light. If you set it once and forget it, the controller is one more battery to charge. If you move between day work, evening reading and a dim room, presets on a controller are easier than reaching up to the bar.

Fit, Coverage and Power

On paper, the Pro has the roomier clamp: BenQ lists screens up to 6.5 cm thick, against 6 cm for the Halo 2, and both handle curved panels from 1000R to 1800R. Notebookcheck’s Halo 2 test is the one real-world fit note I found. The bar sat very securely on a 24-inch BenQ monitor with a groove in the frame, but loosely on a very smooth 27-inch Samsung. I did not find an equivalent test for the Pro, so I cannot say it is immune.

Coverage is where the sources split. BenQ’s pages for both bars quote 500 lux over about 85 by 50 cm. DeskUp lists the Pro at up to 115 by 60 cm and the Halo 2 at 85 by 50. I could not reconcile these, so treat any claim that the Pro lights a wider desk as unconfirmed. On power, BenQ says the Pro can run from the monitor’s USB-C port or the included 15W adapter, and Tom’s Guide says the Halo 2 ships with an AC adapter.

Webcams and the Motion Sensor Fine Print

Two details are worth checking before you click buy. First, sensor settings: BenQ’s pages and Notebookcheck describe a fixed five-minute switch-off, but DeskUp says the Halo 2 lets you change the zone and delay while the Pro does not. Second, webcams. Tom’s Guide lists a webcam mounting kit in the Halo 2 box, while DeskUp says the Halo 2’s webcam compatibility is not documented and lists the Pro as the one that suits a top-mounted webcam. If you take video calls, our webcam guide is the better place to start, then confirm what the light bar listing includes.

ScreenBar Halo 2: Pros and Cons

ScreenBar Pro: Pros and Cons

Pick the Halo 2 or the Pro: A Quick Decision Guide

Frequently Asked Questions