The home office journal / Practical decisions

ScreenBar Pro, Halo 2 or Max? Start with the screen layout

Three different lighting arrangements, one practical checklist: identify the surface, mounting space and screens you need to light.

By Office Home Supply editorial · Updated 2026-10-10 · 3 minute read

Start with what needs light

A monitor light is a placement decision before it is a model decision. Put your normal work on the desk: keyboard, notebook, documents and anything you need to read beside the screen. Notice which areas are already lit and which remain in shadow. A narrow pool of light over the keyboard may be useful for one person and miss most of another person's working area. Buying the most elaborate light does not resolve a layout that places the task outside its useful coverage.

BenQ positions ScreenBar Pro for ultrawide workspaces, Halo 2 for front and rear illumination, and Max for a dual-monitor arrangement. Those are useful starting distinctions, not evidence that any of the three fits every desk in that group. Office Home Supply has not measured their illuminance, glare, uniformity or performance on your screens. Use the documented format to build a shortlist, then check the exact mount and working area.

One wide screen

With an ultrawide monitor, first mark where the screen ends and where the desk task begins. Check the screen's thickness and the shape of its rear housing against the manufacturer's current mounting instructions. A curved panel and a flat panel can place their rear surfaces differently. ScreenBar Pro belongs on this shortlist because of its intended workspace format; the name alone does not prove compatibility. Note any webcam or other attachment already using the top edge.

Front and rear lighting

Halo 2 is worth comparing when both the surface in front of the monitor and the area behind it are part of the lighting plan. Inspect the actual space behind the display. A screen pressed into a corner, a nearby shelf and an open room present different arrangements. Make a plan for the controller and cable as well as the light itself. Rear illumination should not be treated as a substitute for checking the rest of the room's lighting.

Two separate monitors

For Max, draw the position of both screens, including their angle and the gap between them. BenQ positions this model for dual-monitor desks, so it is a more relevant comparison than assuming a single-screen light will illuminate an expanded work area equally. Check the mounting location against your desk edge and monitor arms. Move adjustable screens through their usual positions before deciding where a fixed light should go. Optional accessories are separate decisions; verify exactly what the selected package includes.

Make a small comparison sheet

Record the task area, available mounting space, screen arrangement, occupied top edges, cable route and required controls. Put an explicit question beside each unknown. Compare current retailer totals only after the mount and layout checks pass, and include any required accessory in that total. A lower headline price can mean little if the intended arrangement needs a different mounting solution.

Choose the arrangement you can verify

A useful shortlist explains why each light is present and what remains to check. Keep Pro for the relevant wide-screen layout, Halo 2 when front and rear illumination matters, and Max for the relevant dual-screen arrangement. Remove a candidate when its documented mounting requirements conflict with the actual setup. If none fits, revisit a separate task lamp or the placement of the desk rather than treating one of these three as mandatory.

Sources & further reading

• BenQ ScreenBar Pro official model information
• BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 official model information
• BenQ ScreenBar Max official model information

Original planning analysis based on the cited specifications. We do not claim hands-on testing. Confirm manufacturer compatibility and follow the supplied instructions.