Head-to-head · Best Task Desk Lamps

BenQ eReading LED Desk Lamp vs TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp (TT-DL13)

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

BenQ eReading LED Desk Lamp comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about Readers, crafters and hybrid workers who want one premium articulating lamp to brightly and evenly light a whole desk or workbench. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Task Desk Lamps

BenQ eReading LED Desk Lamp

4.6

$249as of Jun 7

The BenQ eReading LED Desk Lamp is Tom's Guide's best overall desk lamp, an articulating task lamp whose curved OVAL-light head spreads bright, glare-free light across a 35-inch span. A built-in ambient sensor auto-dims it, CRI 95 and 13 color temperatures cover reading through screen work, and one long-term reviewer called it the best desk lamp they have ever used. It is pricey and the base is large, but for a do-everything traditional task lamp it is the standout.

Strengths

— OVAL-light head lights a 35-inch-wide area, far wider than a typical desk lamp
— Ambient light sensor auto-dims the lamp to keep the desktop at a comfortable level
— High CRI of 95 and 13 selectable color temperatures suit reading, screen work and crafts

Watch-outs

— Expensive for a traditional desk lamp
— Large base takes up meaningful desk space
— Controls have a learning curve compared with a simple switch

$249 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best Task Desk Lamps

TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp (TT-DL13)

4.3

$36

The TaoTronics TT-DL13 is the budget pick, a fully adjustable LED desk lamp with five color modes, dimmable 510-lumen output and a USB charging port, all for around $36. Owners praise its flexible arm and tone control, and many report it still working well after years. It is far dimmer and more basic than the premium lamps here, and the touch controls can be fussy, but for an affordable, adjustable task lamp it is the standout value.

Strengths

— Five color modes and adjustable brightness cover reading, work and relaxation
— 510 lumens of eye-friendly light from an efficient 12W LED rated for 50,000 hours
— Fully adjustable head, neck and body aim light exactly where needed

Watch-outs

— Much dimmer and narrower coverage than the premium lamps here
— Touch controls can be unresponsive and require holding the power button
— Plastic build feels basic next to metal premium lamps

$36 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

BenQ eReading LED Desk Lamp

The best traditional articulating lamp here, lighting a far wider area than the budget TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp (TT-DL13). It shares the ambient-sensor smarts of the pricier Dyson Solarcycle Morph but costs less, and unlike the BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 and BenQ ScreenBar Pro light bars, it sits on the desk and lights a full work surface.

TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp (TT-DL13)

The budget option here, far cheaper than the BenQ eReading LED Desk Lamp and Dyson Solarcycle Morph and lacking their wide coverage and smart sensors. Unlike the screen-clipping BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 and BenQ ScreenBar Pro, it is a freestanding articulating lamp, but a far simpler and dimmer one than the premium picks.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	BenQ eReading LED Desk Lamp	TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp (TT-DL13)
Type	Articulating desk lamp	Articulating desk lamp
Coverage	35.4 in wide (OVAL-light)	—
Min Illuminance	500 lux	—
CRI	95	—
Color Temps	13 selectable	—
Smart	Auto-dim ambient sensor	—
Adjustability	Articulating arm + pivot head	Head, neck and body
Power	Plug-in (USB adapter)	—
Lumens	—	510 lm
Color Temp	—	3000K-6500K
Color Modes	—	5
Wattage	—	12W
Lifespan	—	50,000 hrs
Ports	—	USB charging (5V/1A)

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