Over the last few days I’ve been using this reading lamp (can also be used as a desk lamp) that I received from the BenQ company for review. And this thing is pretty great overall! It’s almost exactly what I needed (at least, by way of my needs for when I read a print book, vs. my Kindle). Almost, you ask? Well about 85% perfect (and I’ll get to that in a bit).
I normally read on my Kindle (it’s my preference because I don’t need additional lighting and can highlight and make notes easily), but every once in awhile I receive a print book for review, and it’s one that I’m dying to read. Try as I might, I just can’t hold out for the ebook to go live, so I dive in (and enjoy the nostalgia of reading a print book and actually turning pages like back in my early reading days). In fact, this is exactly the case right now for an upcoming release called “Fashion Jungle” that I’m reading as we speak.
I used to have a small book lamp (that attaches to the book) so I can read late into the night, but it would fall off, or the batteries would die, or it would just be an overall pain in the butt to maneuver while I’m trying to flip pages, and use actual sticky notes in my book to highlight parts for my reviews. Just a pain.
So over time, I gave up. I don’t actually have any lamps (not even book lamps) because I’m almost always on my Kindle, so night or day, rain or shine, I’m, fine. But when I’m reading a print book, I’m back to square one. I ended up only reading those during the day only, ’cause it’s inconvenient (and kind of obnoxious) to have all my ceiling lights on while I’m reading before bed, even with a dimmer. LOL!! 😉
And then I received this LED lamp. HOOOOORAY!!!! I was sure this was going to solve my reading problems. And it has for the most part.
It has two light temperatures (bright white and a more day/orangy color), and each temperature is dimmable. Super easy to turn on and off (just touching that metal circle will do it) and a dial that can brighten or dim it, and pushing down on the dial switches the color temps. This is actually a bit convoluted to explain (but once you play with it, you’ll see how easy it is to change).
It’s super-easy to put together, but I was initially surprised at the large packaging it came in. Kind of huge, but also super-well packed, and it has to be, ’cause the base of the lamp is quite heavy. That thing will do some damage if not properly secured (I know because of course, I dropped the base (stuck holding just the “arm” and lamp head in my grasp) when I tried to carry the lamp to my bedroom after I put it together. Don’t ask… (I can be a klutz).
So anyway, I picked it up by the base, and then as I was walking, loosened my grip on the base and was holding it pretty much by the long arm-part and that is a NO-NO. LOL! Holy moly, that base came tumbling down (the arm fits just perfectly INTO a section of the base) but also pulls right out of the base easily too. So had that fallen on my foot I would have screamed up a storm. But it’s heavy for a reason. To keep the lamp SOLIDLY in place, so you can flip the arm around, up and down, sideways, however you need it for your comfort, without tipping the whole lamp over. So this heavy base is fantastic!
Also, design wise, it’s very low profile and slim and quite modern looking. Contemporary. I LOVE the look. It’s MUCH larger than I expected it to be (the head/actual LED light section), but in the grand scheme of things, this is very useful! Excellent quality (this FEELS like an expensive lamp) and has a nice padding under the base to protect furniture and keep it from slipping.
Anyway, all that to say, that I’m loving it, but my only real complaint is:
1.) The dimmer doesn’t allow the lamp to get dim enough (for my tastes, anyway). Sometimes I just want a barely there warm glow, just enough to see what I’m reading, though dim enough so as not to disturb my eventual sleep cycle when I eventually decide to fall asleep. Maybe even fall asleep by that barely there light. Would love that. So for now, I throw a scarf over it to dim it as I’m reading, to get that even gentler glow.
2.) I wish there was a way to securely snap that arm into the base. Sure… it’s nice how easy it is, putting it into the base, and being able to easily pull it back out, and I understand the necessity of the heavy base, but if we could find a way to snap it/lock it in more securely (in case of mindless moving of the lamp and base, like I did when I first put it together) that the base stays attached to the arm and doesn’t come tumbling down onto the floor, or a foot, or ruin wood or glass on impact.
So that’s it. I think it’s cool looking, it works AMAZING, kind of has a futuristic feel, especially with that neat barely-need-to-touch-it to turn it on feature. I can use it anywhere due to it’s size (not too big, doesn’t take up much room) but also not too small that it can’t light up a whole section of a desk. Clever design and extremely useful.
I think the next thing I’m going to try tonight, is to place the base on the floor between my bed and my nightstand (kind of out of sight, behind it all… sort of). Then, I can maneuver the very tall and extremely adjustable arm (bends and rotates) to reach above my mattress/reading area so it only lights my book and downwards, instead of over my whole head. Then simply fold it back down when not in use (while never having to actually move or displace the lamp from it’s location). Plus, that way, the base remains on the ground. Yay!!! I think that will work even better for me. I’ll test it tonight and add an image if it ends up working.
So thank you very much to the manufacturer for sending this lamp to me. It is much loved and will be well used!!!
FOUR STARS!! 😀
