My daughter will be taking her PSLE next year. With the expected increase in her workload, I worry about her eyes getting strained. To protect her eyesight, having a good task light is crucial. So, when I read about the excellent features of the BenQ MindDuo Eye-Care Study Table Lamp, I decided to give it a try.
BenQ MindDuo Eye-Care Study Table Lamp: Easy to Set Up, Fun to Use
“Can we set it up now?” my 11-year-old pleaded with me when she saw the table lamp in its box. I was hesitant as it was already late, but the DIY-fanatic insisted that it would not take very long to put the parts together – and she was right!
Following the instructions in the quick start guide, she had the lamp up on her study table in a jiffy and proceeded to explore the various features. She had fun turning on the lamp by just placing her hand under the on/off sensor, and fiddling with the rotary knob to toggle between different functions such as colour temperature, brightness level and reading mode.
Throughout this process, my husband and I just had to make sure that the arm of the lamp was screwed tightly enough to the base pedestal. A word of caution: the base is a little heavy and should be held on to when moving the lamp.
Year-end Holiday Camps: Discover Fun and Exciting Camps for Kids; Book Early
Dec Fun: Get the Best Ideas for the School Holidays
Well-designed – Aesthetically and Technologically
My first impression, with the BenQ MindDuo in place, was how aesthetically pleasing it is. The lamp head, with its graceful backward arch and rounded edges, cuts an attractive figure and would fit well with any room design. Using minimal controls – most functions can be accessed via a single rotary knob – adds to the sleekness of the lamp.
Besides looking good, the BenQ MindDuo is also a well-designed piece of technology. By using light-guiding louvres within a curved lamp head, the illumination area is enlarged and light rays are spread more evenly. This clever design has enabled the BenQ MindDuo to achieve a range that is 150% wider than other comparable lamps!
Now, my daughter can have her written homework set out in front of her, with the laptop at the side for the occasional research, without encountering any loss in brightness when switching between these tasks.
From what I read on the BenQ website, when the lamp head is hovering 40 cm above the desk, the entire lit-up area – which is 95 cm wide – is supposed to have an illuminance of at least 500 Lux. Lux, by the way, is a measure of the amount of light falling on a surface.
When I checked with a light meter app, I was delighted to get a reading of over 800 Lux even when the phone was directed at a spot near the edge of the illumination zone!
Comfortable Lighting for Every Scenario
Another plus for me is that the BenQ MindDuo provides just the right amount of light to allow my child to read or write comfortably. This is achieved through the use of a built-in ambient light sensor, which automatically detects the brightness of the area and intelligently supplements the light required for optimal working conditions, when the preset mode is chosen.
Even if she decides to use the manual mode on the BenQ MindDuo, the illuminance indicator on the rotary knob would let her know what the state of the lighting condition is. Red signals that the area is too dark, blue means too bright, and green says that it is just right.
With her previous table lamp, she often had problems selecting the correct light intensity, and ended up tiring out her eyes. The difference was obvious when she first tried the BenQ MindDuo.
The BenQ MindDuo also offers different modes for book reading and screen reading, which is very helpful considering the increasing amount of computer work that children have to do nowadays.
A high-brightness light with a cooler colour temperature encourages concentration when reading a book, while a dimmer light with a warmer colour tone is more suitable when reading off a computer screen.
True Concern for Eye Health
I also appreciate how the BenQ MindDuo approaches eye health in a holistic manner. Besides striving to provide the best lighting in every situation, it also tries to counter bad habits or careless behaviour.
The presence detection function, for instance, is a godsend. Once it is activated, the lamp lights up automatically when it senses the user at the desk and turns itself off 30 minutes after the user has left.
This is great because my kid tends to forget about everything else when her nose is buried in a book – including switching on the light! A self-illuminating lamp would ensure that she is always reading in good lighting conditions. The auto switch-off is undoubtedly helpful for saving energy.
The lamp also comes with a reminder to take eye breaks – in the form of a blinking light on the rotary knob after every 30 minutes of usage. While I think this is a good idea, my daughter did not notice the flashes when she spent an extended amount of time working at her desk. I think they did not show up bright enough as the surrounding area was well lit by the lamp.
Other Appreciated Features
Some other features of the BenQ MindDuo that I like include a USB port for charging mobile devices and the ultra flexible arm, which is the result of combining torque spring technology and patented ball joints.
Overall BenQ MindDuo Eye-Care Study Table Lamp Review
I am glad to have found the BenQ MindDuo Eye-Care Study Table Lamp. It is sensitive to the needs of today’s multitasking kids and, with its focus on eye health, is a trusted companion on their learning journey. Most important of all, my child loves using it!
Find out more about the BenQ MindDuo Eye-Care Study Table Lamp. It is also available for purchase on Shopee and Lazada.