Updated

Updated · Forbes · Aug 25

BenQ Launches $189 iScreenBar for iMacs as $289 ScreenBar Max Targets Dual Monitors

Updated

Updated · Forbes · Aug 25

BenQ Launches $189 iScreenBar for iMacs as $289 ScreenBar Max Targets Dual Monitors

Q: Will BenQ's asymmetric optics completely eliminate screen glare on the notoriously glossy 24-inch iMac display?

No. BenQ’s asymmetric optics are designed to minimize glare, not guarantee that the glossy 24-inch iMac display will be completely reflection-free in every setup. The company’s claim is specific: the iScreenBar directs light onto the desk rather than straight at the screen or the user’s eyes. That should materially reduce the kind of glare caused by a conventional desk lamp. BenQ’s broader ScreenBar materials and hands-on reviews of other BenQ light bars also support that its asymmetric beam design can be very effective, with some testers reporting no visible screen reflections in normal use. But “completely eliminate” is a stronger standard than the product information supports. The iMac’s glossy panel can still reflect other light sources in the room, including windows, ceiling fixtures, and bright walls. Real-world results also depend on monitor angle, seating position, room lighting, and how the bar is mounted and adjusted. So the best reading of BenQ’s claim is that the iScreenBar should greatly reduce glare created by the lamp itself and may eliminate that specific reflection in many setups. It will not make the iMac’s glossy screen inherently glare-proof. Users who want the best results will still need good overall lighting control, such as softer ambient light, careful window placement, and avoiding strong light sources behind them.

Q: With new variants coming later in 2026, will they perfectly match Apple's unique pastel hues?

No. BenQ’s planned blue and green iScreenBar variants are meant to complement Apple’s 24-inch iMac colors, but there is no evidence they will be perfect, one-to-one matches to Apple’s pastel finishes. What BenQ has said is more modest: the light bar is designed to “blend” with the iMac, using an aluminum body and styling that echoes Apple’s hardware. The current version is silver, and later 2026 variants in blue and green are planned. That suggests aesthetic coordination, not official color matching. A perfect match would be difficult to guarantee for practical reasons. Apple’s iMac colors use distinctive pastel tones and specific surface treatments, while BenQ is making an accessory with its own materials, coatings, and manufacturing tolerances. Even small differences in anodization, paint, texture, gloss, or ambient lighting can make two “matching” products look slightly different side by side. There is also no indication in the available material that Apple has licensed or approved exact color standards for these accessories. Without that, buyers should expect “close in spirit” rather than “indistinguishable from Apple.” The safest expectation is that the new blue and green models will visually fit an iMac setup well, especially from normal desk distance, but perfection is unlikely unless BenQ explicitly promises exact hue matching later.

3 articles · Updated · Forbes · Aug 25

$189 iScreenBar is now on sale as BenQ’s first monitor light bar built specifically for Apple’s 2021-and-later iMacs, with a custom magnetic mount and a design that avoids blocking the camera, microphone or rear logo.
BenQ is using the launch to chase iMac users with a bespoke accessory rather than a universal fit, pairing aluminum-and-glass styling with asymmetric optics that deliver 500 lux across an 85 x 50 cm area while cutting glare and eye strain.
macOS app controls, presence detection and webcam-aware Video Mode extend the iScreenBar beyond basic lighting, letting users save app-specific profiles and automatically adjust brightness as room light changes.
$289 ScreenBar Max broadens the push to dual-monitor desks, using wider ASYM-TriZone lighting to cover 500 lux across 135 x 58 cm, including the gap between screens; an optional desk base costs $39.
Late-2026 blue and green iScreenBar versions show BenQ is leaning further into Apple-style customization as it tries to expand share in the monitor-lighting category it says it created nearly 10 years ago.