I was skeptical about monitor light bars until I tried this one — and now I'm never going back

Top view of lighter — (Image credit: Paul Antill / Tom's Guide)

I have always been a bit of a "gremlin" who prefers working in the later hours of the day and into the night. Besides the neon glow from my Govee RGB desk strip lights and occasionally a lamp, I'm working in a dark room, staring at my ridiculously large and eye searingly bright Samsung 49" G9 Ultrawide monitor.

I had seen monitor light bars trending for the past few years, but I've always dismissed them as a fad. I mean, I already had lamps, and desk lighting that looked much cooler, why would I clip another light to the top of my screen?

After seeing the Quntis Curved RGB Monitor Light Bar go on sale and finally trying it out myself to see what all the fuss was about, I’m kicking myself for waiting this long. Turns out monitor light bars aren't just a gimmick, they’re the missing piece I didn’t know my desk setup needed.

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No more eye strain

Downward facing lights — (Image credit: Paul Antill / Tom's Guide)

So here's what I quickly realized. Light placement is super important. Unlike a desk lamp that you might have off to one side of your desk which can create unwanted hot spots and glare on your monitor, a light bar shines light strictly downward onto your workspace, illuminating your desk and keyboard area without impacting your monitor experience.

Especially in the dimmer and cozier rooms I prefer to work in, eyes can have a hard time with the "contrast gap" between staring at a very bright monitor and the dark wall behind it.

Adding a light bar softens that transition making looking at a screen feel significantly less like staring into a flashlight. I noticed this instantly and my eyes felt much more relaxed and by the end of the night I wasn't as fatigued.

Built for the curve

Quntis Lightbar-Desk Setup — (Image credit: Paul Antill / Tom's Guide)

If you’re rocking a massive display like my Samsung G9, standard straight light bars are going to look silly and honestly might do more harm than good.

So after a bit of research, I found this Quntis model which can extend up to 25.74" wide and is designed for 34-inch-plus curved 1000R/1800R screens. Its triple folding clip rests on top of my monitor without any adhesive needed and it uses two curved arms which bend allowing it to follow the arc of my monitor really well. In fact, it actually looks pretty well integrated rather than some random accessory.

IncludedT Controller — (Image credit: Paul Antill / Tom's Guide)

It uses a wireless puck controller to toggle the downward facing "work" light (adjusting both brightness and color temperature) independently from the top-facing RGB bar which lets you adjust its color and lighting effects.

What would make this better?

While most of my new battery-powered gadgets are rechargeable, the puck controller still relies on AAA batteries. USB-C charging would have been nice to have here.

I do wish it had WiFi or smart-home integration too. Being able to sync it with Alexa or Google Home to turn it on or off along with the other smart lights in my studio would be the ultimate convenience.

Close up Installed on Samsung 49" Ultrawide Monitor — (Image credit: Paul Antill / Tom's Guide)

Also the RGB light is a nice touch that adds a pop of color, but it honestly isn't as impactful as I would have liked. Since it shines more upward than backward, it can't really bounce its lighting against your wall to really see its effects.

At least for my set up, it's been something that looks cool when I'm appreciating my desk setup from a few feet away, but when I actually go to work at my desk, it's barely noticeable since its positioned above my eyeline. That said, the fact this is included at the same price point as non-RGB models made this more forgivable.

My new must have desk accessory

Installed on Samsung 49" Ultrawide Monitor — (Image credit: Paul Antill / Tom's Guide)

At roughly $60, this felt like a low-risk experiment that yielded a high-reward result. Since I spend so much time working in a dim room, this isn't just a "nice-to-have" accessory, it's been a big boost to productivity.

I may always be an editing gremlin but my setup has never felt or looked better to work at.

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Paul Antill is a Video Producer and Content Creator at Tom's Guide, specializing in video/audio recording, smart home technology, and laptops. His passion lies in making tech coverage not just informative but also fun and accessible to everyone answering the question “Why does this new product or feature matter to me?” Paul has been a tech host and video producer since 2019 where he has also covered major tech and gaming events. His love for tech and video began on his YouTube channel where for the low price of one subscription he shares head-to-head comparisons and clever ways to make the most of your gear. You can also see the behind-the-scenes and the magic that goes into our Tom’s Guide videos over on his Instagram. Paul graduated from the Mason School of Business at William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, with a degree in Marketing and Business Analytics. When he's not on camera, you’ll probably still spot him behind one doing street photography and videography. Back home he’s probably in a heated Overwatch 2 match with his friends.

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