As a long-time miniature painter/modeler and Dad of young kids, I got the chance to test the BenQ MindDuo2 lamp—a desktop light designed for younger creatives. Until recently, I had never considered the needs of my kids when it came to hobby and art supplies; they simply borrowed or adopted the things I use. But, upon reflection may be kids can benefit from products engineered for them.
In my review, I’ll cover the features that make the MindDuo2 stand out, as well as its benefits and drawbacks. I’ll also share my experience as a parent with my daughter (who is 7 years old) who used this desk lamp over a period of a few weeks for her arts and crafts, and homework assignments. Additionally, I’ll touch on some tips for choosing a study lamp for your child’s needs and provide recommendations for other potential options to consider
Topline Verdict
The BenQ MindDuo2 Kids Study Lamp stands out as a promising contender in the quest for the perfect blend of functionality, accessibility, and eye-health for the younger generation. Yes, it’s expensive at over $250 USD. But you get what you pay for! The lighting quality stands above “normal” desk lamps, providing a comfortable soft glow that is bright for any needs. The adjustable color temperature allows users to easily flex between different needs, such as reading, writing, artwork, or computer/monitor work.
One of the coolest features, I think, is the ability of the light to “see” when a child is sitting by the lamp. Within 3 seconds of detecting a user, the lamp will turn on. And, when the child steps away, the lamp will also shut itself off. The lamp also uses a “touch-less” on/off sensor, similar to the hand dryers you find in bathrooms. Swipe your hand under the lamp and it’ll turn on or off. This is actually really useful because you’re not fumbling around in the dark looking for a switch or button to operate the lamp.
Of course, there are many other neat and powerful features in this desk lamp that I share with you below. Overall, however, this is a premium desk lamp designed specifically for the needs of the discerning parent who wants to provide the best lighting solution for their child(ren).
Take a closer look at my experience with this lamp for my kid’s room and decide for yourself if this is something you’d like to try for yourself! Keep reading below to learn more about what I thought of the BenQ Mindduo 2 lamp for kids.
Summary of the BenQ MindDuo2 Lamp: Unique Features!
The BenQ MindDuo2 Kids Study Lamp has a few key features that set it apart from other hobby desk lamps that I’ve tried. I write more about those lights further below. Interestingly, these features also appear in another form with the BenQ e-Reading lamp (which I reviewed here).
- Dual Smart Dimming Modes: Offers 4000K Screen Reading Mode to reduce screen glare and 5700K Paper Reading Mode for bright, focused light, optimizing reading and writing conditions. This feature did not come into play much for my daughter, who mainly used the warmer 5700K color temperature mode. But, maybe an older teenager may appreciate this function if they are switching tasks between computer-screen work and writing on paper or reading a book.
- Built-in Ambient Light Sensor: Automatically adjusts the light’s brightness and color temperature to match the surrounding environment. This feature is a big plus for me since keeps the lighting at a comfortable level automatically, when ambient lighting changes, such as natural sunlight coming through windows in her room. While not exactly necessary, this “smart” feature is super unique to this lamp.
- Presence Detection and Energy Efficiency: This is one of the coolest features for a lamp with kids. How many times do I have to remind my kid to turn off their lights when they leave the room? With the MindDuo2, this is a non-issue. This feature operates an automatic on/off function based on room occupancy, ensuring energy conservation and providing light only when necessary, enhancing both eco-friendliness and practicality. It turns off when my daughter gets up from her desk and turns back on when she returns. From our experience, this worked reliably.
I’ll also note that the ergonomics of the MindDuo2 are excellent. It has a gull-wing swing arm with a head that tilts and rotates, allowing for the lamp to be positioned in various ways. This flexibility enabled my daughter to use this desk lamp both for her hobbies and schoolwork, as well as for playing games on her tablet.
The front panel is easy to read with a large knob on the right side of the LED housing that adjusts color temperature and brightness. The touch-less sensor allows her to turn on/off the lamp with a swipe of her hand without pressing any buttons (which I appreciate as a parent because its fun and also avoids any wear and tear).
Personal Experience with the Lamp
When the BenQ MindDuo2 Kids Study Lamp first arrived, it was met with curious eyes and eager hands—my daughter who is seven was ready to put it to the test. My twin boys (4 years old) were also excited to see this new gadget for their “big sister.”
The packaging was impressive with bright colors and the lamp neatly secured in sturdy foam material.Setting up was straightforward; the simplicity of design translated into an ease of assembly that even my youngest found delightful.
As we set it up, my daughter quickly became familiar with its features and controls. She loved that she could change the color temperature, making it warmer or cooler depending on her activity.
While she played with that for a while, later on she did eventually settle on the warmer LED color tone as it was more comfortable for her activities, which were primarily reading and drawing on paper.
For my kids, the presence detection feature worked fairly well. Within 3 seconds of my daughter sitting at her desk, the light automatically turned on. Of course, sometimes the feature operated a bit too slowly for her liking, but it worked as intended. And, the auto-switch off with this feature (which turns the light off after 3 minutes of the user leaving the desk/seat) worked perfectly.
The dual smart dimming modes were fairly interesting; particularly during the varied activities my children engaged in. When the ambient light from sunlight through a nearby window changed, so did the projected illumination from the MindDuo2.
From the intensity needed for their homework to the soft glow preferred for evening reading, the MindDuo2 adapted well. I don’t think my daughter or other kids noticed how the LEDs dimmed or brightened automatically—it just worked for them. But I noted that the auto-dimming feature works well and would come in handy depending on what my kid was working on.
The marketing material that I read about the BenQ MindDuo2 suggests that it is more than any old desk lamp, it is designed to meet the varied needs and activities of children. As a parent, I’m quite intrigued that this light actually earned its place from this sales point of view.
Comparison to Other “Kid Lamps”
I’ve messed around and reviewed a lot of lighting solutions. Though many of these tests were performed from a hobbyist, miniature painting point of view, I only recently thought about practicality for my kids. I mean what’s the difference between a Neatfi XL task lamp (one of my main office/hobby lamps) and the BenQ MindDuo2?
The journey from a hobby task LED lamp to more child-centric design has been an educational. But when it comes to lamps specifically designed for children, I’ve also noted how the MindDuo2 stands out.
“Smart Features”
The BenQ MindDuo2 Kids Study Lamp takes the concept of “smart” to a whole new level, especially when compared to other lamps designed for kids.
USB charge port
Nowadays, I think a USB charge port on any desk lamp should be an auto-include. Everyone needs to charge or operate some other accessory, e.g., smartphone or tablet.
The MindDuo2 smartly includes a USB charge port right on the side. For those of us who may be interested in this lamp for themselves, this makes this especially attractive as a generalist hobby desk lamp. Even the high-end Redgrass Creative R9 Desk Lamp doesn’t have USB charge port on it.
Self-adjusting lighting
One of its most standout features is the auto-adjusting light sensor that calibrates the brightness based on the time of day and the ambient light in the room. This thoughtful addition ensures that the lighting is always optimal for whatever task is at hand, be it homework, reading, or a bit of late-night doodling.
Eye-comfort, safety, and focus
The lamp is equipped with a color temperature range that can be adjusted to mimic natural daylight, which research suggests can bolster concentration and minimize eye strain.
Autonomy
The simplicity in adjusting light settings, either through touch and knob adjustment or by letting the lamp auto-adjust, means that children can create a customized lighting environment without parental help, fostering a sense of independence and personal space customization.
Build quality and design
Other budget lamps work, no question about that. But, they can be cheaply built, flimsy, and given off that “cheap” vibe. I’ve noted durability as a concern with several past lamps, which either had squeaky construction, or flawed ergonomic design that failed to provide comfortable placement of good light where it’s needed.
In contrast, thoughtful child-first thinking in the MindDuo2’s sturdy build quality, and the sleek Bauhaus design motif (similar to the Redgrass Creative R9 task lamp that scores highly in my view) have not only survived daily use but have also aesthetically enhanced the my daughter’s study and work space.
Potential Downsides or Areas for Improvement
While the BenQ MindDuo2 Kids Study Lamp impresses on many fronts, it’s important to acknowledge that no product is without its flaws. Here are a few areas where I believe there’s room for improvement:
- Price Point: The MindDuo2 is (very) expensive. For a tight budget, the lamp’s cost may throw you off. I’m not sure if BenQ has other similar lamps in this space with fewer features that are less expensive. All I know is that the cost would be a double-take (myself included).
- Complexity for Younger Children: Although the lamp’s features like dual smart dimming modes and presence detection are innovative, they might be somewhat complex for younger children to fully appreciate or use without parental help. Simplifying the interaction or providing a basic mode could enhance its user-friendliness for all ages. I do love the hand swipe on and off feature! It’s quick and reliable without a learning curve.
- Break Reminder Interaction: The 30-minute break reminder, while a thoughtful addition, could be more prominent. Or, removed altogether—we didn’t use it much.
- Color Temperature Range: While the lamp offers a range of color temperatures, the small labels were hard to read when the lamp wasn’t on. Of course, the big knob helped when it came to making those adjustments.
Additional Benefits for Hobby and Craft/Art Lamp
I’m actually a tad jealous that the MindDuo2 resides in my daughter’s room. It has all the trappings of an awesome hobby or craft/art lamp. As a miniature painter and artist, I’d love to have this lamp for myself!
Here are few reasons why I think the MindDuo2 would also make for an excellent lighting solution for adults as well (including all those features mentioned above):
- Wide Illumination and High Color Accuracy: For detailed tasks like miniature painting or crafting, accurate color representation and ample lighting are crucial. I was shocked at how well this somewhat small desk lamp throws light across a desk workspace. The MindDuo2’s 95cm ultra-wide lighting and high CRI (Color Rendering Index) of Ra>95 blasted my daughter’s desk with a glow that rivaled my dedicated lamps in my hobby studio. Her entire workspace was evenly illuminated, and colors are true to life. This precision is especially important for activities requiring fine motor skills and color differentiation—I kind of what to use this lamp for myself. Of course, the short swing arm on the MindDuo2 does limit its versatility from an ergonomic standpoint for the “grown up” art and hobbies.
- Adjustable Color Temperatures: The ability to switch between color temperatures allows the lamp to adapt to various hobby and craft activities. Warm white light can foster a relaxing environment for drawing or painting, encouraging creativity. In contrast, cool white light creates a more focused setting, ideal for intricate tasks such as assembling miniature models or doing detailed artwork.
- Eye Health Protection: One of the problems I had when I first started out in the miniature painting hobby was the need to squint all the time to see things properly. Little did I know at the time that part of this came from using old-school fluorescent bulbs that were too dim, mis-colored, or flickered. Gone are those days. But, even modern (cheaply made) LEDs have issues, including high blue light output (bad for those late night sessions when you eventually need to get some sleep), or subtle flickering when you dimmed the lamp to a certain level. The MindDuo2’s promises a higher-quality lighting output that protect your eyes, especially when using it for longer periods of time. A welcome character for kids, too, which may encourage them to follow through on that reading assignment.
Final THoughts
The BenQ MindDuo2 Kids Study Lamp is a premium lighting solution for any child’s space. My daughter loves it and uses it everyday after school to work on her crafts, math homework and such. While I’m not sure she appreciates how much “stuff” is packed into her lamp, as she doesn’t use all the features, she has expressed how much she enjoys using “her desk area” now. If the lighting had anything to do with, all the better.
I mean creating a welcoming and functional space adds that positive reinforcement for her to enjoy her work, whatever that may be. This alone would make the MindDuo2 a worthy investment. It helps create a positive association with my kid’s room as a place where she feels safe, productive, and wants to do things she enjoys.
Sure, while there are areas for improvement, such as the visibility of the break reminder and the complexity of features for younger children, these do not significantly detract from the overall value and functionality of the lamp.
For parents seeking a study lamp that goes beyond basic illumination to enhance their child’s study and hobby experience, the BenQ MindDuo2 Kids Study Lamp is something I would look closer into. Yes, I’ll say it again, it is pretty darn expensive especially if it is for a very young child. But who knows, as my daughter (and other kids) get older, I think this light will still be hard at work…Hah, and maybe I’ll get to use it for my own hobbies, too. Win-win!
I hope you found this review helpful. If you have any specific questions about this lamp, please let me know or leave a comment below!
Thanks for reading!
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