Redgrass SOLO Task Lamp vs. R9 Desk Lamp (Comparison): Which One Belongs on Your Desk?

If you’ve ever obsessed over brush strokes under dim light or tried to photograph a miniature only to fight off shadows, you already know: your task lamp can make or break your hobby experience.

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I’ve used both the Redgrass Creative SOLO Task Lamp and their flagship R9 Desk Lamp extensively at my hobby desk. This in-depth comparison will help you figure out which one fits your needs—or whether you might be better off with a third option entirely.

Vertical layout showing Redgrass SOLO Task Lamp versus R9 Desk Lamp for miniatures

Key Points

Both lamps use Redgrass’s Color Perfect™ LEDs (CRI >95, 5000K daylight)—ideal for miniature painting and detail work.
The R9 Desk Lamp is powerful with dual adjustable LED bars, making it perfect for permanent hobby desks and photography setups. 👉 Read the full R9 desk lamp review
The SOLO Task Lamp is more compact and foldable, great for small spaces and mobile painters who need professional lighting without bulk. 👉 Read the full SOLO task lamp review
If budget is key, the Neatfi XL lamp provides strong brightness at a lower price—but lacks the premium design and color accuracy of the Redgrass options. You can see my full review of this professional, great value lamp.

Miniature model lit by dual LED bars on a dark painting desk — The dual panel power of LEDs from my R9 Desk Lamp.

The SOLO task lamp is minimal in form, but not function.

Close-up of the Neatfi XL task lamp arm and hinge mechanism" — The Neatfi XL is a universal favorite amongst hobbyists and artists everywhere! How do I know? Because it’s been a top seller in our niche!

Build Quality and Design

Redgrass doesn’t cut corners. Both the SOLO task and R9 desk lamps have a premium matte finish, precision-machined metal housing, and the brand’s signature minimalist aesthetic. They scream reliability and design-minded engineering.

Busy hobby desk setup with three articulated task lamps and paint supplies — Too many lamps. There are days where I setup all of my lights just to get the lighting perfect for filming my work. Many of these lamps were provided to me over the years for reviews for this site. But, I use the favorites for professional work nowadays. Yes, the Redgrass lamps take center stage.

Miniature painting workspace lit by both the Redgrass and another task lamps — The SOLO task lamp lights up my smaller desk space, perfectly. But, it’s shorter beam length and single LED light panel does limit how much light you’ll have available in any given space. Pros and cons.

R9: Heavy-duty swing arm, dual light panels, massive reach. Built like a studio tool.
SOLO: Slim, foldable, lighter. Ideal for compact spaces or travel.

Both lamps offer a base plate or clamp mount option—so you can set up exactly how you like.

Light Quality and Brightness

Here’s where things really diverge.

Hand adjusting the LED bar of a Redgrass R9 task lamp on an art desk — So, how do you decide what to buy? I’ve leaned toward the saying “buy the quality you need”. It takes a bit of discipline and research to really figure this out. Hence, the usefulness of real-world reviews. I hope this helps!

Both lamps feature Redgrass’s R9 Color Perfect™ LED tech: high CRI (>95), flicker-free, true daylight balance at 5000K. But the output and spread are very different.

R9 Desk Lamp:
- Dual LED panels
- 1800 lumens total
- Independently adjustable arms
- Exceptional for photography, eliminating shadows, and lighting large surfaces
SOLO Task Lamp:
- Single LED bar
- Lower max brightness (~900-1000 lumens est.)
- Good for focused work in a small area

Close-up comparison of warm yellow and cool white LED light bars on desk lamps — Here, I compared the dual LED Panels of the R9 desk lamp vs the Neatfi XL. You can see the difference, literally. Not the greatest photo of course, but pointing your camera directly at the lighting doesn’t make for a pretty picture. The R9 desk lamp is much brighter, but certainly the Neatfi is no slouch.

Bright Redgrass SOLO LED lamp turned on above miniature painting workspace — The SOLO task lamp is incredibly bright. But, again, it’s a single LED panel bar, so it’ll be bright over a limited space. And, for most of you, this may be more than enough! Read the full review to see what I mean.

If you often photograph your minis or need large, even lighting, the R9 desk lamp is unmatched. But if you’re painting at night in a small corner of your apartment, the SOLO gives you just enough without overpowering the space.

Color Accuracy and Eye Comfort

Both lamps are made for color-critical work. The Color Perfect™ LEDs produce a crisp, neutral light that helps you distinguish subtle hues, especially when working with warm tones or yellows.

iagram comparing natural white light and artificial light with low CRI using an apple and skin tone as examples — What is color rendering index (CRI)? CRI is an measure how well an artificial LED lighting system replicates the full spectrum of color as compared with natural sunlight. A higher CRI score is more accurate, producing life-like color, and creates a more pleasing appearance of whatever object or surface you’re illuminating.

The SOLO’s softer brightness makes it more comfortable in darker environments. The R9’s power is great, but can feel intense in low-light rooms. Of course, you can dim the light of the R9 Desk Lamp.

So, at the end of the day, the R9 Desk Lamp is more versatile, at the cost of space, bulk, and cost.

Side-by-side CRI rating chart showing color accuracy of standard desk lamps versus Redgrass R9 desk lamp — The R9 LED technology in either Redgrass offerings provide a much wide spectrum of color reproduction than typical LED lighting solutions.

Bonus: The DC dimming in both lamps avoids PWM flickering, which reduces eye fatigue over long sessions.

Close-up of a hand pressing the power button on the Redgrass SOLO desk lamp — Both lamps offer flicker-free, seamless dimming modes. **Press and hold the power button** to adjust the brightness of the either R9 task or desk lamp.

Portability and Desk Footprint

SOLO Task Lamp:
- Disassembles easily for travel or storage
- Slim form fits small setups
- Smaller base and clamp, great for tight spaces
R9 Desk Lamp:
- Wide swing arms require more desk real estate
- Better for permanent setups
- Even useful for home office desk spaces (which I use mine for, too)

Folded Redgrass R9 task lamp resting on a desk next to a hobby paint rack — The R9 desk lamp folds vertically, but is fairly bulky. The desk base plate (not shown) takes up even more space.

Isolated view of folded Redgrass R9 desk lamp with red cord and circular base — The SOLO task lamp folds down cleanly into a very narrow profile. The base plate is removable, and you can use a table clamp instead to save even more space. The entire system is much lighter, and more compact the R9 desk lamp.

If you’re moving between hobby stations or like a clean, uncluttered desk, the SOLO is a dream. If you have the space and want to go all-in on lighting, the R9 stays planted and powerful.

Price and Value

R9 Desk Lamp: ~$220
SOLO Task Lamp: ~$160

You’re paying for quality either way. But the R9 clearly offers more raw lighting power for the extra cost. Still, if portability and compact form are your priorities, the SOLO earns its price tag.

A Budget-Friendly Alternative: Neatfi XL

Dual Neatfi XL desk lamps illuminating a miniature painting workspace with paint racks — I own two Neatfi XL lamps, and they’ve been the lamps I use for everything hobby related. I use both at the same time when I’m producing videos for my YouTube channel, or looking to photograph subjects right at my desk. Of course, in the past few months, when I got the R9 lamps setup, they’ve taken over… Ah, the life of a blogger, YouTuber, and commission miniature painter.

Let’s talk value. If you’re looking for a serious lamp but don’t want to splurge:

Neatfi XL 2,200 lumen task lamp
- Cost: ~$100
- Insanely bright
- CRI >80 (not ideal, but decent)
- Big, bulky, utilitarian

I’ve used this lamp for years. It’s reliable, powerful (for serious hobby work), and unbeatable at this price. Not as elegant or color-accurate, but a workhorse. I have two.

Close-up of Neatfi XL task lamp with glowing blue LED accent along the edge — The Neatfi lamp has a cute blue accent light that rings the edge of the LED housing. It doesn’t do much except look “cool”.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	R9 Desk Lamp	SOLO R9 Task Lamp
Brightness	High (1800 lumens, dual bar)	Moderate (~1000 lumens, single bar)
Coverage	Wide, shadow-free work area	Focused, tight-space illumination
Color Accuracy	CRI >95, 5000K	Same CRI >95, 5000K
Portability	Low – designed to stay in place	High – foldable, compact base
Eye Comfort	Excellent, may be intense in small rooms	Excellent, softer light easier on eyes
Mount Options	Clamp or weighted base	Clamp or weighted base
Design	Premium, larger footprint	Premium, minimalist, low-profile
Price	~$220	~$160
Best For	Full-time desk, photography setups	Small apartment, mobile setups

Final Verdict

Both of these lamps are top-tier for miniature painting and creative hobbies. If you’re choosing between the two, it really comes down to workspace size, mobility needs, and how much light you want.

Go with the R9 if you want to flood your desk with perfect light, take professional-looking photos, and never fight shadows again.
Go with the SOLO if you live in a small space, want a minimalist setup, or need a light you can stow away.

Either way, you’re getting Redgrass Creative quality—built to last, designed to enhance your workflow.

Flat lay photo of miniature painting workspace with wet palette, paintbrushes, and miniatures in progress — A top down view of my work space, soaked in the balanced beams of powerful desk lamps.

What Do You Use?

Do you own the SOLO Task Lamp or the R9 Desk Lamp? Maybe you’ve tried the Neatfi XL?

Drop a comment and let me know how your setup looks—my hobby space has evolved—and if this helped, share it with someone building their dream hobby desk!