Adrian Dimakis
Remember the time when you had to strain through the night trying to study for that final exam? While some would use the standard room lighting in such circumstances, others would prefer to go for desk lamps for better visibility and less strain. The current digital dispensation has seen the society drift away from the tradition pen and paper format of study. However, this does not mean that the role of the desk lamp has been rendered useless.
As much as you may not always be lunched over your desk going through a pile of papers, once in a while, you will see the need to have a desk lamp for those occasional sessions. In fact, a desk lamp can still come in handy when using a computer too as it helps reduce the strain on your eyes.
The necessity of these lamps, therefore, has seen so many brands come up. Each one of these come with claims of offering the best lighting and convenience. As such, it can be overwhelming, trying to figure out the best option. Well, you need to worry no more as we have done all the ‘donkey work’ by reviewing and comparing the various options available in the market, and here are the top ten desk lamps that you can bet your money on.
Top 10 Desk Lamps of 2020 Reviewed
1. TW Lighting IVY-40BK The IVY LED Desk Lamp
- A built-in USB port for device mobile device charging
- 3 level dimmer dimming for more efficiency
- Saves up to 65% energy
- The design is too plain
- USB charging takes a little too long
- Not too compatible with vintage decors
Best Desk Lamp for secretaries and typists
Have you been struggling with you study at night due to poor lighting? Why don’t you go for the TW Lighting IVY-40BK The IVY LED Desk Lamp? This is a revolutionary desk lamp that will captivate any surface lighting in your room. This contemporary IVY LED USB desk lamp gives you up to 500 lumens of 80 plus CRI light. Whats’s more, you can enjoy its over 71 lumens per watt.
If you are looking for an efficient yet energy-saving desk lamp, then this is the real deal. Its high efficiency LED that blends with a secondary diffuser lens for even more advanced lighting is the best thing that can happen to your work environment. With this, you can rest assured that you have an excellent option for electrical performance, efficiency, and value.
2. Etekcity LED Desk Lamp
- You get a two-year warranty and 90-day money-back guarantee on the purchase
- Lifetime support from Etekcity
- Can be used to charge mobile devices
- May heat up after long hours of use
- Base not too stable
- May take time to register the different modes
Best for bedroom and office
Talk of versatility in a desk lamp and you will not miss mentioning the Etekcity LED Desk Lamp. The lamp features a distinct bendable gooseneck. This gives you the convenience of bending it to any desired direction and level. What’s more, its rubber coating offers a smooth touch and thus no strain on your hand.
Etekcity LED Desk Lamp offers three brightness levels, and you can choose the most appropriate based on your environment. This desk lamp was made with care for your eyes in mind, thanks to the 16 energy-saving LEB bulbs that emit flicker-free lighting. In fact, you can choose the mood to go with your environment using the full-color spectrum. The best thing about this desk light is that it comes with a 1000mAH Li-ion battery that can recharge quickly.
3. Newhouse Lighting LED Clip-on Light
- Long-lasting LEDs can last up to 30,000 hours
- Five-year warranty
- Offers a naturally warm, non-flickering light
- Not ideal for desktop use due to unstable base
- Design too plain
- No additional functionality
Best for bedside study
Newhouse Lighting has always been known for its sensible and stylish designs on LED lighting products. This is no different for the Newhouse Lighting LED Clip-on Light. With this, you can rest assured of ultimate versatility thanks to the flex clamp lamp and the strong clamp that holds it in place. The lamp makes use of the latest LED technology to deliver energy-efficient and quality light for your convenience.
The Newhouse Lighting LED Clip-on Light offers a warm light of 350 lumens. Its sturdy and compact stand makes it ideal for college use. You will love its modern, sleek, and adjustable metal gooseneck. What’s more, the handy on-off switch gives you the convenience of great light at all possible angles.
4. Lampat LED Desk Lamp
- Control panel is touch-sensitive
- Natural flicker-free light to protect eyes
- Offers energy-efficient service
- Slow 1A USB charging port
- A little heavy to carry around
- Light adjustable to one direction
The Lampat LED Desk Lamp is made for versatility thanks to its5 dimmable levels coupled with the 4 lighting modes. These blend in to give you natural lighting that is easy for your eyes. It also features a USB charging port to help you charge other mobile devices while you enjoy its smooth operation.
The best thing about the Lampat LED Desk Lamp is its 1-hour auto-off feature. This not only ensures that power is consumed effectively but also help you avoid too much hassle in manual operation. Its Led bulb is long-lasting, and so you can expect dependability and supreme performance.
5. TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp with USB Charging Port
- Perfect memory; remembers the last mode and brightness level used
- Convenient USB charging
- Responsive touch controls
- Can be a little heavy to carry around
- Design too plain
- Slower charging
TaoTronics is a reputable name in the lighting industry, thanks to their efficient and quality products. As expected, they have not disappointed on this Desk Lamp. With this, desk lamp, you are offered the versatility of choosing between 4 essential lights. These lights come in 5 custom levels of brightness to help you in your study, work, reading, or even relaxing. Get the convenience that comes with the USB charging port to keep your devices closer to you even as you focus on your task.
The TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp offers multi-angle adjustments to give you optimized lighting. In fact, you can rotate its lamp up to 140 degrees while the base can swivel 180 degrees to your desired illumination angle. What’s more, you get the convenience of the 1-hour auto-off timer to save on your energy use.
6. TaoTronics TT-DL13B LED Desk Lamp
- Worry-free warranty
- Flicker-free light gentle to the eyes
- Anodized aluminum design built to last
- A little complicated for first-time users
- A bit heavy
- Slower charging
Best Desk Lamp for desktop study
If you are looking for a desk lamp with endless possibilities, then the TaoTronics TT-DL13B LED Desk Lamp is the perfect option. This lamp gives you just the right ambiance thanks to its unique 7 brightness levels and 5 color modes. The built-in USB charging port means you can always keep your mobile phone within reach and at full charge.
The TaoTronics TT-DL13B LED Desk Lamp thrives on its adjustability. This gives you the convenience and freedom to cast just the perfect spotlight. The head can be tilted up to 135 degrees and still swivel to 90 degrees. The base, on the other hand, swivels 45 degrees and can tilt down to 150 degrees. With its energy-efficient LED you can expect to save on your electricity bill up to 75%.
7. Kootek Clip On Book Lights
- Lightweight and portable
- Rechargeable built-in battery
- Elegant design with flexible gooseneck
- Battery not replaceable
- AC adapter can easily get damaged when charging
- Light gets dimmer after extended use
Best for Music Stands
Have you been looking for a clip-on desk lamp that delivers what it promises? Well, it may be high time you considered the Kootek Clip On Book Lights. This desk lamp is popular with orchestra musicians looking to illuminate their sheep music. It features 10 bright LEDs to give you enough lighting for the purpose. What’s more, its rechargeable Lithium battery ensures that you can use it on the go.
The lamp’s one-button control makes its operation convenient. This is because you can easily access the power stitch to help you take control of the two brightness levels. The best thing about this desk lamp is the fact that it can be used as a clip-on as well as a regular desk lamp with its base. With its anti-skid clip, you can easily achieve brightness in any angle.
8. Brightech Litespan LED Bright Reading and Craft Floor Lamp
- Easy to move around
- Stable base
- 3-year warranty
- Size too big for desktop positioning
- Can be challenging to assemble
- No additional functionality
Best Desk Lamp for Hobbyists
Looking for the perfect addition to your room’s décor? Why not go for the Brightech Litespan LED Bright Reading and Craft Floor Lamp? This desk lamp has been designed for convenience and fun, thus making it the best option for hobbyists. It features an output of 2,000 lumens and produces 6,000K of natural daylight spectrum light.
With this, you need not worry about power consumption, thanks to its 12-watt energy-saving LED light that has a lifespan of up to 20 years. Its minimalist and contemporary design makes it ideal for the modern user. Its five-color options work as a perfect touch to any environment.
9. Lightblade 1500S by Lumiy
- Ultra bright and power-saving LEDs
- Unique, ultra-sleek design
- Versatility from the Omni-directional pivoting head
- A little pricey
- A bit heavy to carry around
- Design too plain
Best Desk Lamp for Office and Study Rooms
Limiy continues to offer top-quality lighting products integrated with advanced technology. This concept is evident in the Lightblade 1500S series. Talk of a perfect combination of the highest efficiency, world finest LEDs and composing housing, then you have Lightblade 1500S. It produces an impressive 1500 lux of brightness to give you just the best lighting for your room. Its color-rendering index ranges around 93 CRI; almost like natural light.
You can easily adjust the light brightness and temperature using a capacitive touch sensor just at the base of the lamp. What’s more, the lamp is Omni-directional, giving you the convenience to direct the light to your most convenient position. For even more functionality, you have a USB slot integrated at the base to help in charging your valuable mobile devices.
10. Globe Electric 56963 Metal Clamp
- Versatile spring-loaded arm for better visibility
- Multi-joint swing arm
- Easily adjustable shade
- Lamp sold separately
- Can be cumbersome setup
- Too heavy to move around
Best for Workstations
If you are looking for the perfect lamp for your desktop lighting, then Globe Electric 56963 Metal Clamp may be what you have been searching. You will love the spring-loaded arm that you can easily adjust to focus light on specific areas as desired. This feature makes it much easier to mount on workstations, tables, and office desks. What’s more, you have the convenience of the 6-foot cord that makes it possible to place the light at any position regardless of its proximity to the wall socket.
For quick access and use, the on/off switch is located conveniently at the top of the lamp. With its variable mounting, the metal clamps enable to mount the lamp anywhere up to 2 feet wide. This aspect gives you better convenience as you concentrate on your task.
How to Choose the Best Desk Lamp – Buying guide
Getting the right desk lamp can be one of the most defining factors to how best you work in your library, office, or study room. Apart from helping with good lighting, these lamps can also prove to be the best companions in terms of creating the right environment to work. As such, a good desk lamp ought to have the perfect combination of form and function. Before you consider going for a desk lamp, however, there are a few fundamental questions you will need to answer:
Where will you be placing the lamp?
Well, as much as it may seem obvious that the lamp will be placed at the desktop, its exact position matters a lot. By determining the best spot for your lamp based on your surrounding setting, you will be well on your way to getting the lamp the fits specific features. This action will help you narrow down to specific features that will make it much easier and convenient to use the lamp in that particular setting.
How will you use the desk lamp?
The specific function of the lamp also matters. Are you going to use the lamp to study? Go through documents or type away on your computer? These are also the pertinent questions that will help you get to the right desk lamp. In fact, others would simply need a desk lamp for decorative purposes. It is therefore crucial that you fully understand the function before you set out to go shopping.
What is the prevailing mood of your room?
As you may already know, different lamps have different lighting designs, brightness, and color. In most cases, lamp users tend to focus more on the form and function of the lamp at the expense of their rooms overall mood. As much as you may be looking for a lamp that fits your specific purposes, it is also important that you go for one that complements the current mood, décor, and color schemes of your room.
Considerations when buying a desk lamp
Type of desk lamp
With the popularity that desk lamps have enjoyed over the years, new brands and styles are mushrooming by the day. As a matter of fact, the market is currently full of various types of desk lamps. However, these lamps can be categorized into two basic types; traditional and contemporary style. The type you will go for will depend on the function or design. Traditional style lamps feature classic designs that have always been used from way back. However, their classic look still keeps them in the market. On the other hand, the contemporary style lamps have been crafted with modern technology in mind. They feature polished metals and come in sleek designs.
Wattage and bulbs
When you talk of lamps, one thing that immediately comes to mind is light. This aspect tells you how important it is to consider the type of light that your lamp illuminates. In most cases, this will be dependent on the purpose of the lamp. If you are looking to use the lamp for décor, then you are better off going for one with lower wattage.
However, if you are looking for a lamp to help you in your study, then a much brighter lamp will suffice. Most importantly, go for a lamp that has its bulb covered completely by the shade. This helps avoid cases of eye irritation due to direct lighting.
Generally, incandescent bulbs are known to offer a much brighter and clearer light. On the other hand, LED desk lamps offer energy-efficient and much versatile options.
Adjustability
One of the main reasons why you may be looking for a desk lamp is that you need a light source that can be moved around and adjusted as needed. With an adjustable lamp, you are in a better position to fine-tune the direction, intensity, and position of your light based on specific tasks at hand. When it comes to adjustability, there are various options to co. These may include swiveling heads, boom arms, swing arms and goosenecks.
Size
When it comes to desk lamps, size matters, and this will be dependent on your working environment. For instance, small desks will work well with clip-on lamps. Alternatively, you may opt for lamps with small bases as these will be economical on space at your desktop.
If you are working with larger desks, however, go for a lamp with extra reach. deThis may be in the form of the swing arm or architect design. In other cases, you may go for additional light sources to ensure full coverage.
As a rule of thumb, always go for a lamp size that makes it possible to position a little higher from head level but with the light out of your eyes. Going too low may mean reducing the coverage area, and too high may result in the light becoming too diffused.
On-Off switch positions
A desk lamp should not be too complicated to operate. It should give you an easy time as you set out to concentrate more on the task at hand. As such, you may need to consider a lamp with conveniently positioned on and off buttons. The best on-off switch options you can go for include base switches, pull chains, and touch operation lamps.
Multiple functionality
As much as you may be looking for a desk lamp to specifically help you out with lighting, getting one with even extra functionalities won’t hurt. For instance, modern desk lamps feature a built-in USB port. This ensures that you conveniently charge your Smartphone or any other mobile gadget with ease as you get on with your study or writing. You may also find other desk lamps with other additional electrical outlets that will offer you even more functionality.
Base and shade
The base and shade of your desk lamp are probably some of the most notable features in a desk lamp. Always go for a lamp with a stable base. This ensures that it remains put even in cases of minor disturbances.
On the other hand, the shade of your lamp should be relatively sized but never wider than the table. Usually, a semi-opaque paper or fabric offers a warm glow while an opaque shade helps you easily minimize glare. For traditional homes, a conical shade will suffice, but modern homes may do much better with drum shades.
Material
When it comes to desk lamps, the materials you go for will depend on what you will use it for and the environment used. Lamps have always come in a variety of materials. For the traditional styles, glass and ceramic are more common while most contemporary desk lamps feature acrylic and metal as the base material. However, there is also a growing popularity in the use of alabaster, wood, faux shagreen, and selenite in making desk lamps.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the best desk lamps, it will all trickle down to function and design. You need a lamp that not only offers the right illumination but one that is versatile and convenient enough for your study, reading, or office tasks. Remember, it is not just about the light, but how best the lamp complements the whole setting. It is also important to consider quality, as this will determine how long your lamp will last. This factor will, however, depend on your budget, but this does not mean that you cannot get fordable quality desk lamps. With the choices above, you are in a better position to pick out what works best for you. As long as you have clearly understood the function and need for the lamp, then the rest should be a walk in the park. Get the best desk lamp today, and enjoy your study or office tasks.
