Customer reviews from Staples
TRU RED - Brightwell 5-in-1 Productivity LED Desk Light - White
Average customer rating
4
(151 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 151 reviews
5 Stars
65
4 Stars
52
3 Stars
14
2 Stars
11
1 Star
9
50%of customers recommend this product.
(
2 out of
4)
Customer Reviews for TRU RED - Brightwell 5-in-1 Productivity LED Desk Light - White
Customer Rating
4
Nice Light but Stability is a Problem
on April 8, 2025
Posted by: K.C.
from Shafter
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I was given this office light to try as part of the Stellar Product Testing Panel. I am a teacher so I took the light to use in my classroom. I did not take the box or instructions which I should have done. My junior high students saw me trying to use the light while they were working. I was struggling and decided to see if I could find instructions online. Meanwhile my students proceeded to push buttons and determine what all of the buttons did. By the time I found instructions online they were ready to show me how to work the light. I “clamped” the light on my MacBook to test it. If I don’t roll my desk around the room it stays in place. However as soon as I bump the table or proceed to move around the room the light falls off. This is really frustrating. I think the “clamping” mechanism needs to be improved so it will stay in place as I move around the room. I did like all of the lights and they are very bright. My favorite feature was the busy light that is on the back side. It can be used to tell others you are in a Zoom meeting on a call or not available at the moment. If my light stayed in place I would have been able to light it up if I was busy with another student so I would not be interrupted until I was available again. It would stop the “Ms. …” from across the room. I also had a student break their glasses and ask me to glue them back together while the light was in use. I put the light on the brightest setting to get plenty of light while I was gluing the frames back together. The happy lighting would be great task lighting or even light to read a book in bed. The breathing light is similar to any of the calming breathing apps. The focus light was fun and nice to look at but I don’t feel that it changed my focus either way. The zoom light would have been great for teaching via zoom. I am not on zoom much anymore so I didn’t have a chance to test this function. I do think it would be great for those who work from home. Lastly is the cord. The cord has an adapter to allow it to be either usb-c or usb-a. The light must be plugged in using the cord for it to work. I have used other items with adapters and struggled to get them to work well on my MacBook. This adapter worked without issue. Overall I am happy with the light and would recommend. The product would be even better with slight modifications.
Written by a customer while visiting Staples
Customer Rating
4
No More Guessing if I am Busy
on April 7, 2025
Posted by: Jays87
from Genoa
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I received the TruRed Brightwell 5 in 1 Productivity Light from Stellar Product Testing Panel. When I opened the package I was very curious what this neat little light could do. The light itself is very compact lightweight and easily could fit into any backpack or laptop case. The light plugs directly to your computer via a 1 meter USB-C to USB-C adapter which comes with a bonus USB A adapter if your computer is a little older like mine is. Not dealing with batteries nice but I do wish it came with an internal rechargeable battery to free up one of the limited USB ports I have on my laptop. The kickstand that you use to clip it to your computer can be positioned horizontally or vertically. Horizontal felt easiest to clip on the back of my laptop which is where I preferred to have the light positioned. You could also use the light independently and sit right on the desk using the kickstand in the vertical slot. The clip itself felt very sturdy when inserted snuggly into the slot but it is not spring activated so it just kind of sits on the ledge of the screen. It did not feel very secure at all. If you move the screen it could possibly fall off. This proved problematic when I wanted to change settings. You need to remove it from the screen change your settings and then place it back on the screen. You will just end up knocking it off if you try to change settings while its sitting on the computer screen ledge. As far as the lighting features go there are 5. The 5 features are: Meeting Light Busy Light Happy Light Focus Light and a Breathing Light. I used the Meeting Light and the Busy light the most. The Meeting light did a great job of luminating my face while in remote meetings. It has adjustable temperature and brightness settings so you can get the lighting just right. The Busy light was a convenient way to show those around me I was busy without them having to ask. I did not use the other lights as much but I could see how they could be useful when you just need to take a break. The happy light is pretty bright and can be lowered two levels. It also starts a one hour timer which counts down by 10 minutes and can be seen by the green indicators on the front. The focus mode and breathing mode are neat features. The Focus mode really gives a nice focal point to take a moment in your tasks to think. There is a lighter happier mode which is pinks and yellows and a second mode which toggles between green pink yellow orange and blues. Dont get caught mesmerized in this setting! Breathing mode pulsates a blue color which is a nice coach to breath in hold and breath out. Especially nice on those stressful days. I think this is a very handy light to have especially if you work in an office setting with frequent remote meetings. The other features are nice to have but I do not see myself using them as often as the meeting and busy light.
Written by a customer while visiting Staples
Customer Rating
3
Would love but mine does not hold a charge
on April 7, 2025
Posted by: S.D.
from Gainesville
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I received this product through Stellar Product Testing Panel in exchange for an honest review. I REALLY wanted to like this and I do. However the specific light that I received will not hold a charge and only works when it is actively plugged in - which is honestly a complete and utter pain due to my computer set up. It takes up a precious USB port or I have to add an extension cord - not optimal for a small work environment. It is also a little wonky sitting on top of my monitor but I think most of that is due to the charging cable. I digress. If it actually held a charge and I only had to worry about recharging it I would like it infinitely better. I thought that the 'Busy' and the lighting for zoom meetings would be so handy. However it is the "meditation" mode that I actually find myself using the most. I was skeptical but I genuinely enjoy turning it on and taking a mindful moment. I'll do some breathing techniques etc. So I appreciate the little reminder to take breaks. The actual light is lovely because you can change the temperature and the brightness so on overcast days I can punch up the brightness and people can actually see my face instead of looking like a troll in a cave. So I would definitely recommend if it held a charge but disappointed to get a defective one.
Response from StaplesBy Reviews Team, April 29, 2025
Hi Shannon so happy to hear you've been enjoying the Breathing and Meeting modes! The desk light is designed to operate while plugged in with USB-C and USB-A power options making it usable with any USB-compataible power source (including a wall plug if you don't want to use a port in your computer). The screen mount is intended for use on laptop screens or can easily stand upright on your desk.
Written by a customer while visiting Staples
Customer Rating
5
BUSYmeansBUSY
on April 7, 2025
Posted by: T.W.
from Corpus Christi
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I had the opportunity to use the BRIGHTWELL 5-in-1 Productivity Light through Steller Product Testing Program. My first thought about this product was how did I not have this in my life before? As a mother I use my laptop exclusively at night while my little is sleeping. Before I used BRIGHTWELL Light I had to turn on the kitchen lights and living room light to see the screen on my laptop without straining my eyes. With the BRIGHTWELL Light I can illuminate the area around my screen without needing to turn on other lights. It has made the experience of using my laptop relaxing with the various light modes and functions. I really liked the Breathing Mode which expands the light for a few seconds and holds it then contracts again simulating deep breaths. The Busy mode would be extremely useful in a workplace setting with collaborative seating. I will note that the monitor screen installation did not work on my Apple MacBook Pro and I had to plug the light into the cable via the wall outlet because the USB-C cable doesn’t plug directly into my laptop. Perhaps have another cable included to make the Light more compatible with Apple products. Also I would have like a small storage bag to place the light and cable in when not in use. I had a soft bag from a cell phone case I was able to use for storage but would be a nice touch to include with the Light. Overall I am satisfied with this product and would recommend to both remote in office workers and anyone that burns the midnight oil and needs a boast of light.
Written by a customer while visiting Staples
Customer Rating
5
Best light for Reading and Writing
on April 7, 2025
Posted by: J.R.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I received this Brightwell 5-in-1 Productivity Light to review from Stellar Product Testing Panel. It is perfect for what I need to do at work and at home at my desk. It helps with seeing clearer on my laptop and desktop. It also helps me see better when I am writing and reading. The stand works very well on my desk or on top of my laptop. It’s easy to work with and the light goes from very bright to dim which is nice for my eyes. Being able to adjust the temperatures helps greatly as I am a person that wears glasses so I can adjust the light for my needs. My favorite is the focus light as it really helps me with my flow and productivity. It’s not too bright or too low…it’s just right. The breathing light helped me focus as well as it helped me reduce strain on my eyes since I am in front of the computer all day at work or working from home. Having the Busy Light did help with disruptions but only after everyone asked ‘What’s that cool light on your computer.’ I have yet to use the meeting light as I have not had any meetings online or zoom. The Happy light helped with my focus as well. Overall…it’s a great light and I am very happy to use it daily.
Written by a customer while visiting Staples
Customer Rating
4
Useful in certain situations
on April 7, 2025
Posted by: C.P.
from Harlan
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Brightwell light is not only neat but can also be used multifunctional throughout the day. The different features that it has can make it neat for even kids to use when they are reading or wanting to have fun with different light settings. I find that the busy light to be very cartoonish. The multicolored light is my favorite because I think it looks cool! I do find it to be almost like it’s a child’s device and not a productivity device. I think a small little red light would have done just as well. I tested out the different functions and I’m not sure if they fully do work to the capacity they say they do. But they are a nice feature to have when you are working on your computer. Like I said I think this is more of a fun device than a functional device. I can’t say I would suggest it that it will help with your productivity. However I think it’s something that you can test out for yourself so it’s more of a per person situation. It was super easy to use and switch between the different features and the pamphlet it is very helpful and explaining what each of them do and how to adjust the settings. I think it’s also a good size for travel to slip it into your backpack or purse and like I said worst case scenario you can use it as a reading light. Overall I would say it’s fun to use! I received this product as part of the Stellar Product Testing Panel.
Written by a customer while visiting Staples
Customer Rating
3
Little gadget but not great quality
on April 7, 2025
Posted by: delinphx
from Gilbert
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I received this product through the Stellar Product Testing Panel in exchange for my honest opinion about it. I was excited to try this productivity light as I am always on my computer and wanted to see if it helped enhance my work-life balance. My first observation was that the product is made of cheap plastic and doesn't hold very well on the computer. It tends to wobble as I type. I enjoy that it has 5 different lighting modes including one that helps you count your breaths to relax and a happy mode that helps fight seasonal affective disorder. My favorite mode however is the meeting light as it projects a bright light that is ideal when you want to film a video or join online meetings if you are in a dark room. I however wish that there were options for even dimmer lighting as all the settings were still too bright for me and hurt my eyes. Another feature that I enjoy is that I can click the busy button and it will light up in red for others to see indicating that I am unavailable. This has been very useful at home when I work and need my children to know that I am busy. Overall I think this lamp could help certain users but it is too bright for me and I now only use it during meetings.
Written by a customer while visiting Staples
Customer Rating
5
Versatile Productivity Light
on April 7, 2025
Posted by: Keith R
from Rockford
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I got the Brightwell 5-1 Productivity Light from Stellar as part of the product testing panel and it’s actually a pretty cool and I’ve been using it daily. The focus light is great—it’s bright without being harsh and really helps me lock in when I need to. The breathing light feature is a nice touch too; I didn’t think I’d use it much but it’s surprisingly calming. The "Busy" sign and meeting light are super useful if you work in a shared space. It’s an easy way to let people know not to interrupt without having to say anything. The meeting light especially comes in handy during calls—just flip it on and everyone around you knows you’re tied up. The camera lighting is another great feature and what I tend use the most—it does a great job of reducing shadows and giving your video feed a clean balanced look. Works best when mounted behind or aligned with your camera. My only real opportunity for improvement is the mounting—it doesn’t stay fully secure. It wobbles just enough to be noticeable and I’ve had to readjust it a few times. If that part gets improved this would be an all-around win. Overall it’s a solid tool that adds a subtle but helpful structure to your day. Definitely recommended!
Written by a customer while visiting Staples