Xiaomi Magnetic Reading Light Bar — Reading light

How the light is built and where it is used. A desk lamp stands on the desk; a monitor light bar sits on the top edge of the screen and takes no desk space; a rechargeable light bar is held by a magnet or adhesive base and comes off so you can take the light with you.

How much light the fixture or bulb gives at full brightness, in lumens. As a guide, about 800 lm is roughly what a 60 W incandescent bulb gave. A room is usually lit by several sources, and their flux adds up.

What light the fixture can give: one shade of white, tunable white from warm to cool, or colour as well. Tunable white lets you, for example, make the light warm in the evening and neutral during the day.

The range of white shades in kelvin: 2700 K is warm like an incandescent bulb, 4000 K neutral, 5700 K and above cool, close to daylight. If the shade is fixed, both values are the same.

How natural colours look under this light, on a scale up to 100 (Ra). At Ra 80 colours look slightly duller; at Ra 90 and above skin, food, wood and fabrics look closer to how they do in daylight.

Whether brightness can be changed and how: in a few fixed steps or smoothly. The number of steps and the method (button, switch, app) are given in the note.

How many degrees the light head can be tilted to aim the light at a wall, an object or a work surface. If it tilts both ways (for example ±25°), the tilt in one direction is shown and the full range is in the note. Does not apply to fixed fixtures.

The photobiological safety group under IEC 62471, as stated by the maker from test results. RG0 is the “exempt” group: the light poses no hazard to the eyes even when looking at the source for a long time; RG1 is low risk in normal use.

Whether the maker states that the light has no flicker visible to the eye, backed by a test named in the note. During long reading or work, flicker can tire the eyes.

Where the device gets its power: 230 V mains, an adapter, USB, batteries or a built-in battery.

The built-in battery’s rated capacity. Run time also depends on how the device is used.

How many hours the lamp shines on one full charge, as stated by the manufacturer. Unless stated otherwise this is at maximum brightness, and it lasts longer when dimmer; the test conditions are given in the note.

The supply voltage (and current, if stated) as the maker gives it. It must match your mains or adapter.

The rated or maximum power draw from the spec sheet. It sets the load on the socket and the energy use.

How and where it is installed: in a wall box, on a wall or ceiling, on a DIN rail, on a table or in a socket.

The device’s size in millimetres as the maker states it. Check that it fits the wall box, niche or shelf.

The device’s weight without packaging, per the maker.

Length of the cable from the adapter body to the plug. For a detachable cable, the length of the supplied cable is given.

How you switch the lamp on and change brightness: touch or mechanical buttons on the body, a rotary knob, a remote or an app.

Features the maker lists beyond the main light: a detachable light head for use on its own, automatic brightness from a light sensor, switching on with motion, an off timer, a night-light mode.

The wireless link or network the device uses. Wi-Fi connects straight to the router; Zigbee, Thread and Bluetooth Mesh work through a hub or gateway.

Whether the device needs a separate hub, gateway or coordinator to work in a smart home. If so, it is sold separately unless stated otherwise.

What comes in the box, per the maker.