Tried and tested: The best lighting for your home office

Smart lights, air sensors, and all-in-one charging stations are just some of the ways gadgets can level-up your home office - we’ve put them to the test.

The Kensington W2050 Pro Webcam is part of a larger Professional Video Conferencing ecosystem.

From unexpected splashes of colour to a fresh new look, these gadgets can help lighten the mood in your home office

AIRTHINGS VIEW PLUS

A smart way to determine if you work in a healthy environment

$400, jbhifi.com.au

The AirThings View Plus is a smart device that can assess air quality.

PROS

– Monitors many factors

– Alerts from your phone

– Customisable display

CONS

– Can’t monitor pollen

– Heavy for a monitor

– Top model is pricey

If you’ve been working from home for a while, whether you have a dedicated room or you’ve repurposed the kitchen bench, you might have wondered whether the location is suitable. This well-connected gadget can tell you. The AirThings View Plus features sensors to track everything from the temperature and humidity to the amount of carbon dioxide, Radon or particle matter in the air, giving your office a comprehensive health check. It could help you decide whether to open a window or spark up the air purifier and boost your productivity. The View Plus can also sends alerts to an accompanying app and connect to Alexa and Google Assistant.

VERDICT: ★★★★½

KENSINGTON W2050 PRO WEBCAM

An easy way to level-up your Zoom game

$150, kensingtonstore.com.au

The Kensington W2050 Pro Webcam is part of a larger Professional Video Conferencing ecosystem.

PROS

– Excellent video quality

– Customisable appearance

– Plenty of accessories

CONS

– No 4K option

– Mics could be better

– Requires app install

If you’ve made it this far in the pandemic without buying a ring light, well done. Kensington, however, has just launched a Professional Video Conferencing range to make rethink your approach. The brand’s top webcam, for example, features a large sensor for better performance in low light, support full high-definition video, automatically focuses on its subject, and lets users choose between a wide or narrow angle. Other benefits include a physical shutter when you want privacy and a host of accessories like a connecting ring light and a stand when you want to turn pro.

VERDICT: ★★★★½

TWELVE SOUTH HIRISE 3

An all-in-one power source for Apple gadgets

$180, twelvesouth.com.au

The Twelve South HiRise 3 is an all-in-one charging device for Apple gadgets.

PROS

– Charges three devices

– Holds iPhone upright

– Available in black or white

CONS

– Plug not included

– For MagSafe iPhones only

– Only for Apple devotees

This charging device is trying to be the one to rule them all. The third HiRise device from Twelve South features an angled platform that can hold MagSafe-compatible iPhones in place, while a panel on top recharges an Apple Watch, and a spot on its base can be used to power AirPods or an extra phone. On the desk of an Apple fan, this could be the only charging device they need and will save valuable space. On the downside, it doesn’t come with its own plug and is only ready for recently released iPhones.

VERDICT: ★★★★

NANOLEAF TRIANGLE STARTER KIT

A unique way to brighten up your office life

$350, nanoleaf.me

The Nanoleaf Triangle Starter Kit is a set of smart lights that can be controlled with a phone app.

PROS

– Customisable, bold lights

– Easy to install and remove

– Controlled with an app

CONS

– Harder to use with Android

– Can turn on unexpectedly

– A sizeable investment

Working from home can get boring if you don’t have company, cats, or these lights. Nanoleaf, which recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, has developed a creative way to lift your mood and your home office with these illuminating triangles that can be adhered to your walls. After connecting each triangle and hooking up its control unit, the Nanoleaf lights can be ordered about from an app, which comes with plenty of suggestions for pleasing colour patterns and animations. It also features manual controls, which could come in handy if your Android phone struggles to connect every time.

VERDICT: ★★★★

BONELK ELEVATE GAMER

A way to elevate your laptop in looks and height

$119, jbhifi.com.au

The Bonelk Elevate Gamer is a laptop stand with LED lights beneath.

PROS

– Seriously solid build

– Supports large laptops

– Seven LED colours

CONS

– Uses old connection

– Lighting is subtle

– Only in black

Despite its name, this laptop stand is not just for gamers. Bonelk’s Elevate stand can hold any laptop between 11 and 17 inches, and will keep it up to 20cm off your desk, depending on your preference. Four non-slip pads and a generous lip keep your computer in place, and the aluminium frame of this stand is incredibly rigid and won’t let you or your device down. LED lights that line the bottom of this stand are a bonus, and can light up in one of seven colours or pulse in a rainbow animation.

VERDICT: ★★★½

Originally published as Tried and tested: The best lighting for your home office