If you want an adaptable (but pricey) desk lamp: The Dyson Solarcycle Morph Desk’s unique, industrial-modern design and hefty price tag isn’t for everyone, but we loved its buttery-smooth movement and three-in-one adaptability as a task, spot, and ambient light.
When you rotate the lamp head over its center stand tube, a sleeve slides up to lock satisfyingly into place and directs light down through its perforated stem—effectively transforming into a warm, ambient torchiere. When it’s aimed at an angle toward a ceiling or wall, it outshines most other desk lamps—and even many floor ones. It also has an app to pair the lamp’s geographic location, syncing the Solarcycle Morph’s color and brightness to the time of day.
But this non-height-adjustable desk lamp proved to be a nonstarter for our own desk setup. With our external monitor standing at a similar height, the two battled for elbow room. And the lamp head obstructed the monitor by about half an inch, so we had to adapt to the lamp, rather than the other way around.
If you like the sound of the Anglepoise 90 Mini Mini Desk Lamp, but wish it weren’t so mini: The Anglepoise Type 75 Desk Lamp is a larger version that uses a replaceable E26 base bulb instead of an integrated LED. It also swivels 360 degrees from the base, has similar spring-tension articulation, and stretches more than 6 inches higher than the 90 Mini Mini, casting more light than its petite cousin.
The Type 75’s classic design and its oh-so-nice-to-touch anodized aluminum matte finish make it aesthetically at home in spaces that are modern, traditional, and every style in between. It’s also backed by a lifetime warranty. The lamp lacks only in its inability to fully rotate at its head, stopping about 10 degrees short of a complete turn.
If you want a modernist lamp you can operate with one hand: The Flos Kelvin is an elegantly designed architect’s lamp that we’ve owned for nearly a decade and that we’ve come to appreciate for its simple-to-operate tap-touch controls, smooth adjustability, and stable build.
It’s available with a base, clamp, wall arm, or as a drop-in desk support attachment. Its minimalist silhouette, flat rotating LED array, and one-handed operation design are all pluses.
But the Kelvin didn’t make the cut as a top pick after we observed flickering during video calls (previously invisible to the naked eye). Also, it has a propensity to kick backward like a catapult when positioned too far back and upward.
If you need a small desk lamp that can double as a bedside lamp: Check out the Louis Poulsen NJP Mini. It arrives fully assembled, and it features a tip-proof heavy steel base and an angled aluminum arm, with a 342-degree turning radius you can nudge away or near with one finger.
The integrated 10-watt LED is bright (without being distracting) and also dimmable. The LEDs are tucked almost halfway back into the lamp shade, so the design eliminates distracting glare.
The NJP Mini is a design object with a design pedigree price tag to match. It’s probably even better suited as a bedside lamp. But its small size, quality build, and one-button control simplicity may appeal to those who prioritize aesthetics as much as functionality.
If you prefer a wood look and prize cordless portability: The Octagon Portable Desk Light has the most unusual design of the lamps we considered, especially if you get it in the natural walnut wood finish. It’s also one of the few cordless (and therefore portable) lamps we encountered in our research that also had positive reviews.
It’s slim (only 3.4 inches wide), and it has four touch-controlled brightness levels. But it didn’t get as bright as the other lamps we tested.
We didn’t include it as a pick because it toppled often during testing, and several panelists disliked the design. But if you want a cordless LED lamp that you can take anywhere—we moved it from room to room a couple of times—it’s an interesting lamp.
If you want classic looks and don’t mind reduced adjustability: The IKEA Hektar Work Lamp could be a good choice. This tall, architect-style lamp with a chic brushed-metal finish is one of the retailer’s most popular desk lamps, and it features modern conveniences like wireless charging and a USB port.
It’s more top-heavy than other lamps, which made it less likely to hold its position at certain angles in our tests. But if you like the style and don’t plan on using the lamp angled at 90 degrees, it could be an excellent fit for your home office. Note that it’s also a tall lamp (27 inches at its tallest), with a large, 7-inch base.
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