Halo Ring USB Table Lamp 25cm

A plain aluminium ring twenty-five centimetres across, standing on a small foot, with a clear cover diffusing the LED inside it. There is nothing else to this lamp, which is the point. It gives a broad, even glow rather than a directed beam, so it works well behind a monitor, on a shelf above a desk, or on a bedside table where a conventional shade would be too bulky for the space available.

The whole front face is a touch dimmer, so brightness is set by holding a finger against the ring rather than hunting for a switch on the flex. Black suits a workspace with dark hardware and disappears against a dark wall; white is softer and better suited to a bedroom or a pale scheme. The two light tones, clear white and warm white, are chosen at the point of purchase rather than switchable afterwards.

Power comes from a five volt USB lead drawing five watts, which means the lamp can run from a laptop, a power bank or a UK USB mains adapter. That makes it easy to move between rooms and useful on a desk that already has USB power available. The aluminium body stays cool in use. Wipe the cover with a dry microfibre cloth; solvent cleaners will craze the clear plastic over time.

• Material: aluminium ring with a clear PVC diffuser
• Dimensions: 25cm diameter
• Power: 5W, 5V DC via USB; UK USB mains adapter not included
• Control: touch sensor with stepless dimming
• Light source: integrated LED, clear white or warm white
• Indoor use only; clean with a dry microfibre cloth, no solvents