Our Recommendation
Our Ratings
Summary
Pros:
– Affordable
– Lightweight and small
– Three brightness settings
– Long lifespan
Cons:
– Tilt doesn’t adjust
– Short electric cord
– Average lux output
- Stylish and UV-Free: These mood light sun lamps are not only good for us but they make a fashionable addition to any space while providing the kind of light that our bodies need. The sun lamp is also free of unwanted UV rays
- Light Is Essential: Sunlight regulates the cycles of our bodies and our moods. With people spending more time indoors these days, it’s important to make sure our bodies get what they need, and this daylight lamp is here to shine some light for you
- Effective: This therapy light provides the recommended 10,000 LUX of brightness to help the winter blues, regulate sleep, improve focus, boost energy and make us feel less sad. The light therapy lamp is designed to mimic the colors of daylight
- Longer Lasting: The LED natural light lamp lasts approximately 50,000 hours — a longer life than fluorescent bulbs — and produces uniform, dot-free light that has the same quality of the noonday sun (5500K), full-spectrum
- Easy to Use: Our happy lamp’s revolutionary, quick one-touch operation makes it simple to use. No complicated settings to mess around with. 3 levels allow you to customize the brightness for the best efficacy and comfort
Analysis and review
Manufacturer
This product is made by Circadian Optics LLC. They market SAD lamps and light-therapy devices specifically designed for technology-driven lifestyles.
Look and Design
This lamp is very stylish compared to similarly-priced lamps. It’s one of the only lamps I’ve ever tried that looks as though it actually belongs in my home even when not in use. At about 4 x 6.5 x 6.5 inches and just one pound, it is deceptively small. There is space for it even on my cluttered desk.
As you can see from our ratings, this scores top marks. One of only 3 lamps in our test to do so.
Setup and Ease of Use
This light is extremely simple to use right out of the box. The electrical cord is shorter than I would have expected. Once plugged in it’s only a matter of adjusting the brightness setting via the power button. The single-button operation makes it easy to use, though I wouldn’t recommend looking directly at the light when turning it on for the first time.
The manual is straightforward, informative, and pleasing to look at.
Performance
At the brightest light setting, this lamp is nearly uncomfortably bright. Working up from the lowest setting seems to be the way to go with this ultra-bright lamp. Only the highest setting puts out the recommended 10,000 lux. Also, for the max 10,000 lux the light will have to be 8 inches from your eyes, this is impossible to do without blinding yourself. You will need to spend longer using it to get the benefits on a lower setting
The LED light panel can clearly be seen through the diffusing panel which made it a little harder on my eyes.
Compared to the others in the test it ranks as average for performance. The light compares well with most other modern designs which also do not provide the recommended 10,000 lux at a comfortable distance.
The light is extremely white, which is unsurprising considering the company expects the light temperature to be measured at 5500k. It’s also a Full Spectrum lamp and seems to be of a much higher light quality than other lamps in the same range.
Features
There is no battery power, and the unit must be plugged into the wall to work. The power cord seems a bit short but it is perfect for stationary use.
The diffusing panel filters out 99.9% of UV rays.
Circadian Optics states that their lamps have a 50,000-hour lifespan. Rather than a single bulb light-box, this lamp is composed of 81 separate lights behind a diffusing panel. At the two lower settings, this works as intended to reduce glare. The brightest setting allowed me to see the lights behind the panel, but this is relatively minor.
The stand is plastic and works effectively, though the unit does seem fragile upon the first inspection. When you look a little closer, you realize it is deceptively sturdy. This is due to the lightweight design. There is no way to adjust the angle of the lamp, though it does rotate on the base.
Despite being top heavy, I never felt as though the unit was going to fall over. While it seems fragile, I wouldn’t be nervous at all about packing this unit with my luggage for travel.
There is no timer in this unit and it is not wall mountable. This along with the limited stand mean that it scores very low compared to the others in the top 10 list with regards features.
Value For Money & Conclusion
The Circadian Optics Lumine is a good budget option for non serious SAD sufferers. It looks great in almost any setting and should be well worthy of your consideration, especially at it’s price point. As you can see from the chart below, we consider this to offer exceptional value for money compared to it’s competition.
The design sets this lamp apart from the others on the market. Rather than looking bulky and clinical, this unit has clean, functional lines. I cannot overemphasize how refreshing the design is compared to other lamps of the same size. The aesthetic is very pleasing and definitely makes this a joy to use.
As with all Circadian Optics products the lux output is an issue if you are looking for a high performing SAD light although for casual users this light provides great value.
Although its limited features and basic warranty are downsides, there is enough value in this product to rank in the top 5 best SAD lights on the market today.
