But going too big causes issues, too. On the flip side, the 18-inch models were overkill: They were so bright that they created washed-out images at all but the lowest brightness levels.

You might not find the CRI rating in the product description, but that doesn’t mean the ring light has a low CRI. Contact the manufacturer and ask for the number. If they don’t get back to you—or, worse, they don’t have a website—move on to the next ring light you’re considering.

Having multiple brightness levels means you can adjust the lighting to any environment—whether it’s cloudy or sunny, morning or night, or you have few or many other light sources.

Smaller, USB-powered lights are great for mobile use. Ring lights that are 12 inches or smaller can be powered via USB, whereas the larger ring lights use an AC/DC adapter because they need to draw more power. So if you want a ring light that you can use outdoors—tethered to a laptop or USB power bank, without an outlet nearby—a ring light that’s 12 inches or smaller is ideal.

As a result, LED bar lights have a longer lifespan and consume less electricity, making them a cost-effective choice for both residential and commercial applications.

The bigger the ring light, the better the light output and quality. We looked at 10-, 12-, 14-, 16-, and 18-inch models suited for sitting at a desk or standing.

Most of our customers feel that the lighting on their vehicle is not enough, and that’s why it’s perfect to get a LED light bar. Strands offer a large selection of light bars for all kinds of vehicles. Many vehicles, such as passenger cars, off-road vehicles, utility and industrial vehicles, agricultural vehicles, and recreational vehicles, need extra lighting. You can mount your LED light bar on the roof, under or above the license plate, or behind the grill. Choose your preferred length of the LED bar depending on where you want to mount it.

In addition to a stand, most ring lights come with extras such as a carrying case for the light, a mount for your phone, and a Bluetooth remote to take a photo on your phone from a distance.

With the Siberia Outlaw LED bar you invest in your own, and others, safety. It enhances your visibility, allowing you to spot potential hazards sooner and giving you more time to react. Driving in the dark can be daunting, but with Siberia Outlaw, it becomes more of an opportunity.

Wirecutter’s Rozette Rago and Michael Hession, our head of photography and video, helped me determine the most important features to look for in a ring light.

After researching and testing more than a dozen ring lights, we’ve learned that it’s a fast-moving category with lots of brands that may be here today but gone tomorrow. Many of the best ring lights we’ve tested are either now discontinued or have recurring stock issues. This includes the Neewer 14-inch LED Ring Light (RL-14), Neewer 16-inch LED Ring Light (RL-16), Yesker 14-inch Ring Light, and Godox LR120 12-inch LED Ring Light.

You can certainly find other lighting setups that produce better portrait or video lighting—such as this two-light kit Goodrich recommends, which includes lighting umbrellas, several light stands, and a number of photo bulbs. But they’re more expensive and more complicated to set up and break down.

RingLight Laptop

For anything else, a 14- or 16-inch ring light will do. These larger models should suffice if you want to keep the stand off of your desk or you plan on using the ring light while standing. The 14-inch ring lights we tested, including the Neewer 14-inch and Yesker 14-inch, were plenty bright in our testing. A 16-inch ring light, such as the Neewer 16-inch, would be brighter. But that extra luminance is really only useful if you’re going to position the light several feet away from you.

A professional video producer shows how you can tweak the lighting you have in your home office to elevate your video-call look.

More expensive doesn’t mean better quality. While researching this guide, we saw a Wescott 18-inch Ring Light that cost nearly $200 despite having only two color temperatures (cool and warm). Some ring lights cost twice as much as similar-size lights without adding more features or benefits.

More steps between the coolest and warmest color temperature levels mean more flexibility in suiting your skin and environment.

Melanie Pinola covers home office, remote work, and productivity as a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. She has contributed to print and online publications such as The New York Times, Consumer Reports, Lifehacker, and PCWorld, specializing in tech, work, and lifestyle/family topics. She’s thrilled when those topics intersect—and when she gets to write about them in her PJs.

LED bar lights are known for their longevity and durability. Unlike traditional light bulbs, LED bar lights can last up to 50,000 hours. This is because they use light-emitting diode (LED) technology, which is highly efficient and produces very little heat.

Whether you work from home or you need to nail a job interview via Skype, these are Wirecutter’s tips for looking and sounding like a pro on video calls.

It’s easy to get up and running with Zoom, but you may not know about some of its best, most useful videoconferencing features.

CRI is one measure of light quality; the higher the CRI (the closer to 100, the better), the more colors the light can render and the more precise the image is color-wise.

Color temperature, measured in kelvins (K), greatly affects the aesthetics of your photo or video. The room you’re in, the clothes you’re wearing, and your skin tone can all look different depending on the light’s color and temperature.

Yes, LED lights can be used as a replacement for standard car or truck headlights. LED lights provide several advantages over traditional halogen bulbs, such as increased brightness, longer lifespan, and lower power consumption. However, it is important to ensure that the LED headlights are compatible with the specific make and model of the car before making any replacements. Additionally, it is recommended to have a professional install the LED headlights to ensure they are correctly aligned for optimal visibility and safety on the road.

Melanie Pinola is a writer focused on home-office gear. To find the best paper shredder, she has shredded enough junk mail to fill several bathtubs.

For desktop use, a 12-inch model is best. If you plan on using a ring light propped up on your desk—not on a tall stand on the floor—look for a moderately sized model, like the Godox LR120 12-inch LED Ring Light. These have stands designed for desktop use and cost less than larger models.

Strands manufactures LED light bars with the highest quality standards. LED lights for trucks boast ruggedness, waterproof qualities, energy efficiency, and the ability to meet local caution light requirements, making them an ideal choice for various applications. Our LED light bars for trucks and cars are available with different beam patterns and sizes which makes it easy for you to choose which light bar fits your needs.

RingLight Professional

Without it, you can look grainy, out of focus, or even shadowy—like an anonymous witness in a true-crime show. A ring light is a simple tool whose diffuse glow can bring you out of the dark and make you look more professional.

Lighting plays an important role in the image quality of your videos and photos, second only to the quality of your camera. But you don’t have to invest in a complicated lighting rig to get better close-ups.

A ring light is exactly what its name suggests: a doughnut-shaped light, typically made of rows of LEDs. The halo shape diffuses light over a wide area, reducing shadows and washing away blemishes for a more-flattering appearance. The space in the middle of the light is a great place to mount a camera or phone because you get an even distribution of light around the lens.

Strands Lighting Division is Europe´s fastest-growing brand in the industry and offers the latest innovative vehicle lighting. We want and dare to go first with a constant passion for changing the market, and we have just begun.

Wirecutter’s Melanie Pinola has spent years testing and reviewing various gear—including home-office essentials such as webcams, USB microphones, and office chairs—for Wirecutter and other sites including Lifehacker, PCWorld, Popular Mechanics, and Laptop Magazine.

LED light bars act as elongated driving lights and are short or long sets of LEDs with high brightness. The diodes are usually surrounded by reflectors, but lenses are also common. At Strands, all light bars are designed for drivers who need powerful and reliable lights on the roads. Often, the standard light mounted on the vehicle is not good enough. That is why you should invest in a discreet LED light bar but still immensely powerful. Our LED light bars are made for cars, trucks and other heavier vehicles.

It’s also worth considering the height range of the ring light’s stand. The greater the range, the more versatile it will be to accommodate all kinds of situations.

Strands Lighting Division offers a wide range of LED light bars for cars, and it’s possible to mount your light bar in many ways. If you want to mount the light bar simply and safely in a way that doesn’t damage your car, you should use a bracket specifically made for LED light bars. It is also common to put the bracket behind the license plate, making it easier to reset it if you want to remove it.

Yes, LED lights are safe to use in cars or trucks. They are known for their energy efficiency, durability, and brightness, making them popular among car enthusiasts. Many newer car models have LED lighting for headlights, taillights, and interior illumination. However, it is important to note that not all LED lights are created equal, and it is important to purchase high-quality products from reputable brands to ensure their safety and longevity. Additionally, it is important to properly install and position the LED lights to avoid distracting other drivers on the road.

Get the maximum visibility on the road with Strands Lighting Division’s LED light bars for cars. Our selection of high-quality LED light bars is brighter and whiter than traditional car lights, making them a popular choice among car enthusiasts. With a longer lifespan and lower energy consumption, our LED light bars are cost-effective for enhancing your car’s lighting.

More color temperature settings is better. Most of the ring lights we considered had at least three color-temperature settings: cool, neutral, and warm. We preferred those that offered more color-temperature steps between the coolest and the warmest levels; this allows you to dial in the setting that looks best with your skin and environment.

RingLight Portable

Improving the lighting when you are in front of the camera isn’t just about vanity: Having great lighting that helps you look your best breeds confidence.

“It’s really empowering,” said content creator and educator Gia Goodrich, “because you know that even if you’re showing up without makeup, you feel insecure, or you’re in your PJs, you can at least light yourself in a way that makes you feel good.”

Truck light bars are a perfect match for your truck. Before you buy your LED light bar, you should first explore which light bar fits your personality and style.

Our tests showed that a Bluetooth speakerphone won’t necessarily produce better results than a smartphone. But we found a few models worth checking out.

You should be able to bend the light and raise it up or down to get the most flattering light for whatever you’re shooting. People who wear glasses, for example, might need to raise the light and adjust it at a steeper angle to avoid glare and reflections.

Look for lights that can adjust brightness in 1% increments. With some ring lights, you can adjust the brightness from 0 to 100% in 10% increments (10% brightness, 20% brightness, and so on), but we prefer models that let you fine-tune the brightness to the nth degree. Some ring light descriptions will specify this; it might be called “stepless adjustment.”

How far or close you put a ring light depends mostly on your comfort level and the size of the light. But I found that for video-call purposes, somewhere between 2 and 3 feet was most flattering.

RingLight desk

Find the right temperature for your skin tone. Wirecutter’s Rago said that warm light generally works best for most skin tones, but if it’s too warm, a person could look orange. Bluish light can make a pale person look lifeless.

Some larger models have a built-in USB port for phone charging. A few lights we tested that are 14 inches or larger had a USB port for charging your phone while it’s attached to the ring light. That’s convenient for long shoots.

10-inch lights aren’t great for most uses. These smallest lights had stands that raised the light only an inch off the desk, creating spooky, unflattering under-chin lighting. You could prop one of these lights up on a stack of large books or a box, but we think it’s worth paying a little more for a larger, brighter light that has a taller stand.

More flexibility is always better. Bonus points go to ring lights—such as the Yesker 14-inch—that include a flexible gooseneck mount for your phone; this is great for getting the angle of your phone just right too.

A CRI of 90 or higher is best. Ring lights with a CRI of 90 or above are considered excellent, whereas those with a CRI between 80 and 90 are thought of as good, according to Westinghouse Lighting.

They also come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, making them versatile for different purposes. Investing in LED bar lights contributes to a more sustainable and eco-friendly future by reducing energy consumption and waste from frequent bulb replacements. Choose LED bar lights for long-lasting, energy-efficient, and environmentally-friendly lighting solutions.

These accessories make using a ring light easier, but they’re just extras. Prioritize the features above when choosing a ring light.

Expect to pay between $50 and $100 for a good ring light that has all of the features we mention above. Paying any more than that is likely throwing money away.

Our LED light bars can be mounted in various ways, including behind the license plate, on the roof, or behind the grill. Choose the length of the LED bar based on where you want to mount it, and explore our range of curved and straight light bars to match your style. Upgrade your car’s lighting with Strands Lighting Division’s LED light bars for maximum visibility on the road.

RingLight Sale

Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).

We still recommend these models if you can find them in stock. But if you can’t track them down, here are some tips that will help you choose a suitable replacement among a sea of similar-looking lights.

RingLight with Stand

Then you need to choose the correct size for your truck and whether you want a curved, straight, or single row LED light bar. The curved light bars are shaped like arches which improves lighting exposure on the sides

We’ll be testing more ring lights soon with the goal of recommending specific picks. In the meantime, the current guide remains a reliable resource for finding great lighting options.

Strands manufactures LED light bars with the highest quality standards. LED lights for trucks boast ruggedness, waterproof qualities, energy efficiency, and the ability to meet local caution light requirements, making them an ideal choice for various applications. Our LED light bars for trucks and cars are available with different beam patterns and sizes which makes it easy for you to choose which light bar fits your needs.

Our Siberia Outlaw LED bar is the brightest, and strongest, LED light bar in the world with 1 lux at 1 446 meters (4 744 ft), or 1 lux at 1 220 meters (4 002 ft) depending on the size of the LED bar.

Many of the latest ring light models also have a Wi-Fi remote to power the light and adjust the color temperature or brightness.

Yes, LED lights are generally brighter than traditional car lights. They produce a brighter and whiter light that can improve visibility while driving. Additionally, LED lights have a longer lifespan and use less energy than traditional lights, making them a popular choice for car enthusiasts. However, ensuring the LED lights are correctly installed and aligned is important to avoid blinding oncoming traffic.

A ring light is a simple, cost-effective option that anyone can set up and use. It makes the most sense when you need just a bit more emphasis on yourself in a space without a lot of natural light and you don’t have the time or energy to invest in a pricier professional lighting setup.