Black & Decker Ultra Reach LED Desk Lamp, White/Red

First impressions and setup

Task lights don’t usually excite me, but the Ultra Reach surprised me by how quickly it went from box to bench. It ships preassembled, so setup was literally plug-in-and-go. The 9‑foot cord gives generous placement flexibility, and the weighted base kept the lamp planted on my desk while I repositioned it. The red/white finish is a bold, slightly playful choice that worked in my studio; it may stand out more than a typical matte black office lamp.

Build-wise, it’s a mix of metal and plastic. The arm sections feel solid enough, and the base is heavy for stability. The lamp head and touch switch area, however, lean into glossy plastic. That plastic doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence—fit and finish are fine from a distance, but up close it feels a little budget compared with metal‑clad competitors. After a few weeks of daily use, I didn’t encounter catastrophic issues, but I was mindful not to torque the head or jab at the touch pad. Let’s call the build acceptable for a home office, not something I’d want on a rough-and-tumble fabrication bench.

Adjustability and ergonomics

The headline feature is reach: with the arm extended, I can cover a deep desktop or pull light over a drawing board without dragging the base along. The head rotates 360°, which is helpful for nudging the beam where you need it, and the arm does fold in and out for basic height changes.

That said, the articulation is more linear than fluid. Compared to a spring‑balanced architect lamp, the Ultra Reach relies on a couple of pivot points that do the job but don’t offer the same granular “put it anywhere and it stays” positioning. In day‑to‑day use, I could get my target angle, but I sometimes had to adjust two joints instead of one, and there were moments when I wanted a touch more vertical range over a tall monitor. If you reposition constantly—say, between keyboard work and hand drafting multiple times a day—you’ll feel these limits.

The touch switch sits on the head, which is convenient once your hand learns where it is. It cycles through five brightness levels and remembers the last setting when you power back on. The memory behavior is great; the touch control itself is serviceable, though not especially refined. It registered taps reliably for me, but the plastic housing and the feel of the switch are a reminder that this lamp prioritizes function over premium tactility.

If you want to reclaim desk space, the lamp’s base can be detached to accept a clamp or through‑mount adapter—sold separately. That’s a thoughtful design, and the multi‑mount connector makes this more adaptable than many desk lights at this price tier.

Light quality and brightness

This is where the Ultra Reach earns its keep. The LED array is tuned to simulate daylight, and the output is wide and even across the work surface. I’ve used it for CAD sessions, photo editing, and a run of fine‑line sketching; in each case, the beam filled my workspace without harsh hot spots. The diffuser does solid work taming glare, and the light is flicker‑free to my eyes, which matters during long evenings at the keyboard.

Color feels natural—white paper looks white rather than cream or blue. While the manufacturer doesn’t publish a color rendering index here, I had no complaints with color‑critical tasks like matching thread and paint chips for small projects. For serious studio photography I’d still use dedicated lights, but for everyday design, reading, and craft work, the balance is right.

On raw output, the lamp tops out at a bit under the “tiny sun” category, which is perfectly fine for desk work. The five dimming steps are well spaced: low is gentle enough for late‑night notes without waking a partner across the room, and high is strong enough to light a full‑size notebook and keyboard comfortably. If you’re trying to flood an entire drafting table or light a large assembly area, you’ll want supplemental lighting. For normal desktop zones, it’s spot on.

Because it’s LED, the head runs cool. Even after a couple of hours at maximum brightness, I could grab and adjust the head without thinking about heat, which encourages frequent, casual repositioning.

Power and extras

The built‑in USB port on the base is a small but useful touch. I used it to top off a wireless mouse and occasionally a phone. It’s not a fast‑charge hub, but as a convenient trickle for accessories, it’s welcome—and one less cable trailing to a computer. I also appreciate that it’s UL listed and ships with an AC adapter; it’s plug-and-play and safe to hand to anyone in the household without extra instructions.

Energy use is modest, as you’d expect from a 6.5 W LED light source. I left it at a mid‑level brightness for a full workday and didn’t bother to think about power draw. The manufacturer quotes a long service life for the LEDs, and while I can’t verify lifespan claims in a review window, LED desk lights in this wattage typically run for years with little to no degradation. A 3‑year limited warranty is a nice backstop if anything goes sideways early.

Daily use observations

• Stability: The 12‑plus‑pound base is overkill in a good way—it never budged when I swung the arm or brushed the desk. If you work on a standing desk that shimmies, the weight helps minimize wobble at the head.

• Footprint: The base is compact for its mass, but it does occupy a fixed rectangle. If surface area is a premium, consider the clamp option.

• Controls: The touch pad avoids the clicky “thunk” you get with mechanical switches, which is pleasant during late‑night sessions. I did have to look at it occasionally; there’s no tactile ridge to guide your finger.

• Cabling: The long cord makes it easy to route cleanly, even on large desks or where outlets are scarce. The power brick is standard fare and doesn’t hog an entire power strip.

Where it shines, where it doesn’t

What the Ultra Reach does best is deliver a wide, comfortable pool of daylight‑balanced illumination with minimal glare and no visible flicker. If your work benefits from seeing paper texture, subtle pencil strokes, or onscreen color without eye strain, the optics here pull their weight. The long reach also lets you get light in front of a monitor (reducing screen reflections) or across big keyboards and mixers.

Its weak spots are mostly about refinement. The plastic head and switch area feel a bit cheap next to the sturdy base. The articulation works, but if you’re expecting the fluid, one‑finger placement of a premium spring‑arm lamp, this isn’t that. And while the USB port is handy, it’s an add‑on convenience rather than a core reason to buy.

Who it’s for

• Home office users who want even, glare‑controlled light over a broad desk surface.
• Hobbyists and crafters who need a daylight‑like beam for detail work without heat.
• Students who appreciate simple controls, a long cord, and a built‑in USB port.

Who should look elsewhere:

• Users who constantly reposition and need silky, multi‑axis articulation with minimal effort.
• Anyone who prioritizes all‑metal construction and premium switchgear.
• Large‑format drafters who need to light an entire table from one source.

Recommendation

I recommend the Ultra Reach with caveats. If your priority is comfortable, daylight‑like illumination with a wide, flicker‑free beam and you value a long reach from a stable base, this lamp delivers. It’s easy to set up, simple to live with, and its five‑level dimming with memory makes daily use frictionless. However, the build around the head and touch control feels more utilitarian than premium, and the articulation, while adequate, isn’t as fluid as purpose‑built spring‑arm designs. For a home office, study, or craft station where the lamp stays in a few favored positions, it’s a practical, eye‑friendly choice. If you demand top‑tier materials and highly nuanced positioning, you’ll be happier investing in a higher‑end articulating lamp.