Black & Decker Exalt Bar LED Desk Lamp

I spend long hours at a desk, and poor lighting is a fast track to eye strain and sloppy work. After several weeks with the Exalt Bar lamp on my bench and office desk, I have a solid sense of where it excels and where it doesn’t. It’s a simple, wired LED task light with a few thoughtful touches that make daily use easier.

Setup and first impressions

Out of the box, there’s nothing to assemble. I set the weighted base on the desk, swung the arm into position, and plugged in the 9-foot cord. The small, 6-inch base doesn’t gobble up workspace, and the red/white colorway brings a little personality without being loud. At roughly seven pounds, the base feels reassuringly solid. That weight matters when you extend the arm; the lamp stays planted instead of tipping or shimmying every time you adjust it.

Build quality is a mix of metal and plastic. The arm segments and joints are neatly finished, with smooth movement and enough friction to hold position. It’s not a luxury lamp, but it doesn’t feel flimsy either. The head’s 360-degree rotation and the multi-joint arm make it easy to drop light exactly where I need it—over a keyboard, across a notepad, or into a parts tray.

Light quality

The LED module puts out a reported 306 lumens at a fixed 5000 K color temperature—what most folks would call “daylight.” In practice, it reads clean and neutral. Whites look white, pen and pencil lines are crisp, and color-coded wires/components are easy to distinguish. There’s no visible flicker to my eyes, and the light remains stable across all dimming levels. Heat is a non-issue; the head gets warm to the touch after an hour on high but never hot.

Brightness is tuned for personal task lighting. At full output, it lights an A3-sized drawing pad or a laptop-plus-notebook spread with clarity. If you’re hoping to flood a large craft table or illuminate a room corner, this isn’t that lamp. It’s designed to define a bright, controlled work zone, and in that job it performs well.

Dimming and controls

Controls are straightforward: a touch switch cycles through three brightness levels and off, and a memory function returns to your last setting when you power back on. The touch sensor is responsive and doesn’t require precise tapping. I found myself living at medium for general typing and note-taking and bumping to high for soldering or fine assembly. The memory feature seems minor until you notice you never have to re-tune the lamp each time you sit down—one of those small quality-of-life wins.

Ergonomics and adjustability

Positioning is where the Exalt Bar lamp feels purpose-built. The arm provides generous reach (up to an advertised 23 inches), and the lamp head’s full rotation is genuinely useful. I often angle the head to skim across glossy pages to cut glare, or pivot it away from a monitor to protect contrast. The joint tension out of the box was spot-on for me: firm enough that the head doesn’t droop over time, light enough to move with one hand.

A practical tip: because the base is compact, set it close to your main work area before extending the arm far out. You’ll get better stability and more flexibility in head positioning.

USB charging

The built-in USB power port is handy, especially if your desk outlets are scarce. It’s fine for topping up a phone or powering a small accessory like a Bluetooth receiver. It’s not a fast-charge port, so I treat it as a convenience rather than a primary charger. The port placement keeps cables tidy and avoids the spaghetti effect you get when snaking cords across the desk to a wall brick.

Worth noting: this is a wired lamp. There’s no internal battery or wireless charging. If you need cordless operation, this isn’t the right fit.

Everyday use

In daily work, the lamp quickly disappears into the background—which is what I want from lighting. It turns on at the brightness I prefer, it stays where I put it, and the light doesn’t fight with my monitor or strain my eyes during long sessions. I tested it for reading printed manuals, laying out component kits, and late-night writing. The daylight tone helped maintain contrast without pushing into harsh blue territory, and the dimmer gave me a comfortable low setting for evening use.

The lamp’s narrow profile is effective for “aimed” light. If you’re sharing the desk with another person or working on wide-format art, plan to move the head more often or supplement with a second light.

Build and longevity considerations

From a materials standpoint, the mix of plastic and metal is sensible. The joints feel durable, the finish resists fingerprints, and the base covering won’t scratch a desk surface. The LED module is integrated, which is typical for this class of lamp; you won’t be swapping bulbs. That places more emphasis on long-term reliability. Mine has been consistent so far, and the UL listing and generally cool operating temperature are reassuring from a safety perspective.

A practical note on support: documentation lists a limited warranty (three years). As with any desk lamp, hold onto your proof of purchase and register the product. That makes life easier if you ever need service.

What I’d change

A few tweaks would elevate the experience:

• A slightly higher peak output option would broaden its use on larger surfaces without sacrificing efficiency.
• A fourth dim level between medium and high could make fine-tuning easier at night.
• An optional warmer color temperature mode would appeal to those who prefer softer evening light. The fixed 5000 K is great for focus, less so for winding down.

None of these are deal-breakers, but they’re on my wish list for a future revision.

Who it’s for

The Exalt Bar lamp is a fit if you:

• Want clean, daylight-toned task lighting for a defined workspace
• Value stable positioning, a small footprint, and a long power cord
• Appreciate simple controls with a reliable memory function
• Need a convenient USB power port on the desk

It’s not ideal if you:

• Expect it to light a large craft table or function as an ambient room light
• Need cordless operation or fast USB charging
• Prefer adjustable color temperature for different times of day

Safety and noise

There’s no audible buzz or coil whine at any brightness level on my unit. The lamp remains cool enough to handle after extended sessions. The UL listing and weighted base add confidence if the lamp will live in a busy household or a shared workspace.

Bottom line and recommendation

The Exalt Bar lamp is a well-executed task light: stable, easy to aim, and pleasant to work under for long stretches. The daylight tone and flicker-free output keep details sharp without fatigue, and the three-level dimming plus memory make it feel tailored rather than generic. Add a long cord and a handy USB port, and it checks the core boxes I want in an everyday desk companion.

I recommend it for focused desk and bench work where controlled, neutral light matters. If you need to illuminate a large area, want adjustable color temperature, or require cordless operation, look elsewhere. But for a compact, dependable task light that stays out of your way and just makes the work easier, this lamp earns a spot on the desk.