Verilux HappyLight Touch Plus - Light Therapy Lamp with 10,000 Lux, UV-Free, LED Bright White Light with Adjustable Brightness, Color, Countdown Timer, & Detachable Stand - Boost Mood, Sleep, & Focus

I’ve only had this light for nine days, so nothing here can address its longevity. I will try to post a later review when I’ve had it for at least six months. But up to this point it exceeds my expectations. I have not had this one for long, but I have been using a light for SAD and for depression in general for over thirty years now. The science has come a long way and there are methodologies in place at this point in history that can help someone find what will work best for them. There are some general requirements for a SAD light that most notable sources all recommend. It should generate up to 10,000 Lux (a measurement of light intensity), the light given off should be UV-free (UV light can harm the eye) and the light should typically be white to be most effective. This light, like many, offers three brightness settings and two colors. It also has a timer to make keeping track of your session easy. It is a convenient size. My desk is a small one and the mug is a large one. The box is about 10 inches by 6 inches with the actual light being a bit smaller. I find it to be a very useful size. It doesn’t get in the way of whatever is typically on my desk but is certainly large enough to give off a very nice, wide light. I find the light to be simple and very user friendly. There isn’t much to figure out and there are instructions for what controls there are. This is a corded light, NOT one with a battery or battery pack. Has to be plugged in to work. This may not be the one if you are looking for a light you can take anywhere and use. It is portable (easy to pick up and move) but not cordless. The light seems to be well made and solid, doesn’t have a “cheap feel” to it. The removable cord is about six feet long, long enough to find a plug in most places but short enough to be readily wound up and tucked into a bag or folder. The stand pops off the back when needed so is also quickly ready to move or pack. I like this light and already have some sense of its effectiveness. The cost is reasonable for what you get. I have paid hundreds of dollars for a SAD light that I do not believe is as good as this one. We’ll see how it stands up over time. As I began, It’s Great So Far! One final note: consult a professional as to the use of this or any other SAD light. The time and technique recommended may vary. Be good to yourself and let your own light shine!

The VT32 is the second-best Verilux Happy Light, and the one I think you should buy. The only difference between this and the top of the line model is a timer that, in my opinion, isn't worth the difference in price. What the VT32 provides that the lower-priced ones don't is the addition of "Happy Hues." These are three different hues of light: bright white, cool white, and warm white. Not a fan of bright white, which I assume is all you get on the low-end models. Cool white is fine (you may prefer it), but my favorite is warm white. That's really the only one I use. I'd be surprised if anyone picks bright white as their favorite because it's pretty harsh! So I'm glad I went with this model just for the two extra hues. The lamp comes with a solid, secure, slide-on base, though it wasn't immediately clear how to remove or attach it. I would have preferred the base if it angled the light down, rather than up, as that's a better configuration for how this sort of simulated sunshine should be directed—angled down, like real sunshine. That said, the up angle still works, if not quite as well. Just make sure the light is is angled off to the side rather than directly at you; it needs to hit your eyes, but not so it interfere with your vision. It might take a day or two to get used to having this new light source next to you; that's a totally normal adjustment period. I don't care much for the controls. The on/off button hidden on top of the unit requires too firm a press so it's actually a pain to use. You think you should have clicked it, but nothing happens without that firm press. Then there are the unlabeled control buttons. Not sure why they aren't labeled, as it's annoying to remember which is which; the icons they use aren't super-helpful in making it clear. One button selects the hue, the other the brightness. As with the hues, you get three brightness levels: blinding, less blinding, and still kinda bright. I'm sure they call these high, medium, and low in the instruction manual. Because they want you to sit so close to the unit to get its benefits, it's just not pleasant or practical to have it set to anything but low. This means you'll need to use it from when you get up to about one or two in the afternoon. Frankly, that's fine by me. I'd rather have the light on longer and enjoy it than shorter and not. And that's the thing... this light does a good job of simulating a cheerful sunny day (particularly the warm hue on low). I immediately feel better when it turns on and the only time I'm sad is when I have to turn it off. Why? Because I miss the light! So yes, for me, the Happy Light works. It's money well spent, despite the issues I outlined above. How long did it take me to notice I felt better using the light? Pretty much on the first day, but I didn't get the shipment until noon, so I only got to use it a couple hours. I couldn't be 100% sure until the next day, when I was able to use it longer. It doesn't appear to be an effect you can build a tolerance to, so as long as the unit works and you remember to use it, you should get years of productivity and enjoyment from it. Some people think this kind of light is only for SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). I'm not sure whether I have that condition or not, but I'm confident it helps with the things I do have: anxiety, depression, and chronic fatigue. I definitely feel better and more energized with my Happy Light than without, and I'm already doing a lot of other positive things that make a difference (exercise, Wim Hof breath work, nootropics, and neurohacking devices). For me, the Happy Light is the cherry on top of all the other things I'm doing. The fact I can tell it's adding something beyond everything else says this is a quality treatment. It's not going to magically "cure" anything, let's get that right, but it's a good, cheap way to help... either as the "cherry on top" of whatever you're already doing, or as a great, affordable place to start. Self-care is important. Don't cheat yourself, treat yourself! Even if you're not dealing with issues like depression but live in a rainy, gloomy climate most of the year, I'm confident you can benefit from a Happy Light. After all, who doesn't need a little extra sunshine in their life? Verilux is the most popular and longest-running brand of Happy Lights because they make a quality product. If you're in the market for one, I would go for one of their units, and this VT32 unit in particular. Verilux are cheaper than their primary competitor, the Philips GoLight Blu, and a much safer, smarter option than one of the million cheap Chinese knock-offs flooding the market. Seriously, don't pay more than you need to, and don't trust your health and happiness to some random device because who knows what you're getting? The Verilux Happy Lights have been tested and proven to operate in the correct, therapeutic spectrum. They're also priced and built right. That's all I need to know.

this is nice and compact about the size of a samsung tablet, i wish it had a usb to plug in to be recharged, but the price reflects this, i think it was a good deal and it is a good little lamp. I have one that is 30 years old (huge) and it was time to upgrade. this is very portable and I don't have a problem with the stand like others have said, you could always get a metal frame stand to use if wanted.

Excellent quality

As other customers have stated, the stand fails spectacularly as it does not click into the body of the device. Also, upon looking at many clinical trials and metadata studies to better understand the benefits of BLT (Bright Light Technology) the light should be facing down slightly at eye level, not up from desk level (which is not eye level). From below it seems to make viewing a monitor for work, TV or hand held device a little challenging to see. More time will be required to determine if this actually has a positive benefit on SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), but I honestly hope it does. Three stars for “construction”

We use this in a bedroom that normally receives poor daytime light and is especially so in the winter months, in order to provide a sunnier atmosphere during the wintertime. We have used it other seasons as well, by shining it onto a wall to illuminate the room better as the evening wears on. We find this effective in feeling a prolonged exposure to light and that it is effective in feeling more awake and alert as compared to when we did not have the light. The fact that the light can be adjusted to a warmer tone or cooler tone, and to varying intensities is most helpful as different users in the home prefer different settings. Definitely recommend. Also the customer service at Verilux is excellent!

Although we bought from Amazon Australia it arrived with a US power plug. Now have to buy an adapter 🙁

This thing is compact enough you can put it anywhere, carry it anywhere. The light is bright but it doesn't really hurt your eyes, its pleasant. I do 20 mins every morning and I do feel my mood overall in the day improved.