If you’re a creator working from a compact space, you know the struggle of balancing good lighting with limited room. Softboxes and bulky setups often don’t fit, and many desktop lights sacrifice quality for convenience. That’s where amaran’s new Verge and Verge Max panels come in.
This is amaran’s first desktop-oriented lighting system, and it’s aimed at a new breed of creators: livestreamers, remote workers, vloggers, and anyone who spends hours in front of a camera without a crew or a full-sized set. The Verge series includes a compact rectangular light (Verge) and a larger circular panel (Verge Max), both using edge-lit LEDs to deliver soft, eye-friendly illumination.
Amaran Verge: A Compact, Flexible Light for Desktop Creators
The amaran Verge is a rectangular, bi-colour LED panel that’s compact enough to live on your desk full-time. It’s edge-lit, which means the light is diffused internally to produce a soft, even glow, similar to what you’d get from a small softbox, just way more compact. It’s flicker-free, UV-free, and even RG0-certified for eye safety. That’s a nice touch if you’re staring into it for hours at a time while streaming or on Zoom calls.
One standout feature here is the control layout: instead of awkward rear knobs or app-only access, the Verge has front-facing physical controls for brightness and color temperature. You can also control it wirelessly through the amaran app or even integrate it into a Stream Deck, which is pretty handy for creators who want to trigger lighting effects or adjust levels on the fly.
Mounting-wise, the Verge offers some smart options. It’s got a 1/4-20 mount for traditional stands and tripods, but it also introduces the Verge Lock system, which lets you clamp the light to the edge of your desk or pop it onto a light stand, depending on your setup. It’s modular and discrete, which fits the desk aesthetic pretty well.
Amaran Verge Max: A Circular Panel with Softbox-Level Diffusion
The Amaran Verge Max is the beefier sibling in the lineup. It’s a 22-inch circular panel that aims to replicate the look of a softbox (like the Amaran Light Dome Mini SE on a COB light) but in a much thinner, more desk-friendly form. At just 3.6cm thick, it’s a fraction of the size of a traditional softbox rig, which makes it perfect for shooting in tight rooms or corner setups.
The Verge Max shares the same core features: flicker-free, bi-colour edge lighting with high eye safety and wireless/app/Stream Deck control. It adds a built-in display screen to show brightness and colour temperature values at a glance, plus a 360° swing arm and 180° pan and tilt with its included desk clamp. And yes, it’s compatible with the same Verge Lock system and can be mounted on a baby pin stand using an optional adapter.
You can also pick up a light control grid to manage spill and tighten your lighting if you’re aiming for that studio-quality look in a small footprint.
Price and Availability
Both lights are available now, with some accessories shipping in early June. Amaran is also offering a 5% discount (US & Canada only) if you bundle a light with a compatible mount. The amaran Verge is priced at $79, the Verge Max Kit is $259. The desk stand accessory for Verge is $35 and sold separately.
