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Most likely, if you get up early, you’ll need the best alarm clock to get you out of bed in the morning. Alarm clocks are a great way to start the day off right if you don’t want your phone in your bedroom, even though many people use their cellphones for this purpose.
With their feature-rich versions, Hatch and Loftie are the most well-known recent names in the market, but Sharp and Braun, two established manufacturers of electronics, still have a lot of possibilities available.
I tried five different alarm clock models, placing them on my nightstand and dresser for a few nights each to evaluate each one’s effectiveness in waking me up. I then took notes on my experiences with each model. About their favorites, I also chatted with writers from Strategist.
Quick List of Best Alarm Clocks
Do you want to jump right to the top alarm clocks available? Here is a summary of our best selections. For each product, you may click to view a longer description and the most recent discounts.
Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
Loftie Smart Alarm Clock BEST OVERALL
- AWARD-WINNING DESIGN: Loftie's smart alarm clocks for bedrooms have been celebrated for their...
- RELAXING SOUND MACHINE: Unwind effortlessly with our sound machine alarm clock, offering over...
- TWO-PHASE ALARM SYSTEM: This smart alarm clock includes a unique two-phase alarm: a gentle...
Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
Pros
- Highly customisable
- Two-phase alarms
- Built-in white noise machine
- Nightlight is adjustable
Cons
- Not suitable for heavy sleepers
- Setup is complicated
Specifications
| Dimensions: | 2.75 x 6.5 x 2.75 inches |
| Display: | Digital |
| Alarm Volume: | Not listed |
| Headphone Type: | Yes |
| Smart Features: | Yes |
LOFTIE SMART – Overview
Because the Loftie was so good at getting me up, I found myself using it for much longer than the designated testing period. Its lozenge-shaped, traditional LCD alarm clock design is combined with a soft light that can mimic a sunrise to help you get ready for the day. In both sunrise mode and manually turned on modes via the buttons on top, the light softly illuminates the room with just enough glow to draw your attention as you wake up. By using the app, you can set it to play a soothing melody when it’s time to go to bed and to light up when it’s time to relax and get ready for bed.
The Loftie’s display indicates the time of the next alarm in considerably smaller, dimmer digits in addition to the current time. Additionally, it will alert you when Bluetooth is enabled, allowing you to stream content from your tablet or phone. I had no trouble seeing the alarm clock when I was lying in bed, despite the fact that its display is smaller than the Sharp and Hatch’s. The four buttons on top of the Loftie are the snooze button, two arrow buttons for menu navigation, and the main button for selection or play/pause.
There are 14 different alarm sounds available, such as the soft, repeated beats of a gong and the chirping of jungle creatures accompanied by a flute. With a Loftie+ membership (which costs some bucks per month and includes a free trial month), you can also read your horoscope, listen to guided meditations, and play calming music to help you go asleep. The Loftie alarm clock is a fantastic tool even without a membership, even though the add-ons are very enjoyable. I did find that using them helped settle my racing mind before going to sleep. Not only that, but you can stream podcasts or playlists from your phone to the Loftie via Bluetooth without needing to pay for a subscription. Unfortunately, because Bluetooth shuts off on its own after a certain period of inactivity, you have to manually switch it back on from the device every time you want to use it.
For an alarm clock app, the corresponding app has an unexpectedly large feature set. You can add more alarms, each with a different sound from Loftie’s repertoire, and use an adjustable slider to change the bottom light of the clock’s brightness. Additionally, there are 14 different alarm sound selections. All of these alternatives have pleasant tones, but they definitely won’t work if you need a louder, more attention-grabbing sound to wake you up. You may operate several devices from a single phone by using the app, which also supports various clocks.
After a week of testing, the Wi-Fi linked lamp from the company is now my new favorite lamp. It works in tandem with the clock to automate wake-up routines, such as turning down the light before bed or utilizing a gentle light to assist in waking up. I had the impression that I was waking up in a room taken directly out of the vividly colorful yet subtly lighted film each time it lit up in time with my alarm. The light looks fantastic, but it’s rather pricey and can only be operated through the Loftie app. The lamp doesn’t require a bulb; instead, its whole base emits light, which can be adjusted to over 30 different colors, including gradients and solid hues. All of the color choices are calming, never overly bright, and useful for everything from assisting with morning wake-up to casting light on a book.
Hatch Restore 2 Alarm Clock BEST SUNRISE
- 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲....
- 𝗦𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗹𝘆. 𝖢𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋...
- 𝗪𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆. 𝖠 𝗌𝗎𝗇𝗋𝗂𝗌𝖾...
Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
Pros
- Subtle and appealing design
- Soft glow with a cloth cover
- 18 adjustable light colors
- Features of the sunrise light
Cons
- Subscription is required for full content access
- Only one user has control
- Mute switch is difficult to flip when half-awake
Specifications
| Clock type: | Digital |
| Adjustable brightness: | Yes |
| Multiple alarms: | Yes |
| Smart features: | App-controlled, ambient noise, sunrise light, guided meditations |
| Sound options: | 14 |
HATCH RESTORE 2 – Overview
After testing the Hatch Restore 2, I decided to keep it on my nightstand even though I still adore the Loftie’s style. Though if you’re prepared to spend the extra money, the Loftie Lamp gives that model an advantage. I love its more understated appearance and morning light. The fabric enveloping the Restore 2 imparts a gentler glow to its light, in contrast to the effect produced by Loftie’s translucent shell. The Loftie light has a single color, whereas the Hatch has eighteen potential colors that may be altered via the app. The bright but not intrusive light from the Hatch gives me a nice wake-up call because my room doesn’t get much light in the morning.
The Restore 2 offers 14 preset alarm sounds, just like the Loftie; my personal favorite is “Joyful Morning,” which has calming chords. To help you fall asleep, white noise can also be played. As opposed to the Loftie, some of these ambient tunes can be downloaded for free, while others need some bucks monthly subscription. Fun items like the series “I’ll scroll 4 u” and guided meditations are also accessible with that subscription. where each episode features a host who describes their activities on their phone; it’s similar to someone’s quiet inner monologue on podcast form. The narrator of one episode walks us through their search for a new couch on Facebook Marketplace, while the other features them commenting on the question prompts their Hinge suggestions have on their profiles. Although the Hatch Restore 2 has more than enough features to help with sleep, I must confess that I’ve liked experimenting with some of Hatch’s subscription content, so at the very least, you should check it out for the free trial.
Two buttons, one to start your morning routine and the other to start your nighttime routine, sit atop the Restore 2. It is simple to discern the morning and evening buttons just by feel since the morning button is convex and the evening button is concave. This makes it simpler to distinguish between the buttons than it does on the Sharp, but the Loftie’s distinct button sizes make it even simpler. There are four touch controls on the front of the clock, but no icons indicate where they are located: Toggle the brightness of the light by tapping the top or bottom of the display; to change the speaker’s volume, tap the left or right side.
Additionally, setting different alarms for different persons is inconvenient because the Restore 2 can only be operated by one person. A switch on the side can also be used to silence the alarm, but it’s difficult to flick while you’re just partially awake, so if your bed partner wakes up before you, you might wake them up.
Philips SmartSleep HF3500 TOP SUNRISE
- YOUR OWN PERSONAL SUNRISE: Choose from 10 different brightness levels to stimulate your body so...
- NATURAL WAKE-UP: Simulated sunrise combined with gradual sound gently prepares your body for...
- SMART FEATURES: Tap to snooze and bedside lamp
Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
Pros
- 18 adjustable light colors
- Free ambient tracks are available
- Subscription provides guided meditations
- Effective in dim spaces
Cons
- Strange snoozing mechanism
- There are no snooze buttons
- Press the top half of snooze
Specifications
| Display color: | Orange |
| Battery backup: | None |
| Snooze length: | 9 minutes |
| Wake-up options: | Sunrise light and buzzing |
PHILIPS SMARTSLEEP HF3500 – Overview
Editor’s Choice
The Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light HF3520 is the alarm clock to get if you like a more relaxing and gentle wake-up than the typical beep of an alarm clock. To help you wake up, its bulbous display gradually brightens to resemble the morning light. It then plays soft sounds, like birds tweeting. Despite being on the pricey side, this sunrise alarm clock strikes an excellent mix between quality and cost. It provided us with one of the nicest mornings out of all the clocks we tried.
Rather of setting off a loud alarm, a sunrise alarm clock is meant to gently rouse people from slumber. Because of its orange display, light function, and affordable pricing, we have determined that the Philips SmartSleep HF3500 is among the best dawn alarm clocks available.
It’s visually distinctive; it resembles a UFO on a kickstand. Under the time display, in the middle, are several basic buttons. However, this alarm clock’s light element takes up most of its surface area. This Philips dawn alarm clock will progressively raise its brightness until it reaches the highest setting you specify thirty minutes prior to your scheduled alarm time. It also begins to beep louder and louder till it makes sure you wake up.
iHome Alarm Clock Radio BEST BLUETOOTH
- Alarm Clock Radio: Customize your sleep routine with dual alarms that can be set and used...
- Bluetooth Speaker: Wirelessly stream high quality audio from iPad, iPhone, Android, Samsung,...
- USB Charging and Aux Jack: Power up your devices while you sleep, using the built-in 5W USB...
Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
Pros
- Colorful lighting options
- Bluetooth audio with speakerphone
- Can set two different alarms
- USB charging ports
Cons
- No sleep timer for lights
- Limited alarm choices
Specifications
| Dimensions: | 6.03 x 6.03 x 5.28 inches |
| Alarm Type: | Sound, light |
| Power Source: | Power cord |
| Battery Backup: | Yes |
iHOME ALARM CLOCK RADIO – Overview
Alarm clock radios are still around; they’ve only undergone minor modifications. The iHome Alarm Clock Radio BT29BC, which functions as a Bluetooth speaker and can also pick up FM radio signals, is our favorite. We had no trouble finding our favorite stations immediately thanks to the six station presets on the FM radio, which picked up all the local stations.
The light-up casing allows you to select from a variety of preset colors and a lovely gradient of blue and purple. The display is wide and easy to read, with simple digital digits. You may turn the light off completely if you’d rather have a gloomy room, but we enjoyed the pinkish option at night.
We appreciate the extra flexibility that the multiple alarms on this clock radio provide. You can have one alarm for the week and one for the weekend, or you can set two alarms every day in case the heavy sleeper sleeps through the first. You can even utilize the second alarm for another purpose.
Although it’s not the greatest Bluetooth speaker we’ve ever used, it works surprisingly well and is great for late-night podcast and music listening. It also contains an auxiliary audio input if your phone still has a headphone port. If you can’t find anything to listen to on the radio, you may connect your phone over Bluetooth. Given that it also functions as a speaker, we believe it is worth taking up some room on your bedside table. It is fairly large for an alarm clock, approximately the height of the Hatch Restore (our top choice for Sunrise), although not quite as broad.
DreamSky Small Digital BEST BUDGET
- Large Display Electric Alarm Clock with Brightness Dimmer: Corded plug in clock with compact...
- Adjustable Alarm Sound: Single alarm setting with 9 minutes snooze. The beep alarm sound can be...
- USB Charging Port: Convenient USB port allows you to charge your smartphone or other electric...
Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
Pros
- Large, simple to read numerals
- Adjustable brightness and loudness
- USB Charging ports
Cons
- No further sound options
- No extra alarm or display features
Specifications
| Alarm Type: | Sound |
| Power Source: | USB power cord |
| Battery Backup: | Yes |
DREAMSKY SMALL DIGITAL – Overview
The DreamSky Compact Alarm Clock is the most ideal alarm clock we have ever evaluated, coming very close to the perfect score. It’s a rather simple gadget with only two functions that each alarm clock should have: telling the time and waking you up in the morning. It doesn’t have any fancy features or various alarm modes. This is undoubtedly our favorite alarm clock because of its huge, easy-to-read display at night and loud alarm that grows louder the longer you ignore it.
This alarm clock is a good size for us because it doesn’t take up much room on our bedside table. It is about five inches wide and rather thin. Since the entire front face of the gadget is devoted to the display, the numbers are larger than one might anticipate for a little alarm clock. The display wasn’t bright enough to be distracting, and we could easily check the time with a quick glance.
You’ll value the dimmer function if you’re sensitive to light in your bedroom at night. Every one of our picks has a dimmer of some kind, but this one is really strong because you can set it to just the perfect brightness between 0 and 100%.
Although there aren’t many additional features on this alarm clock, it does contain a USB connector that you can use to charge your phone and a snooze button that lets you sleep for a few more minutes. We suggest it for almost everyone, but because of the large numbers and simple controls, it’s particularly useful for children and the elderly. Its compact design and extra USB port also make it a fantastic travel companion.
How to Choose the Best Alarm Clock
How We Test the Best Alarm Clocks
FAQs: Best Alarm Clocks
- Which alarm clock works best for people who sleep a lot?
Heavy sleepers typically have alarm clocks that are significantly louder than typical alarm clocks, some even vibrate your bed. The Loftie Smart is the greatest alarm clock for people who sleep a lot, according to our tests. It includes a vibrating attachment that you may place under your pillow, and it is noisy. Not to add, it’s reasonably priced. - Which kind of alarm clock works best for people who sleep light?
Almost every alarm clock on the market can be chosen by light sleepers. It will depend on taste which alarm clock works best for light sleepers. A smart alarm like the iHome Bluetooth Alarm Clock is a good option if you want one that wakes you up by playing your music. Try the Philips HF3500 morning alarm if you’d like a gentle wake-up call using light. - Should I set my alarm on my phone?
As long as you remember to keep your phone enough charged to last a night, you can use it as an alarm clock. But in the end, alarm clocks are preferable since they never let you oversleep because they are plugged in and have backup batteries. Furthermore, keeping your phone near to your bed while you use it as an alarm could encourage you to use it later in the evening. Choose an alarm clock if you value the quality of your sleep above all else.
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Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
Why Trust Factic
Berry Alex has been evaluating, testing, and reviewing tech, Household and travel items for several decades. He compiled all of the testers’ input, conducted extra research to assess each phone mount’s essential features and overall functioning, and reviewed professional profiles and verified customer reviews for each product.
