The 5 best sunrise alarm clocks and how to choose one
Mornings are glorious and mark the start of a new day filled with endless possibilities. However, if you’re not a morning person, getting out of bed can seem like a chore. Even if if you’re a morning person, it can still be annoying to wake up to a traditional alarm sound. If you want to wake up more gently and naturally, we recommend investing in a sunrise alarm clock that will excite you with gradual light and soothing nature sounds. Skip the snooze button and improve your wake-up routine with the best sunrise alarm clocks.
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For those who don’t know, the sunrise alarm clock gently wakes your body naturally by simulating the dawn. Instead of blasting you with the power of the sun, it allows the light to gradually illuminate your room as if the sun were rising and shining through your window. Far more calming than a loud alarm, a sunrise alarm clock can be just the thing to get your body into a more natural rhythm over time. And even if it’s not for you, it might be perfect holiday gift for that special someone.
A sunrise alarm clock can also help those with limited sun exposure or those at risk seasonal affective disorder improve their mental health in dark, winter months. Experts recommend bright light early in the morning as it increases serotonin production and can have a positive effect on your mood. Not to mention, the silent alarm will also mean you feel less stressed every morning, with the sunrise alarm acting as light therapy just as you start your day.
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Jamie Goldwellness design consultant and authortold CNET that she came across these types of optional noise alarms during her research around noise pollution: “Our lives and homes are full of noise, and this creates the potential for insomnia, anxiety and stress. I love the idea of ​​these quiet alarm clocks for connecting with our natural circadian rhythms and helping us start our days more calmly. Some heavy sleepers may need a stronger wake-up system, but if you’re not one of them, this is definitely a solution worth considering.”
Ever since I started using a sunrise alarm clock, I’ve had a better night’s sleep. Waking up without the loud sound of the alarm has also made my mornings happier and my days more productive. According to a small study in Behavioral studies of the brainexposure to artificial light in the morning can also improve cognitive performance throughout the day.
If all of this sounds like something you’d like to try, especially if you’re looking for a more relaxed start to your day, we’ve rounded up the best sunrise alarm clocks on the market, from basic models to those that come with sleep timers, for naps or even reading lamps.
The best sunrise alarm clock
After testing the Hatch Restore 2 for several weeks, this sunrise alarm clock stands out as my top choice due to its functional options and design. You can customize the lighting options to your liking to create the perfect sunrise. Whether you like to wake up with warm golden tones or a soft amber glow, Hatch Restore 2 offers a wide range of shades that mimic sunrise to ease you through the day. Since using the Hatch Restore 2, my bedroom has become phone-free at night, which has greatly improved my sleep quality.
Another feature I really like about Restore 2 is the collection of sounds to pair with your sunrise light. You can choose from soothing nature sounds to soothing melodies to create the perfect atmosphere for waking up or falling asleep. Mine is set to the sound of ocean shores to wake up to and a gentle rain at night to help me wind down after a long day. The ability to mix and match your light and sound options is endless.
To properly use Hatch 2 Restore, you need to download the app. It’s a simple, user-friendly app where you set up your custom routines. I control the alarm time, light settings and sounds from my phone. For $4.99 per month you can subscribe to Luke+a library of meditations, music, bedtime stories and ASMR.
The Casper Glow Light makes our roundup as the most versatile sunrise alarm clock for good reason. Once charged, the Glow Light becomes a portable night light that I can carry with me, whether it’s a trip to the bathroom or the kitchen for a midnight snack.
The Casper Glow app adds another level of convenience to your alarm clock. From the app, you can customize the brightness, sync multiple flashes to wake up or go to sleep, and schedule your wake-up time. I really like the falling asleep options as it signals to my brain that it’s time to start getting ready for bed.
Of all the sunrise alarms on this list, the Casper Glow is perhaps the most unique to use. Besides the app, it also uses tactile controls, such as flipping the device to turn off the light.
Its minimalist, elegant design goes with almost any type of decor.
The Lumie Bodyclock Rise 100 is a more simplified version of the Lumie Shine 300. It’s a high-quality, entry-level sunrise simulator alarm clock for people looking for just the basics: the Lumie Rise 100 features a 30-minute sunrise with the option to set the final light intensity. You can also program a sunset to help you fall asleep.
The Lumie Rise 100 has no natural or ambient sounds to add to your sunrise and sunset, although you can program the optional audible alarm to start when your sunrise reaches maximum light intensity. Like the Lumie Shine 300, the Lumie Rise 100 has a touch snooze feature and an auto-dimming display.
If you already have a night light, you can make your own sunrise alarm clock by replacing regular light bulbs with smart light bulbs from Lifx. These Wi-Fi-enabled bulbs connect to Alexa, Google Assistant, Cortana, and Apple HomeKit, and you can program them to dim and light up at sunrise and sunset when you fall asleep and wake up, respectively.
You won’t hear any sound, but if you’re a relatively light sleeper and wake up to a change in light intensity, these programmable light bulbs will still wake you up in the morning. You can also combine with Lifx strips in fun colors for the coolest artificial sunrise.
Read our review of the Lifx Mini smart bulb.
If you’re not quite ready to shell out $100 or more for a sunrise alarm clock, this budget sunrise simulation clock from Jall should do the trick. It has all the essentials and creates a pretty customizable sunrise: Choose from seven colors and 20 brightness levels to end your sunrise, as well as seven natural sounds to accompany the light. You can also choose to wake up with FM radio.
The Jall Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock functions as a night light and night light and you can adjust the brightness level for both. It doesn’t have a sunset feature like some others on this list, nor does it double as a white noise machine. If you just want the sunrise feature, it doesn’t matter.
Most of the Amazon reviewers I love this watch: it has 4.3 stars and almost 100% of the reviews are positive. It seems that most of the people who bought this watch were looking for a less abrupt way to wake up, and the Jall Wake Up Light did the trick for them. Buyers also like that it’s easy to set up and simple enough for kids to work on their own.
If you want a wider selection — not just sunrise clocks — check out our separate list of the best alarm clocks of 2024. If you need a good night’s sleep, check it out the best mattresses you can buy online and the best pillows too.
How we picked the best sunrise alarm clock
Our review of the best sunrise alarm clocks includes a comprehensive assessment of several key metrics to ensure a great user experience.
Personalization: We’ve prioritized sunrise alarm clocks that offer settings to customize the light and included some models that offer a choice of sound to pair with your light.
Features: We looked at what special features sunrise alarms offer. For example, application integration for seamless control, sound libraries and portability.
Design: There is nothing we love more than an aesthetic yet practical design. We have selected models that can fit into almost any interior you have in your home.
Endurance: Our staff has personally tested these alarm clocks to assess the quality and durability of each device.
Our top pick is Hatch Restore 2 because it ticks all the things you’d want in a sunrise alarm clock, like customization, sound options, app integration, and ease of use.
Yes Simulated sunrise light helps signal your brain that it’s time to wake up.
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