5 Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks For A Healthier Sleep Schedule
Fall asleep and wake up as you were meant to: with light.
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It's pretty widely accepted that the iPhone alarm clock is bad. You hate the sound, and rightfully so—it's a really harsh wake up! One solution is a smart alarm clock, some of which have more gentle ways to rouse you from your slumber and keep you connected while your phone is (correctly) in the other room. But for the best wake up, there is only one scientifically-backed solution: The sunrise alarm clock.
These alarm clocks are technically "smart," but their main draw is their sun-mimicking lights. Essentially, these things trick your body's melatonin production with gentle sunrise and sunset transitions. If you haven't tried one, it's truly life changing. More than any cool wearable, comfy new mattress, or best pillow ever, these things will improve your energy levels. It's how humans were meant to wake up.
Philips SmartSleep Wake Up Light
Philips SmartSleep Wake Up Light
Pros
- The best actual light of the bunch
- FM radio
- Convenient on-device buttons
Cons
- Display can be tough to read
For the best overall option, we've gone with Philips. The big, round LED light does the best job of sun mimicking. You can customize the time and brightness of your wake-up or wind-down, and there are gentle, non-alarming, sound settings.
| Dimensions | 10" H x 10" W x 6" D |
|---|
JALL Sunrise Alarm Clock
Pros
- Great price
- Perfect sunrise alarm clock function
- Nice selection of alarms
Cons
- Light is inferior to others on the list
If you're interested in getting a real deal, JALL makes a capable sunrise alarm clock. In terms of design, it's a pretty close clone of the Philips model with a similar shape, display, and button layout. The real difference is going to be in the light. The Philips light is able to really hit a lot of tones, so you really get the full sunset feel. The light from the JALL feels a bit more synthetic, but light is light, and your body reacts the same way.
| Dimensions | 7.2" H x 7.2" W x 3.5" D |
|---|
Nightstand Bundle
Nightstand Bundle
Pros
- Great library of sleep aides
- Gentle two-step alarm
- Lamp shape is a bit more familiar
Cons
- Pricey
It's no secret that we love Loftie's smart alarm clock. So now that the brand has launched a sunrise lamp to pair with the clock, of course we're all in. Loftie has an incredible library of white noise, sound baths, meditations, and really anything you could ever want to supplement your sleep. Plus, that two-step alarm works wonders.
The only thing it was missing was a sunrise feature, and now it's got it.
| Clock dimensions | 2.75” H x 6.5" W x 2.75" D |
|---|---|
| Lamp dimensions | 16" H x 11.5” W x 9” D |
Casper Glow Light
Casper Glow Light
Pros
- Really cool design
- Wireless, so you can pick it up and move it
- App is straightforward
Cons
- Doesn't have a clock display
At first, this seems an incredibly difficult product to understand. There aren't any buttons??? But as you learn the functions, you really come to love this little thing.
Flip it over to start the sunset transition, tap the top to pause it. Adjust brightness by spinning it. Put it on the wireless charger if it need juice. And for everything more complex, just use the companion Glow App.
| Dimensions | 5.25" H x 3.75" Diameter |
|---|
iHome Zenergy
Pros
- Great price
- Nice sound tracks like white noise or rainfall
- 4-7-8 breathing track is really good
Cons
- The sleep content is great, but some may consider it limited
Sleep content is more common with proper smart alarm clocks, but it can also be nice to pair with the sunrise-sunset functionality. The only issue is that a fair few of these alarm clocks require subscriptions for their content. The Loftie (above) does not, but it's also at a price point that some can't justify.
This budget option from iHome is a nice compromise. You get a respectable sunrise light (again, not as nice as the Philips). But the real draw are the sleep aides. There's a 4-7-8 breathing track plus 15 sound therapy tracks built into the clock. Is that a ton of tracks? No, not necessarily, but it's plenty for you to cycle through as you tire of your current selection.
| Dimensions | 4.77" H x 3.07" W x 7.01" D |
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