5 Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks and How to Choose Them
Are you tired of your phone’s shrill alarm? Waking up to a sound is not the most pleasant way to do it. Waking up with sunlight is much more natural and in line with our body’s natural circadian rhythm.
What if you don’t want to start your day with a scary feeling? There’s an elegant solution: sunrise alarm clocks. They can wake your body up gradually and naturally, slowly letting light fill your room as if the sun itself is starting to shine through your window. It’s a much more soothing alternative to a loud alarm clock and could be just the thing to help your body get into a more natural rhythm over time.
A sunrise alarm can also help those with limited sun exposure or who are at risk for seasonal affective disorder to improve their mental health during the dark winter months. Experts recommend getting bright light early in the morning, as it boosts serotonin production and can therefore have a positive impact on your mood. Additionally, a silent alarm can help you feel less stressed each morning, with the sunrise alarm acting as light therapy just as you start your day.
Jamie Golda wellness design consultant and authortold CNET that she came across these types of noise-canceling alarm clocks while researching noise pollution: “Our lives and homes are filled with noise, and this creates the potential for insomnia, anxiety, and stress. I love the idea of these silent alarm clocks because they tap into our natural circadian rhythms and help us start our day more peacefully. Some deep sleepers may need a more powerful wake-up system, but if that’s not you, it’s definitely a solution worth considering.”
Since I started using a sunrise alarm clock, I feel like I sleep better. Waking up without the loud sound of an alarm clock has also made my mornings happier and my days more productive. According to a small study in the journal Behavioural brain researchExposure to artificial light in the morning may also improve cognitive performance throughout the day.
Looking for a more peaceful start to your day? We’ve rounded up the best sunrise alarm clocks on the market for you, from basic models to models with sleep timers, snooze functions or even reading lights.
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Best sunrise alarm clock
After testing the Hatch Restore 2 for a few weeks, this sunrise alarm clock stands out as my top pick due to its functionality options and design. You can customize the light options to your liking to create the perfect sunrise. Whether you want to wake up to warm golden tones or a soft amber glow, the Hatch Restore 2 offers a wide range of sunrise-mimicking tones to help you start your day peacefully. Since using the Hatch Restore 2, my bedroom is phone-free at night, which has significantly improved my sleep quality.
Another feature I really like about the Restore 2 is the collection of sounds you can pair with your sunrise light. You can choose from soothing nature sounds to peaceful melodies to create the perfect ambiance to wake up to or fall asleep to. I have mine set to the sound of the ocean to wake me up and light rain at night to help me unwind after a long day. The ability to mix and match your light and sound options is endless.
To use Hatch 2 Restore properly, you need to download the app. It’s a simple, easy-to-use app that lets you set your own personal routines. I control the alarm time, light settings, and sounds all from my phone. For $4.99 a month, you can subscribe to Liège+a library of meditations, music, bedtime stories and ASMR.
If you’re not quite ready to spend $100 or more on a sunrise alarm clock, this budget-friendly sunrise simulation clock from Jall should do the trick. It has all the basics and makes for 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 opt to wake up to FM radio.
The Jall Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock functions as both a night light and a bedside lamp, and you can adjust the brightness level for both. It doesn’t have a sunset function like some of the others on this list, and it also doesn’t double as a white noise machine. If you only want the sunrise function, that doesn’t matter.
The majority of reviewers on amazon I love this clock: It has 4.3 stars and almost 100% of the reviews are positive. It seems that most people who bought this clock were looking for a less abrupt way to wake up, and the Jall Wake Up Light did that for them. Buyers also love that it’s easy to set up and simple enough for kids to operate themselves.
The Casper Glow Light is our most versatile sunrise alarm clock for a reason. Once charged, the Glow Light is a portable night light that I can take with me anywhere, whether it’s a trip to the bathroom or the kitchen for a midnight snack.
The Casper Glow app adds an extra layer of convenience to your alarm clock. From the app, you can adjust the brightness, sync multiple glows to wake up or fall asleep, and schedule your wake-up time. I really like the fading options for falling asleep, as it signals to my brain that it’s time to get ready for bed.
Of all the sunrise alarm clocks on this list, the Casper Glow is probably the most unique to use. In addition to the app, it also uses tactile controls, such as flipping the device over to turn off the light.
The minimalist, sleek design fits into almost any interior.
The Lumie Bodyclock Rise 100 is a more basic version of the Lumie Shine 300. It’s a high-quality intro-level sunrise simulator alarm clock for those just looking for the basics: the Lumie Rise 100 has 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 doesn’t have any nature or ambient sounds to add to your sunrise and sunset, although you can program the optional beeping alarm to start when your sunrise reaches maximum light intensity. Like the Lumie Shine 300, the Lumie Rise 100 has a tap-snooze function and an auto-dimming display.
If you already have a bedside lamp, you can create a DIY sunrise alarm clock by replacing regular lightbulbs with smart bulbs from Lifx. These Wi-Fi bulbs connect to Alexa, Google Assistant, Cortana, and Apple HomeKit, and you can program them to dim and brighten like sunrise and sunset as you fall asleep and wake up, respectively.
You don’t get sound, but if you’re a relatively light sleeper who wakes up with changing light intensity, these programmable lights will still wake you up in the morning. You can also combine them with Lifx strips in bright colours for the coolest fake sunrise ever.
Read our review of the Lifx Mini smart bulb.
If you want a wider selection (not just sunrise clocks), check out our separate list of the best alarm clocks for 2024 . If you need a good night’s sleep, check out the best mattresses to buy online and the best pillows .
How We Chose the Best Sunrise Alarm Clock
In our review of the best sunrise alarm clocks, we extensively evaluated a number of important parameters to ensure a great user experience.
Amendment: We have given priority to sunrise alarm clocks that allow you to adjust the light settings yourself. We have also added a number of models that you can link to the sound you hear with the light.
Features: We looked at what special features the Sunrise alarm clocks offer, such as app integration for seamless control, sound libraries and portability.
Design: There is nothing we value more than an aesthetic yet practical design. We have chosen models that fit almost any interior in the home.
Sustainability: Our employees have personally tested these alarm clocks to assess the quality and lifespan of each device.
Our top pick is the Hatch Restore 2, because this alarm clock meets all the requirements you would expect from a Sunrise alarm clock, such as personalization options, sound options, app integration and ease of use.
Yes. The simulated sunrise light helps signal to your brain that it is time to wake up.
