The five best sunrise warning clocks for waking upward gently in 2022

six sunrise alarm clocks on a desk for best sunrise alarm clock in 2022

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  • Here are the all-time sunrise alarm clocks in 2022
  • Best sunrise alarm clock overall
  • Best sunrise alarm clock for personalization
  • All-time sunrise alarm clock on a budget
  • Best portable sunrise alert clock
  • Best sunrise warning clock without an app
  • What else we tested
  • Our sunrise alarm clocks testing methodology
  • Sunrise alarm clock FAQs
  • Check out our other sleep guides

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A clarion warning early on in the morning tin be quite jarring, whereas sunrise alarm clocks (sometimes chosen wake-upwardly lamps) simulate a natural and gradual sunrise with a range of soft orange and yellow LED lights for a gentler wake-up feel.

Many wake-up lamps combine low-cal therapy with sound meditation and breathing techniques to create a more calming sleep environment and help regulate circadian rhythms — the natural ebb and flow of hormones that tell us when to go to sleep and when to wake up.

Alex Dimitriu, MD, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine, told us that the gentle stimulus from sunrise warning clocks starts getting the trunk out of deeper sleep stages and closer to wakefulness. "Whether information technology's a gradual sound or light alarm, wake-upwards lamps tin can help better prepare the torso to wake up more than gently, with less startle," Dimitriu said.

Sunrise alarm clocks have many benefits. They can reduce the effects of sleep inertia, that drowsy, disorienting feeling that many of us experience after abruptly waking up. "Sudden awakenings can lead to sudden changes in cortisol and other neurotransmitters that could cause bug," Westward. Chris Winter, Doctor, of Charlottesville Neurology and Slumber Medicine, said. "Waking up with a gradual increment in wake-promoting lite makes a lot of sense," Winter said.

In add-on to consulting two experts, I leaned on my own experience in slumber science for this guide. Any new product you bring into your sleep routine should exist backed by inquiry. That'south why I tested 7 sunrise alarm clocks, using each for three consecutive days and nights to evaluate how effective, like shooting fish in a barrel to employ, and durable they are.

Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches habitation products.

Here are the all-time sunrise alarm clocks in 2022

Best sunrise alert clock overall: Philips SmartSleep Connected, $199.99 from Amazon
The Philips SmartSleep Connected can aid you fall asleep gently and wake up on time with stunning sunset and sunrise simulations. It monitors your sleep environment and makes recommendations to meliorate information technology.

All-time sunrise alarm clock for personalization: Hatch Restore, $129.99 from Amazon
The Hatch Restore has the most lite options and sleep sounds of any model we tried, and they're all fully controlled through its multifunctional Hatch Slumber app.

Best sunrise alarm clock on a budget: iHome Zenergy Dream Mini, $89.91 from Amazon
The iHome Zenergy Dream Mini produces a soft sunrise and volition gradually wake you up with your favorite song. For the price, it'due south packed with a lot of features that will assist you wake up in a better mood.

Best portable sunrise alert clock: Casper Glow Lite, $116.10 from Casper
The Casper Glow Light is uniquely designed as a wireless, portable night light and uses intuitive gestures and a streamlined design to create a beautiful and simple feel.

Best sunrise warning clock without an app: Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light, $149 from Amazon
The Philips SmartSleep Wake-Upward Light has a unique spherical design that creates a cute sunrise simulation and features many of the same premium settings as the more than expensive Philips SmartSleep Connected.

Best sunrise warning clock overall

Suzy Hernandez/Insider

The Philips SmartSleep Continued tin help y'all fall asleep gently and wake upward on time with stunning dusk and sunrise simulations. It monitors your slumber environment and makes recommendations to improve information technology.

Pros:Smartphone connected; allows you to customize elapsing, color, audio, and intensity of wake-up and wind-downwardly programs; makes recommendations for improving sleep environs; can set to 16 alarms

Cons: Large, does non play music via Bluetooth, non a skillful option for those who prefer manual controls

The Philips SmartSleep Connected is a relatively large sunrise lamp that resembles a glowing donut. It's controlled nearly entirely from an app (bachelor for iOS or Android) that allows you to customize "wind-down" and "wake-up" profiles with your preferred audio, light intensity, and duration. I institute information technology intuitive to utilise.

The stunning sunset simulation was my favorite characteristic: The brightness gradually decreases from beautiful hues of bright yellows to soft reds over the form of five to 60 minutes. This is accompanied by your choice of 4 natural relaxing sounds (or FM radio) that fade away with the sunset.

I've used the Philips SmartSleep Connected for months and love waking upwardly to "summer birds" and an "island scarlet" sunrise with warm cerise and orangish lights distributed nicely throughout the bedchamber. The combination made me feel like I was on vacation.

The device tracks your sleep habits and lets yous know if your bedroom is too hot, humid, brilliant, or loud for optimal sleep. Other features include guided meditations, a night light, backup battery, USB charging dock, an AUX cord to play music from your phone, and a reading light. Unfortunately, you tin't connect via Bluetooth.

Read our full review of the Philips SmartSleep Connected.

Best sunrise alarm clock for personalization

Suzy Hernandez/Insider

The Hatch Restore has the near light options and sleep sounds of whatever model we tried, and they're all fully controlled through its multifunctional Hatch Slumber app.

Pros: More thirty sound options and xx light options to cull from, guided meditations, fully personalized slumber and wake-upwards routines through the app

Cons: Non a good option if y'all don't like to rely on an app, doesn't play music, guided meditations only available with subscription, must exist connected to WiFi to use

The Hatch Restore sunrise warning clock connects via Bluetooth to your phone, and using the app (available for iOS and Android), you can set your personalized bedtime routine and more than xviii alarms.

Setting upwardly the Hatch is easy using the online instructions. There are countless features, including a bedside reading light, guided meditations, slumber stories, wind-down profiles, and slumber routines, all of which are fully customizable.

It has more than than thirty soothing sleep sounds and many more light therapy options than whatsoever other production we tried. There are nighttime shades, warm oranges, and soft relaxing pastels, which I loved while listening to meditations. What's great nigh the Hatch is that users can fully personalize every part of their sleep schedule according to their preferences; you lot tin add up to ten steps to your wind-downwardly routine.

My routine consisted of 3 uncomplicated steps. Get-go, I got into bed and read my book using the coral night calorie-free for 30 minutes while listening to the "sea wind" sound. Then I wound downwardly with a soft pink light and the "meeting sleep with ease" meditation. Finally, I vicious asleep to an orangish light and the sound of rain. You lot tin can also gear up how long each step is.

The Hatch is well-designed with a overnice one-half-moon shape that simulates a natural sunrise, and, at 7.5 inches long, it didn't take upwardly much room.

The Hatch Sleep app controls all of the features, simply the device includes a few soft-touch buttons for book and brightness and so you don't accept to attain for your telephone, every bit well equally a digital clock. Unfortunately, many of the guided slumber meditations can only be accessed past subscribing for $49.99 a twelvemonth or $four.99 a month (though the beginning 6 months are costless).

Two other negatives are the device usually takes a few seconds to connect when you lot open the app, and information technology doesn't play music or radio.

All-time sunrise alarm clock on a budget

Suzy Hernandez/Insider

The iHome Zenergy Dream Mini produces a soft sunrise and will gradually wake you up with your favorite song. For the price, information technology's packed with a lot of features that will assistance you wake upwards in a better mood.

Pros: Lots of customizable options, pairs with Bluetooth to play music from your phone, won't accept up likewise much infinite on your nightstand

Cons: The lite intensity might exist too depression for some, almost functions cannot be controlled through a smartphone, merely two alarms

The iHome Zenergy Dream Mini is a tiny sleep therapy machine packed with features and customizable options.

A unique characteristic of the Zenergy Dream Mini is y'all tin wake upward to a Spotify playlist. It paired speedily and smoothly with my iPhone, and I woke up to a gentle simulated sunrise and my favorite song. The sound quality is good for such a small device. However, even though you can play your music through Bluetooth, this warning clock does not have an accompanying app, so you tin't command other features with your telephone.

Instead, yous command near of its functionality through fifteen buttons on the height of the device. It has several options that you have to set manually, but the instructions brand this effortless.

One of the key features is the "Zenergy" button, which activates calming sounds accompanied past gentle, colorful lights. Information technology is customizable with the "autumn asleep" and "stay asleep" buttons, which let you choose from sound and light options, including a guided animate meditation, xiii relaxing sounds, and 9 calming light therapy cycles. My favorite is the "heart" sound because it promotes steady breathing patterns and pairs well with the "breath" lite color therapy.

The large snooze button is strategically placed in front so I didn't have to struggle to find information technology each morning. However, you can only set two alarms, and the snooze only lasts upward to nine minutes. The calorie-free from the Zenergy Dream Mini may be too soft for individuals who need brighter hues to wake upwardly.

Read our full iHome Zenergy Dream Mini review.

Best portable sunrise alarm clock

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The Casper Glow Light is uniquely designed as a wireless, portable nighttime light and uses intuitive gestures and a streamlined blueprint to create a beautiful and unproblematic feel.

Pros: Beautiful warm lights, portable, pairs with multiple Glow Lights for a bedroom light show, intuitive and like shooting fish in a barrel to operate with simple gestures

Cons: Lacks sound, requires smartphone app for expanded features like setting sleep and wake times

Casper Glow Low-cal is a small, portable cylinder that you lot control with just a few gestures: flip to turn on, rotate to accommodate the light intensity, and wiggle to turn on the night lite. The device is softly lit and smartly designed with gentle, warm hues for a ameliorate slumber experience.

The light charges wirelessly and pairs with an intuitive app (bachelor for iOS and Android). While you can operate the light without it, the app is a must if y'all desire to ready wake-up and wind-down times, which cue a sunset or sunrise that can last from 15 to 90 minutes.

One of the unique features of the Glow Calorie-free is that information technology synchronizes with other Glow Lights to brand pretty light shows. One time you have more than one, you can name each and grouping or ungroup them through the app. I used two lights together and establish they set a tranquil ambiance.

This alarm clock tin can besides be used as a portable nighttime-low-cal. This feature is useful when you want to find your way in the dark without bright lights. It was fun to conduct around when I needed a drinking glass of water in the dark. Information technology's fabricated with polycarbonate to resist bumps and endure falls, then it'south bang-up for kids to use besides.

Falling asleep with the Glow Lights was a treat. The soft, warm lights create a peaceful slumber environment, gradually dim to slowly relax yous, and then turn completely off for full darkness. The Casper Glow Lights are made with loftier-quality warm LEDs that were constructive in waking me upward gently.

However, the device focuses solely on effective light therapy, and, dissimilar other models we tested, there are no audio options. It might non be ideal for heavy sleepers who demand racket to wake upwardly; you lot'll still need to ready a separate, audible alarm.

Read our full review of the Casper Glow Low-cal.

Best sunrise alert clock without an app

Suzy Hernandez/Insider

The Philips SmartSleep Wake-Upwards Lite has a unique spherical design that creates a cute sunrise simulation and features many of the same premium settings as the more expensive Philips SmartSleep Connected.

Pros: Creates the best sunrise simulation, very user-friendly and simple, fully manual

Cons: Very limited audio options, doesn't have an app if y'all're someone who prefers a connected device

A less expensive pick from Philips, the SmartSleep Wake-Up Calorie-free has fewer customizable options and features than the Philips SmartSleep Connected and is completely manual; no app needed. I recommend this ane if you're looking for something uncomplicated but even so loftier-quality and efficient. It'southward 1 of Philips' acknowledged sunrise warning clocks because of its impressive colored sunrise simulations and relaxing sunsets.

I had no problem setting the time and alarms with the easy-to-follow instructions. Falling comatose to this lamp was very relaxing; the sunset simulation therapy works just as well as the Philips SmartSleep Connected. The display automatically dims every bit the room gets darker, great for cocooning yourself in total darkness.

Waking up with this lamp was such a pleasant experience; the gradual and natural sunrise simulation increased over the bridge of 30 minutes until information technology completely flooded my bedroom with beautiful, rich, orange-and-yellow lights and the gentle sounds of "Nepal bowls."

You can choose from five different natural wake-up sounds, including cute "birds" and "ocean waves," or your preferred FM radio station. The snooze feature is unique: A single slight tap anywhere on the device snoozes the lamp for nine minutes.

Information technology'southward too one of Philips' sunrise alarm clocks clinically proven to help you feel more ready for the day, and I have to admit that it did a neat job at waking me upwardly and feeling refreshed in the morning.

I adopt this Philips model's smooth, spherical shape and smaller size over the Philips SmartSleep Continued, although I wish it continued to the app for more customization. I missed the extra features in the Philips SleepMapper app when I used this model, like the sleep-surround monitoring and extended customization. I hope Philips comes out with a new sunrise alarm clock that features all of the Philips SmartSleep Connected options but is shaped similar this model to simulate that beautiful, natural sunrise.

Read our total review of the Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Calorie-free.

What else we tested

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What else we recommend and why

Philips SmartSleep Continued ($179.95): This was our summit option for the all-time sunrise alarm clock overall, merely it is at present out of stock. Information technology resembles a glowing donut and is controlled nigh entirely from an app (available for iOS or Android). You can customize "current of air-downwardly" and "wake-up" profiles with your preferred sound, light intensity, and elapsing. The device tracks your sleep habits and lets you know if your bedroom is likewise hot, humid, bright, or loud for optimal sleep. Read our total review of the Philips SmartSleep Continued.

What nosotros don't recommend and why

Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 ($159) : The Lumie Bodyclock Polish 300 doesn't connect to an app, and setting it upwardly manually took me multiple tries and many minutes. The daily warning has to exist turned on manually every single dark before going to bed; if you fall asleep before you practise, you lot're out of luck for your morning time alarm. The sound options are interesting. I chose to wake up to "kittens purring" because the other options were not exactly what I would prefer waking up to; for example, at that place was "ping-pong," "steam railroad train," "goats," and "café," amidst the 15 odd sounds. Made by a British company, the device simply provides a 24-hour clock, which is somewhat inconvenient if you're used to a 12-60 minutes clock. The device and its lights do simulate a nice sunset and sunrise. The light progression is smooth, and it has gentle levels of effulgence.

Our sunrise alarm clocks testing methodology

Suzy Hernandez/Insider

In addition to interviewing slumber experts Dr. Alex Dimitriu, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine, and Dr. William Winter of Charlottesville Neurology and Slumber Medicine, I did easily-on testing with 7 different sunrise alarm clocks.

I previously managed a sleep laboratory for two years and continue to contribute to sleep research. I've presented some of my research at Eastern Psychological Association and have tested products for SleepScore Labs. Part of my research involved investigating strategies to reduce slumber inertia (similar using sunrise alarm clocks), and then I also relied on my background in sleep research and production testing to evaluate each production over several nights. I tested each sunrise alarm clock co-ordinate to the post-obit criteria:

Setup: For each lamp, I paid shut attending to how difficult or easy it was to prepare upward on my nightstand. I noted how accurate and helpful their instructions were and what it was like to set the time and alarms. I also evaluated how heavy they were and how much space they occupied on my bedside tabular array.

Performance : I used each wake-upwards lamp for a minimum of three consecutive days and nights to get used to the routine and noted whether or not they woke me upwardly on time and with the features (sound and light color) I chose. I took notes on what it was similar to fall asleep with their wind-down features and paid particular attention to the wake-up experience. I woke up at the same time every morn with each alarm clock to keep my experiences consistent and noted how I felt and how much sleep inertia I experienced. I also evaluated the sound and light quality of each and how easy or difficult information technology was to snooze the backup alarm (if information technology had one).

Special features : I tested any boosted and unique features of each sunrise alert clock, such as speakers, Bluetooth integration, guided meditations, and accompanying mobile apps. I noted whether or non these extra features were really helpful and easy to use.

Durability: In gild to test how durable and resistant each alarm clock was, I knocked every ane off my nightstand and checked to see if any parts came loose or broke. Fortunately, all of them passed this test. I as well took notation of each production's materials and warranty.

Long-term use:Since my original testing, I've continued to regularly use our meridian picks and will report back about their immovability over time.

Sunrise alarm clock FAQs

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What are the benefits of sunrise alarm clocks?

The light therapy implemented in these wake-up lamps helps regulate cortisol and melatonin production, two important hormones that are essential in controlling sleep/wake cycles. Information technology can be difficult for some of us to adapt to flavor changes, especially in the wintertime when days get shorter and nights go longer. The shift from vivid summer days to long, dark wintertime months can bear on circadian rhythms, sometimes resulting in seasonal melancholia disorder (Sad).

New technology also affects our circadian rhythms past restraining the natural production of the sleep hormone melatonin equally a result of constant exposure to bogus bluish lights from our phones, TVs, and computers.

Regular daily alternation of light and darkness is essential in lodge to maintain good quality slumber. Sunrise alarm clocks have "wind-down" features that encourage a healthy product of melatonin at night by mimicking a gradual sunset, while the "wake-up" cycles encourage the production of cortisol in the morning time past simulating a natural and gradual sunrise that prepares you for wakefulness. The wake-up and wind-downwards features can be every bit of import in helping maintain a healthy slumber bicycle.

How does a sunrise alarm clock compare to a traditional alarm?

Many sunrise alarm clocks are equipped with all the features nosotros all like in traditional alert clocks — a radio or music player, custom or multiple alarms, and yes, even a audio alarm if you need it. The central difference is that sunrise alarm clocks utilise gentle light and sound to aid you lot wake up earlier resorting to the louder noises that are typical of a standard alarm clock.

Waking up to the loud, obnoxious sound of a traditional alert clock is not just unpleasant and irritating, but information technology'southward also quite unhealthy. "If we train ourselves to wake upwardly suddenly, with a jolt, this can get a problem for whatever other time nosotros wake up in the night, making it hard to autumn back asleep," said Dimitriu.

That abrupt wake-upwardly feel can also cause stress levels to all of a sudden increase, ofttimes aggravating long-term issues like chronic feet. Winter likewise advises waking up gently because sudden awakenings tin can cause sudden blood pressure level surges, mayhap leading to heart bug.

Your chances of waking upwards with sleep inertia — that debilitating groggy, drowsy feeling that occurs as a result of a sudden, oftentimes startling transition between sleep and wakefulness — as well increase if you wake upwardly to a traditional alarm clock. Sleep inertia makes it very difficult for some people to become out of bed and ofttimes puts people in a bad mood for the residual of their day. "Gradual alarms (sound or light) are first-class solutions to wake people gradually," said Dimitriu, since these softer alarms offering a gentler, more than natural wake-upwardly experience.

What features should I look for when choosing a sunrise alarm clock?

There are a lot of options when it comes to choosing a sunrise alert clock. One very important aspect to consider is the brightness level of the lamp. If you're a heavy sleeper, you might demand a sunrise alarm clock that has bright lights to finer wake yous up in the morning time.

Another important gene is alarm sounds: Most sunrise alert clocks accept several sound options, and some (like the Casper Glow Light) lack this characteristic completely. If you're a heavy sleeper, y'all may desire to opt for a device with many sounds. Or, if you are a "snoozer," you might want to consider a sunrise alarm clock that allows you to set multiple alarms like the Philips SmartSleep Connected, which offers up to xvi alarms merely in example you like to striking snooze more than than once.

Finally, consider your personal needs; if you're uncomfortable operating smartphone-enabled engineering science, you lot may adopt a sunrise alert clock with manual functions right on the machine. On the flip side, if you want a very customized experience, yous may like a lamp that offers many different colors and sounds that are controlled through a phone app.

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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews squad. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. Nosotros may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not bulldoze our conclusion every bit to whether or not a production is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertizement team. Nosotros welcome your feedback. Electronic mail us at reviews@insider.com.