Rather than buzzing or making a loud noise like a wake-up call, most traditional alarm clocks are now smart ones that do more than what we expect from them.
The best smart alarm clocks come with built-in speakers (along with content to play), a multi-color display, visual stimulus, charging capabilities, and other engaging features. Thus, you can get smart alarm clocks that do more than wake you up.
Here are the best smart alarm clocks available today.
Q: What Makes A Good Alarm Clock?
The feature that makes an alarm clock is the battery life. If it is a plug-and-play clock and the power goes out, the alarm would not go off, rendering the clock useless. Therefore, always choose an alarm clock with good battery life.
To ensure you do not need your phone for it, the Loftie comes packed with wellness content. It includes breathwork, sound baths, guided meditation, and natural soundscapes. And that’s just scratching the surface. You can even download whatever you want to make your customized playlists.
The clock’s screen brightens down as the night proceeds to maintain a peaceful sleeping environment. An adjustable, built-in warm glow light is available for individuals that like to sleep with dim lights. If you don’t, press down the button, and it will go away. The two-phase alarm wakes you up gradually – first with a gentle tone and then with a loud one to get you out of bed. You can also customize the alarm tone, volume, and duration of each phase to your liking.
This smart clock connects to a smartphone via an application that can be used to set up alarms and modify the settings. And the app is compatible with both iOS and Android, so no worries there. On top of all this, the minimalistic yet elegant design of the alarm clock makes a lovely decor piece as well.
Although it works for everyone, individuals who never hear their alarms go off can get the most from it. Hatch uses two elements to wake you up – sound and light. When the alarm goes off, a combination of graduated lights mimics the sunrise while the sound compels you to open your eyes. A gradual yet effective technique offers that refreshing feeling when you wake up.
Besides that, these graduated lights can glow a gradient of colors. Combine it with the audio library, and you can set up the ambiance of your choice. It will help you meditate, focus, and relax whenever you want. With Hatch’s library, you can personalize a sleep-wake routine for better sleep. You can customize what you want to listen to before (and after) dozing off in bed.
For this routine, you can pick from various content, including books, podcasts, and music loops. The best part? The library keeps on updating to provide you with newer content.
Controls have been made extremely easy, so even the tech-naïve individuals can use them with ease. You have the controls right at the top to start or stop the sleeping routine. Tap it to start the routine and hold it to stop. Volume and brightness controls are on the sides, also simple to operate. Smartphone applications can also be used to play with the controls.
When they approach bedtime, kids see a change in expression and are greeted by a smiling face upon waking up. Besides these, you can also choose between various lighting and sound effects. Application to control the clock is compatible with both iOS and Android. Parents can use the application to set up alarms and customize the clock even when they are not home.
You can connect it with an Alexa device to enable the voice controls. A child lock is also available to prevent the curious kids from accidentally changing the settings. The alarm clock is housed in an amusing mouse body, making the kids fall in love. Fortunately, it is also durable enough to withstand the abuse children will throw at it. And on top of all that, the price tag that comes with it is very affordable.
And if you are not into natural sounds, you can select one from various musical instruments. You can even add the VOA FM clock as the sleeping or the waking up aid in the clock. The best part is that it helps you wake up and induces sleep. The lights can also mimic the sunset, and the sounds can lull you to sleep.
To top it all, you also have the liberty to customize the volume, brightness, and sounds as per your likings. Snoozing can provide an extra five to 18 minutes for heavy sleepers, but it only works five times. Furthermore, the clock is compatible with several smart assistants, including Alexa, Google, and Smart life. And even if you do not own either of these, it is not a problem as the controls can be easily managed with a touch of a finger on your smartphone.
You can charge your smartphone with a 5V/2A USB output coming out of the clock. Besides that, it is one of the most elegant-looking alarm devices on the market. It’ll surely compliment the interior design of your bedroom.
All it takes to set up the alarm is a voice command. You can personalize the alarm tone and volume however you want. The Echo Dot also uses both sound and visual stimuli to wake you up. While it does not simulate the sunrise or sunset, it does blink as the alarm goes off. And that blinking of lights coupled with a sound alarm is enough to wake you up.
You can use the digital assistant to control all the other devices in your household. You can task it to adjust the thermostat and lock doors, amongst other things. But the best of all such features is Alexa Guard. Alexa Guard gives you mobile alerts when it detects the sound of a smoke alarm, glass breaking, or any unusual noise for that matter. As soon as it sees something unusual, it sends a notification to your smartphone without any additional charges.
Once you set up the clock, it does not need further adjustments as it automatically synchronizes itself with the internet server. The clock detects the ambient light and changes its brightness accordingly. Night mode allows you to select the “no clock display” so the light coming out of it does not disturb your sleep. You can also keep the brightness at a fixed level if you prefer.
You can customize it however you want. Integration of Alexa opens a plethora of options that you can explore: You can set up a sleep-wake-up routine with the audios of your choice. Ask Alexa for the weather forecast, news, or calendar when you wake up. It saves time and makes life a lot easier.
Before the alarm goes off, the screen glows red, which gradually turns yellow, mimicking the sunrise. You can also pick from some other colors as well. Brightness can also be customized with a maximum of 200 lux. You can also select the ‘random’ option, where the lights and alarm sound change automatically.
The alarm has three kinds of natural sounds and the FM radio to help you fall asleep. In addition, you also use the same lights to mimic the sunset. The clock display is also manageable, either dimmed or entirely turned off to help you fall asleep. It also features a USB output which can be used to charge the cell phone. And the outport works just as well, if not better than a fast-charging adapter.
Q: Are Wake Up Lights Worth It?
Research suggests that light can help prepare the body to wake up. Light plays a vital part in our circadian cycle and releases melatonin - a hormone that induces sleep. As the body senses light, it stops melatonin production, which helps our body wake up. So, having wake-up lights is a bonus feature to have in your alarm clock.
Q: Why Does My Heart Race When My Alarm Goes Off?
Loud alarm triggers our bodies’ sympathetic system, which stimulates the release of adrenaline. The adrenaline consequently acts at our heart and makes it beat faster. With the alarm clocks listed above, you can adjust the volume and the music/sound according to your liking.
