Alarm clocks may seem outdated, but if you’re anything like me, they’re a valuable way to get the phone out of the bedroom. Having an alarm that isn’t on your phone might keep you from scrolling through the night and waking up with bloodshot eyes. At the very least, it will help you get up in time for work.
Nowadays, there are a whole host of advanced alarm clocks that can wake you up more gently, or even simulate a sunrise. Keep reading to see our favorite alarm clocks for every type of person (even morning people).
Can’t I use my phone as an alarm clock?
You can, and many smartphones have great alarm clocks that use lots of great sounds, as well as meditation and white noise apps. However, since you’re probably on your phone all day, it might not be the first thing you want to wake up to. Many people (myself included) leave their phones in another room so they don’t use it while sleeping or first thing when they wake up. In this case, an alarm clock that isn’t on your phone can come in handy.
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What is the sunrise alarm?
Sunrise alarms use light (and sometimes sound) to wake you up. The idea is that light that mimics the sun might help you get out of bed more naturally (as if you left the curtains open). The cool part is that you can set them at any time so you can naturally wake up at 4am when it’s still dark outside. This method often provides a gentler wake-up call, rather than an annoying or irritating sound.
What is a multistage alarm?
A multi-stage alarm clock is a clock that doesn’t go off completely when it strikes 6 a.m. Alternatively, many multi-stage smart models may make a different, gentler beep that doesn’t quite wake you up the first minute. The purpose is to lull you out of deep REM sleep to wake you up more gently. After that first minute, your alarm will turn louder, prompting you to get out of bed.
While this works with sound, it can also work with sunrise hours that use light to wake you up. In this case, the clock will start to dim, then slowly raise its brightness to get you out of bed.
No matter how you want to wake up, you’ll need a good alarm clock to help you get out of bed. Here are our favorite smart alarms for 2023:
How we tested
We practically tested each alarm clock by using it to wake up for a week. We tested models at varying price points, from budget-friendly to more expensive alarms, and included noisy new models. During testing, here are some of the things we looked for:
Ease of use: We compared alarms to see how easy they are to use, and whether they are difficult to set up, start, or turn off.
Alert types: We compared different alarm types to see which was our favorite for waking up to, including multistage, sunrise, and regular.
Style and accessibility: Since this will be on your bedside table, we made sure to keep style and readability in mind.