Wirecutter

The Riki is an analog clock that’s easy to read and to set (with one of the most pleasant alarms that will still wake you up). It’s ideal for light sleepers who want to banish electronic distractions from the bedroom.

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The intriguing Heimvision Sunrise is a slim, spherical orb that will simulate sunrise or sunset with gently changing colors to help you naturally wake up or fall asleep. This model has many features — it can function as a lamp with eight different color choices and brightness settings, and you can also use the light as your alarm for a noise-free morning experience. It can be voice-activated if you already have Alexa or Google Home devices, and it features a variety of nature sounds. Its interesting design will add a unique touch to any bedroom.
The HeimVision requires numerous steps to figure out how to use all its features. Luckily, the instruction manual is clear and concise in describing how to operate the device. There is an option to download an app that will connect to the smart clock through WiFi, but we could not use this option because our WiFi operates at 5GHz and not the required 2.4GHz. Through the app, you can set two additional alarms and configure all the settings directly through your smartphone. This would be very convenient but is disappointingly inaccessible for those with the wrong WiFi frequency. Besides these inconveniences and the higher price tag, we enjoyed this feature-rich device and its soothing wake-up light, which made waking up a more enjoyable experience.

The intriguing Heimvision Sunrise is a slim, spherical orb that will simulate sunrise or sunset with gently changing colors to help you naturally wake up or fall asleep. This model has many features — it can function as a lamp with eight different color choices and brightness settings, and you can also use the light as your alarm for a noise-free morning experience. It can be voice-activated if you already have Alexa or Google Home devices, and it features a variety of nature sounds. Its interesting design will add a unique touch to any bedroom.
The HeimVision requires numerous steps to determine how to use all its features. Luckily, the instruction manual clearly and concisely describes how to operate the device. There is an option to download an app that will connect to the smart clock through WiFi, but we could not use this option because our WiFi operates at 5GHz and not the required 2.4GHz. You can set two additional alarms through the app and configure all the settings directly through your smartphone. This would be very convenient but is disappointingly inaccessible for those with the wrong WiFi frequency. Besides these inconveniences and the higher price tag, we enjoyed this feature-rich device and its soothing wake-up light, which made waking up a more enjoyable experience.

BabyGearLab

The Big Red Rooster Alarm Clock is a cute dog-shaped alarm clock with a glowing ball that changes color for sleep &#40;red&#41; and time to wake &#40;green&#41;. This adorable and straightforward clock is kid-friendly, easy to hold, and includes a battery for cord-free operation. Parents can set two alarms and a nap timer to help little people learn when is a good time to rise. 
While this toddler clock is pleasing to the eye and little ones will likely desire to hold it, we believe the "hidden" parent compartment isn't childproof and can result in random button-pushing. The user interface isn't user-friendly, and we think a more straightforward design would help this clock significantly in the long run. While most parents will be able to figure it out, we worry you'll need to keep instructions on hand as a reminder or after a long period of unuse. Despite these control issues, we think this straightforward clock does what it should and will appeal to little ones enough to help them learn when it is okay to get out of bed. 

This budget digital alarm clock does so much for so little. It has the largest numerical display we tested, two USB ports, and easy-to-use tactile controls that take the guesswork out of changing settings.

This budget digital alarm clock does so much for so little. It has the largest numerical display of the clocks we tested, two USB ports, and easy-to-use tactile controls (which take the guesswork out of changing settings).

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expert-review

Best Alarm Clock of 2022

The Travelwey Digital Travel is a barebones alarm where the display cover hinges out to become the unit's stand. It is powered by 2 AAA batteries and has a minimal footprint on the nightstand. Both the time and alert are easy to set, and the snooze is repeatable. 
While we like the simplicity of the Travelwey, it lacks almost every feature offered by the competition. For example, the alarm won't charge your phone, the snooze interval isn't adjustable, and it lacks a radio. Moreover, the alarm volume and tone are both fixed, and it lacks the memory for more than one alarm at a time. While that might seem too simplistic, it is just what those traveling light need and no more. 

The updated USCCE Digital model comes in an attractive, wood-grain finish and is a small device that takes up little space on your bedside table but still comes with plenty of desirable features. It is easy to set up out of the box, and our testers loved the large snooze button that also scrolls to easily set the time or change an alarm. The USCCE has a convenient switch on the back to set your alarms for weekdays or weekends only or all 7 days if you prefer. Its display is fully dimmable, there is an indoor temperature feature, and two USB ports are conveniently located on the front for easy phone charging.
While the radio alarm is easy enough to set, there is no radio preset option. The speaker is located on the back of the device and is rather small, so it's not our first pick for sound quality. But the USCCE shines in many other ways, making it a worthy contender. 

The updated USCCE Digital model comes in an attractive, wood-grain finish and is a small device that takes up little space on your bedside table but still has plenty of desirable features. It is easy to set up out of the box, and our testers loved the large snooze button that also scrolls to easily set the time or change an alarm. The USCCE has a convenient switch on the back to set your alarms for weekdays or weekends only or all 7 days if you prefer. Its display is fully dimmable, has an indoor temperature feature, and two USB ports located on the front for easy phone charging.
While the radio alarm is easy enough to set, there is no preset radio option. The speaker is located on the back of the device and is relatively small, so it's not our first pick for sound quality. But the USCCE shines in many other ways, making it a worthy contender. 

While simplicity is nice, so too is having a highly customizable alarm that eases you awake as opposed to shocking you into consciousness. The Jall Wake Up Light Sunrise alarm specializes in gentle alerts. The clock offers 7 light settings that slowly brighten over a customizable period before the alarm sounds. The alarm settings range from bird sounds to soft music to a more traditional beeping, and the volume is adjustable. The text brightness is also adjustable. 
Unfortunately, this alarm requires quite a bit of fiddling to get it all set up with your preferences. For example, you must first set time, then ringtone, then volume, then wake-up brightness, then how long to simulate the sunrise — oh yeah, and don't forget the color of the light. That said, it's really not that tough; it's just a lot more work than the competition. Once customized to your liking, it is straightforward to use and can make mornings all the more pleasant. 

Ditch your morning alarm for these wake-up lights

Our most affordable pick, the RCA has an easy-to-read display and a very loud alarm to wake even the deepest sleepers.

The Sonic Alert Sonic Bomb Dual alarm is designed to wake the dead. In addition to its loud alarm, it also has a bed vibrator that will stimulate you awake. This later feature will help you keep on the good side of those sleeping nearby as they won't have to listen to your alarm blaring while you saw logs. We appreciate the adjustable alarm volume and the customizable snooze. 
While the Sonic Bomb could be a standby in the modern necromancer's tool kit, its operation is no mystery. It lacks adjustability in the color and brightness of the text. Adjustments to both the time and alarm are one way, and there is not a nightlight or a radio. However, it does have a redundant power supply using both batteries and a cord, so your time and alarm settings will be saved when the unit is unplugged or the power goes out. All in all, this is a solid alarm for heavy slumberers.     

Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock Review (2022) - Will It Wake You Up?

The Sony ICF-C1PJ is a stylish, cubical design that takes up little space on your bedside table and looks good at the same time. Its large display has a mirrored finish and white LED digits, and the detailed buttons on top are convenient and easy to use. There is a projector on the side that can swivel 180º with adjustable focus, allowing you to view the time on your wall or ceiling. The Sony is one of the few models we tested that has both AM and FM radio frequencies. Additionally, the clock automatically sets the date and time when plugged in, and you only have to adjust your time zone to get an accurate time reading, making it the easiest-to-use model yet. There are two alarms that can be set to go off on weekdays, weekends, or both, and this is clearly designated on the LED screen, so you always know you have an alarm ready for what you need.
Our testers loved the many functions and features of this clock, finding it easy to use while looking sleek and modern at the same time. Our only gripe is that we found the "alarm off" button to be very small and hard to find when blindly and groggily reaching over to it in the morning. This Sony model is also on the pricey side, but we think it's worth a few extra dollars with its smart features and elegant design.

The Sony ICF-C1PJ is a stylish, cubical design that takes up little space on your bedside table and looks good at the same time. Its large display has a mirrored finish and white LED digits, and the detailed buttons on top are convenient and easy to use. A projector on the side can swivel 180º with adjustable focus, allowing you to view the time on your wall or ceiling. The Sony is one of the few models we tested that has both AM and FM radio frequencies. Additionally, the clock automatically sets the date and time when plugged in, and you only have to adjust your time zone to get an accurate time reading, making it the easiest-to-use model yet. Two alarms you can set to go off on weekdays, weekends, or both are shown on the LED screen, so you always know you have an alarm ready for what you need.
Our testers loved this clock's many functions and features, finding it easy to use while looking sleek and modern. Our only gripe is that we found the "alarm off" button very small and hard to find when blindly and groggily reaching over to it in the morning. This Sony model is also pricey, but we think it's worth a few extra dollars with its smart features and elegant design.

If you need an inexpensive, reliable, basic alarm, look no further. The RCA Digital boasts easy time and alarm settings, simple high/low brightness adjustment, and a wide snooze bar on the top for eyes-closed silencing. The snooze is repeatable, too.  
Some consumers may find the RCA a bit too simplistic, however. Case in point, there is no radio, no phone charging, only one text color &#40;red&#41;, and no night light. When setting the time or the alarm, if you overshoot your target, you can't back up, which is annoying. Despite these limitations, the alarm is super easy to set up, and the price reflects its minimalistic design. 

The I-Box Dawn unit has two features that make it an exceptional product: it doubles as a wireless charging station for your phone and a Bluetooth speaker with decent sound quality. If you have a Qi-enabled phone that supports wireless charging, with a case less than 5mm thick, you can simply place your phone on top of the speaker, and it will start charging automatically. The clock also functions as a Bluetooth speaker and has decent sound quality with 6W stereo speakers and a passive subwoofer, making it more than adequate for bedroom use. Because of its stereo speakers, the radio sound quality is better than most of the devices we tested, which rely on small built-in speakers, which are often tinny sounding.
While this unit has many pros in our book, it does have a few substantial cons. The LED display is blurred significantly by the fabric wrapping that encases the speaker. While the brightness of the digits is easy enough to read midday, it is very hard to discern the smaller font for PM and the AL1 and AL2 for the alarms. The clock's setup is not the most intuitive, and you must read the instruction manual carefully to figure out how to use all the features. There is no option for waking up to a Bluetooth-connected device. Lastly, there is no way to set the beeping alarm or radio volume for wake up, which will gradually increase in volume to an abrasively loud level, something our testers found to be a significant downside. If you don't mind these cons, the wireless charging and speaker capabilities of this model are really hard to beat.

The I-Box Dawn unit has two features that make it an exceptional product: it doubles as a wireless charging station for your phone and a Bluetooth speaker with decent sound quality. If you have a Qi-enabled phone that supports wireless charging, with a case less than 5mm thick, you can simply place your phone on top of the speaker, and it will start charging automatically. The clock also functions as a Bluetooth speaker and has decent sound quality with 6W stereo speakers and a passive subwoofer, making it more than adequate for bedroom use. Because of its stereo speakers, the radio sound quality is better than most of the devices we tested, which rely on small built-in speakers, which are often tinny sounding.
While this unit has many pros in our book, it does have a few substantial cons. The LED display is blurred significantly by the fabric wrapping that encases the speaker. While the brightness of the digits is easy enough to read midday, it is tough to discern the smaller font for PM and the AL1 and AL2 for the alarms. The clock's setup is not the most intuitive, and you must read the instruction manual carefully to figure out how to use all the features. There is no option for waking up to a Bluetooth-connected device. Lastly, there is no way to set the beeping alarm or radio volume for wake-up, which will gradually increase in volume to an abrasively loud level, something our testers found to be a significant downside. If you don't mind these cons, this model's wireless charging and speaker capabilities are hard to beat.

Alarm Clock Comparison