A sunrise alarm clock helps you wake up naturally with light, regulating your autonomic nervous system and providing a refreshing start to the day. With a wide variety of types available from popular brands such as Philips, Lumie, and Jall, it can be confusing to determine which one is truly effective, can't it?
In this round, we've gathered 12 popular sunrise alarm clocks featuring the latest releases and top-selling models from various manufacturers. Our comprehensive review assesses these clocks on four key points, and we'll present our top picks in a ranked format.
At mybest, we define the best sunrise alarm clock as a product with high illuminance, sunrise function, advanced light adjustment features, and easy-to-use alarm clock functions. Our test process has unveiled the criteria for selecting a sunrise alarm clock, which can help you choose the right one for your needs. Please use our recommendations as a reference when making your purchase.
Debra Craig is a seasoned professional in sleep health with two decades of experience as a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT), Clinical Sleep Health Educator, and Coach (CCSH). With a degree in neuro-diagnostics and sleep sciences, she's dedicated her career to helping people sleep better. As an RPSGT, Debra diagnoses and addresses sleep disorders with precision and care. Her role as a CCSH allows her to guide individuals struggling with sleep-related issues, offering compassionate support and expertise. Debra's commitment to ongoing learning keeps her at the forefront of sleep science, making her a trusted leader in the field. Through her work, she continues to positively impact people's lives, helping them achieve better sleep and overall well-being.
Mari developed an interest in sleep studies after experiencing insomnia herself. After graduating from university, she joined a major interior company, where she gained experience consulting on beds and overall bedroom environments for a wide range of clients, including hotels, rest houses, and embassies. Currently, she is Japan's only personal sleep trainer specializing in athletes, providing tailored sleep advice to major league pitcher Shintaro Fujinami, professional baseball players, J-League players, and Olympic athletes. Her guidance ranges from sleep timing for competitions to choosing the right bedding and pajamas.
Masakazu Furukawa has been involved in the creation of over 5,000 articles across a broad range of categories, including everyday essentials, healthcare products, home appliances, financial services, and luxury goods. Currently, he oversees content in the Home Improvement and Everyday Essentials teams. With the aim of "providing choices that everyone feels good about making," he is dedicated to guiding teams and producing content.
To determine a product's brightness sufficiency we had testers use the sunrise alarm clocks and see if they can wake up with just the light in a dark room.
We thoroughly checked each product's light adjustment features, such as dimming and color adjustment functions, sunrise and sunset functions, and angle adjustment capability.
Our team evaluated each product to find sunrise alarm clocks that offer advanced features such as multiple voice alarm settings, a snooze function, and a cordless design.
Ease of use is important, so we checked if each product is easy to operate and has an easy-to-understand manual.
All product tests
were conducted in-house at mybest
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.The mybest team independently conducts its own tests to rank products.
A sunrise alarm clock wakes you up with light, offering advantages over waking up to sound. There are several advantages to waking up with light, rather than sound.
The alarm emanating from your own clock can sometimes induce stress due to its unexpectedly loud volume.
Waking up to light promotes the secretion of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with mental stability. Serotonin induces feelings of happiness and relaxation, potentially reducing stress and anxiety. A sunrise alarm clock allows you to wake up to natural light, akin to the morning sunlight.
Also, waking up with light can help regulate your sleep cycle and potentially suppress disturbances to your autonomic nervous system.
There might be some skeptics wondering if it is actually possible to wake up with light alone, and in fact, sunrise alarm clocks are effective items under certain conditions.
Waking up successfully depends on two conditions: maximizing light output from the alarm clock and ensuring the darkness of the room. If both criteria are met, waking up shouldn't be an issue.
Firstly, opt for a model with a high maximum light output for better results. Individual preferences vary, and a low maximum light output may go unnoticed, leading to failed waking. However, with an adjustable function, even if the light is too bright, you can customize it to a suitable brightness level.
Next, use it in a sufficiently dark room where outside light doesn't seep in. The effectiveness of waking up with a sunrise alarm clock depends on both the brightness of the light and the environment. Therefore, we will guide you in choosing the right one.
Here are the points to keep in mind when choosing the best Sunrise Alarm Clocks.
A brightness of 500 lux can be dazzling before sleep and helps in waking up. It's crucial to choose something bright to ensure you notice the light and wake up effectively.
The brightness level, or illuminance, plays a significant role in the waking-up process. Illuminance is measured in lux, with higher values indicating greater brightness. In the morning, it's best to use a sunrise alarm clock with an illuminance of around 500 lux.
The value of 500 lux represents a brightness equivalent to that of a conference room lit by fluorescent lights. If used in a dark room, the light would feel more intense, making it easier to wake up.
Conversely, 200 lux is equivalent to the brightness of a library, and 100 lux is similar to the brightness of an emergency staircase. Though individual preferences may vary, these brightness levels might be insufficient for an effective wake-up. Therefore, we recommend a sunrise alarm clock with approximately 500 lux.
Those who are uneasy about waking up with light alone can rest assured as there are models that come with alarm functions as well. You can wake up pleasantly to sounds like birds chirping or the babbling of a river. Some even have the ability to set multiple alarms.
During sleep, the parasympathetic nervous system predominates. However, a loud alarm triggers the sympathetic nervous system abruptly, elevating heart rate and blood pressure and straining the autonomic nervous system. Ideally, using a sunrise function that gradually awakens your consciousness is best.
If you want to wake up comfortably, we recommend an alarm clock with a sunrise feature. The sunrise function gradually brightens from a warm color to white, closely resembling natural light and creating a pleasant experience.
When you use the sunrise feature, the alarm clock’s light gradually brightens, enabling a gradual wake-up without the jarring noise or intense light. Therefore, it's less likely to disturb your autonomic nervous system.
In fact, the color of light also has significance. Warm colors aid in a pleasant awakening, and white stimulates the brain area which promotes alertness and attention.
Complicated operations can be challenging, especially when your mind isn't clear before sleep or upon waking up, right? Let's discuss adjustments to simplify operations and settings for easier use.
Ease of use is a crucial factor since you will use your sunrise alarm clock daily. We recommend models with icons drawn on the buttons for easy understanding at a glance. This makes usage intuitive and less stressful at night or in the morning.
Also, the larger the button, the easier it is to operate, reducing the likelihood of pressing the wrong button and the hassle of pressing with your nails. Front-facing buttons, in particular, facilitate setting adjustments as you can view and confirm each button while operating, ensuring smoother settings.
Products | Image | mybest Score | Click to purchase | Key features | Main Score | Details | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ease of Waking Up (Light) | Ease of Setup | Light Adjustability | Alarm Clock Effectiveness | Width | Depth | Height | Weight | Light intensity | Dimming function | Sunrise function | Tone/color adjustment | Audio alarm | Multiple alarm function | Radio included | Warranty period | ||||||
1 | Philips SmartSleep Sleep and Wake-Up Light|HF3650/60 | ![]() | 4.75 | mybest's Top Choice: Wake-up Comfortably With Your Personal Sunrise | 5.00 | 4.24 | 4.50 | 4.75 | 8.6 in. | 4.7 in. | 8.8 in. | 1.98 lb. | 500 lx | unknown | unknown | 2 yr. | |||||
2 | Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light|HF3520/60 | ![]() | 4.61 | Adequate Brightness and Enhanced Audio Alarm! | 4.80 | 4.29 | 3.91 | 4.75 | 7.83 in. | 5.75 in. | 7.56 in. | 1.61 lb. | 460lx | 2 yr. | |||||||
3 | Dekala Sunstone | ![]() | 4.37 | Simple Settings but Has Limited Dimming (Only 7 Levels) | 4.38 | 4.38 | 4.17 | 4.38 | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | |||||||
4 | Jall Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock | ![]() | 4.31 | Abundant Light Adjustment but Side Buttons Complicate Setup | 4.37 | 4.10 | 4.50 | 4.75 | 7.2 in. | unknown | 7.2 in. | 1.1 lb. | unknown | unknown | |||||||
5 | Lumie Bodyclock Rise 100 | ![]() | 4.16 | Robust Light Adjustment but has Limited Alarm Sound | 4.19 | 4.05 | 4.50 | 3.93 | 7.5 in. | 4.7 in. | 6.3 in. | 1.25 lb. | unknown | unknown | 3 yr. | ||||||
6 | Antdalis Sunrise Alarm Clock Wake Up Light | ![]() | 3.81 | Abundant Color Adjustment, but the Manual Is Hard to Read | 3.59 | 4.29 | 4.34 | 4.75 | 7.09 in. | 4.61 in. | 6.02 in. | 1.52 lb. | 217lx | unknown | |||||||
7 | hOmeLabs Sunrise Digital LED Alarm Clock|4330349651 | ![]() | 3.68 | Currently unavailable | Healing Sounds but Brightness is Weak | 3.49 | 4.10 | 4.17 | 4.38 | 7.01 in. | 7.40 in. | 4.09 in. | 5 lb. | unknown | unknown | 1 year | |||||
8 | Hatch Restore | ![]() | 3.54 | Sunrise and Healing Sound Features but Brightness Is Dim | 3.35 | 3.81 | 4.34 | 4.75 | 7.5 in. | 2.75 in. | 5.75 in. | 1.2 lb. | unknown | unknown | 1 yr. | ||||||
9 | Cabtick Sunrise Alarm Clock | ![]() | 3.31 | Healing Sound Alarm but Has Low Maximum Light Intensity | 3.00 | 4.38 | 4.50 | 4.75 | 6.9 in. | 3.4 in. | 5.5 in. | 1.43 lb. | unknown | 1 yr. | |||||||
10 | Philips Wake-up Light|HF3500/60 | ![]() | 3.28 | Easy Operation and Settings but Has Low Maximum Light Output | 3.00 | 4.48 | 3.91 | 3.93 | 7.1 in. | 4.5 in. | 7.1 in. | 0.64 lb. | 200 lx | 2 yr. |
Light intensity | 500 lx |
---|---|
Sunrise function |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The SmartSleep Sleep and Wake-Up Light by Philips promises to provide an easy and energetic awakening, helping to improve your mood in the morning.
In a test measuring brightness at a distance of about 12 inches, it received a high appraisal with a brightness of 500 lux. It's recommended for people who struggle in the morning since the light is strong. It offers adjustable light intensity in 25 levels and a variety of color options, including five warm colors. The inclusion of a sunrise function adds to its rich set of features. Furthermore, it allows setting multiple sound alarms and includes a snooze function, making it user-friendly even for those uneasy about waking up to light.
On one hand, the large buttons with illustrations on the front make it easy to operate, but the lack of illustrations and instructions in the manual hindered the ease of operation and setting, which affected the reviews. Testers provided feedback such as "the large illustrated buttons made it easy to operate" and "the instruction manual was difficult to understand."
Width | 8.6 in. |
---|---|
Depth | 4.7 in. |
Height | 8.8 in. |
Weight | 1.98 lb. |
Tone/color adjustment | unknown |
Multiple alarm function | unknown |
Radio included | |
Warranty period | 2 yr. |
Light intensity | 460lx |
---|---|
Sunrise function |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The SmartSleep Wake-Up Light by Philips is characterized by its FM radio feature.
During the light meter test, it scored a high brightness rating of 460 lux. Additionally, it offers the flexibility to set multiple alarms with soothing sound effects and includes a snooze function, contributing to its undoubtedly perfect evaluation as an alarm clock.
On the one hand, while the instruction manual is full of illustrations, making it easy to understand, the top button positioning hinders smooth operation, resulting in a lower rating for ease of use and settings. Additionally, the inclusion of a sunrise function lacks a color adjustment feature, leading to a lower rating for light adjustment functionality. This may not be suitable for individuals seeking customization in light color preferences.
Width | 7.83 in. |
---|---|
Depth | 5.75 in. |
Height | 7.56 in. |
Weight | 1.61 lb. |
Tone/color adjustment | |
Multiple alarm function | |
Radio included | |
Warranty period | 2 yr. |
Light intensity | unknown |
---|---|
Sunrise function |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The Sunstone by Dekala boasts a compact design suitable for any room.
The 3D button is easy to press, and the instructions, illustrated for clarity, contribute to its highly-rated ease of operation and settings.
However, despite its capability to set multiple audible alarms and include a snooze function, it falls short in ratings due to the absence of an alarm sound with a healing effect. Additionally, while offering a sunrise and color adjustment function, the drawback lies in the lighting function with only seven levels, making it unsuitable for those desiring fine brightness adjustment. Furthermore, in a brightness test at 12 inches, the evaluation remained at a modest 375 lux, potentially posing a challenge for those struggling with morning wake-ups.
Width | unknown |
---|---|
Depth | unknown |
Height | unknown |
Weight | unknown |
Tone/color adjustment | |
Multiple alarm function | |
Radio included | |
Warranty period | unknown |
Light intensity | unknown |
---|---|
Sunrise function |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock by Jall features a versatile mood light for reading.
With 20 adjustable lighting levels and the option to shift to a warm hue, the lighting adjustment function receives high praise. The flawless alarm clock functionality includes the ability to set multiple alarms and choose from seven healing sounds.
However, the brightness test yielded a disappointing 373 lux at a 12-inch distance. Additionally, the side button placement and insufficient explanations in the manual's illustrations led to lower ratings for ease of operation and settings.
Width | 7.2 in. |
---|---|
Depth | unknown |
Height | 7.2 in. |
Weight | 1.1 lb. |
Tone/color adjustment | |
Multiple alarm function | |
Radio included | |
Warranty period | unknown |
Light intensity | unknown |
---|---|
Sunrise function |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The Bodyclock Rise 100 by Lumie stands out with its stylish design and comprehensive light adjustment features, including a 10-level brightness and color adjustment function, along with a sunrise function.
However, while the buttons are large and generally easy to press, occasional poor responsiveness and insufficient explanations in the manual impact its ease of operation and setup, resulting in a lower rating. Additionally, the brightness test yielded a modest 338 lux at a 12-inch distance.
Furthermore, although it includes a snooze function, the inability to set multiple alarms and the availability of only one type of sound alarm has hindered its functionality evaluation as an alarm clock. Therefore, it may not be suitable for those who have a hard time waking up in the morning.
Width | 7.5 in. |
---|---|
Depth | 4.7 in. |
Height | 6.3 in. |
Weight | 1.25 lb. |
Tone/color adjustment | |
Multiple alarm function | unknown |
Radio included | |
Warranty period | 3 yr. |
Light intensity | 217lx |
---|---|
Sunrise function |
What we loved
What we didn't love
Sunrise Alarm Clock Wake Up Light, characterized by its rounded design, is made by Antdalis.
Testing the light brightness at a 12-inch distance yielded a low assessment of 217 lux, possibly challenging for those who struggle with mornings. Despite a user-friendly large button with an illustration, the instruction manual's small print poses readability issues.
On the positive side, the device boasts 20 dimming functions, including warm colors, earning high praise for its light adjustment capabilities. It also offers multiple alarm settings and the option for healing sounds, contributing to a natural and supported awakening.
Width | 7.09 in. |
---|---|
Depth | 4.61 in. |
Height | 6.02 in. |
Weight | 1.52 lb. |
Tone/color adjustment | |
Multiple alarm function | |
Radio included | |
Warranty period | unknown |
Light intensity | unknown |
---|---|
Sunrise function |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The Sunrise Digital LED Alarm Clock by hOmeLabs comes with a one-year warranty.
In a light intensity test at a 12-inch distance, it scored poorly with 197 lux, potentially challenging for those sensitive to bright morning light. The front and side button placement, coupled with the absence of illustrations in the manual, complicated setup and operation, resulting in a lower ease-of-use rating. This may not be suitable for less tech-savvy users.
Despite featuring an 8-color tune function, warm colors, and a sunrise function, the light intensity adjustment is limited to 3 levels, restricting its adjusting function rating.
On a positive note, it received high praise for its alarm clock functionality, offering customizable sounds like the sea or bird calls, along with a snooze function.
Width | 7.01 in. |
---|---|
Depth | 7.40 in. |
Height | 4.09 in. |
Weight | 5 lb. |
Tone/color adjustment | |
Multiple alarm function | unknown |
Radio included | |
Warranty period | 1 year |
Light intensity | unknown |
---|---|
Sunrise function |
What we loved
What we didn't love
Hatch's Restore comes with a two-month money-back guarantee.
During the lux meter test, the light brightness rated low at 169 lux at a 12-inch distance, suggesting waking up with light alone might not be feasible. Additionally, the manual lacked explanations for certain buttons, and operation difficulties were experienced due to rear button placement.
On the other hand, the device garnered high praise for its light adjustment feature, boasting a 10-step dimming function and a sunrise feature. Furthermore, users can set a healing sound and multiple alarms, enhancing the potential for a pleasant awakening.
Width | 7.5 in. |
---|---|
Depth | 2.75 in. |
Height | 5.75 in. |
Weight | 1.2 lb. |
Tone/color adjustment | |
Multiple alarm function | unknown |
Radio included | |
Warranty period | 1 yr. |
Light intensity | unknown |
---|---|
Sunrise function |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The Sunrise Alarm Clock by Cabtick boasts a modern design.
In the brightness test, it scored quite low at 8 lux, indicating potential difficulty in waking up with light alone.
On the other hand, it excelled in ease of operation and setup, featuring a large button and an easy-to-understand illustrated manual. Its light adjustment function received high ratings, incorporating a 20-step dimming function and a sunrise feature. Furthermore, the device functions effectively as an alarm clock, offering 11 healing sounds and multiple alarm settings.
Width | 6.9 in. |
---|---|
Depth | 3.4 in. |
Height | 5.5 in. |
Weight | 1.43 lb. |
Tone/color adjustment | |
Multiple alarm function | |
Radio included | |
Warranty period | 1 yr. |
Light intensity | 200 lx |
---|---|
Sunrise function |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The Wake-up Light by Philips has a 90-day money-back guarantee.
In the brightness test at 12 inches, it scored a mere 79 lux, possibly insufficient for light-only wake-ups. Although featuring a 10-step dimming and sunrise function, lacking color adjustment limits its light adjustment capability. The alarm clock falls short with no healing sounds or multiple alarm settings.
On the positive side, it excels in ease of operation, with large buttons and a clear, well-structured instruction manual.
Width | 7.1 in. |
---|---|
Depth | 4.5 in. |
Height | 7.1 in. |
Weight | 0.64 lb. |
Tone/color adjustment | |
Multiple alarm function | |
Radio included | |
Warranty period | 2 yr. |
Light intensity | unknown |
---|---|
Sunrise function |
What we loved
What we didn't love
A notable feature of the Soluna Light Alarm Clock by Lacrosse Technology is its large time display.
In a test with a light meter positioned about 12 inches away, it scored poorly with a dim result of 62 lux, making it challenging to wake up. Despite clearly illustrated instructions, the buttons on the back hindered easy operation. Additionally, the limited four brightness levels impacted its light adjustment rating, further diminishing its effectiveness.
Limited alarm settings, despite healing sounds and a snooze function, contributed to lower ratings for its functionality as an alarm clock.
Width | 5.24 in. |
---|---|
Depth | 2.69 in. |
Height | 6.71 in. |
Weight | 0.6 lb. |
Tone/color adjustment | |
Multiple alarm function | unknown |
Radio included | |
Warranty period | 1 yr. |
Light intensity | unknown |
---|---|
Sunrise function |
What we loved
What we didn't love
The Sunrise-Sunset Simulator Alarm Clock by NYL Holdings features a large time display.
In the brightness test, the light scored a low 11 lux, possibly making it challenging to wake up with light alone. The back-button placement and lack of illustrated instructions make the operation tricky.
Moreover, the voice alarm lacks the ability to set multiple alarms, diminishing its effectiveness as an alarm clock. Additionally, with only a five-level dimming function and no color adjustment, the light adjustment function evaluation faces challenges.
Width | 5 in. |
---|---|
Depth | 2.6 in. |
Height | 5.1 in. |
Weight | 0.6 lb. |
Tone/color adjustment | |
Multiple alarm function | |
Radio included | |
Warranty period | 1 year |
mybest defines the best sunrise alarm clock as one that allows you to wake up pleasantly with just light and has good operability and abundant features.
To find the best products, we collected 12 top-selling sunrise alarm clocks from popular manufacturers, as well as those offered by Amazon, Target, Walmart, and more, and we thoroughly examined them based on the following four points.
Ease of Setup
Light Adjustability
Alarm Clock Effectiveness
Products we tested
To determine a product's brightness sufficiency we had testers use the sunrise alarm clocks and see if they can wake up with just the light in a dark room.
First, place a light meter approximately 12 inches away from the wake-up sunrise alarm clock and measure the illuminance. Measure each five times, calculating the average by excluding the maximum and minimum values. Higher averages receive better recommendations, and scoring is based on this criterion.
Test Equipment: Illuminance Meter FT3425 (HIOKI)
We thoroughly checked each product's light adjustment features, such as dimming and color adjustment functions, sunrise and sunset functions, and angle adjustment capability.
The testers evaluated each product, and rated their satisfaction on the following points, and their satisfaction level was converted into a number score for each product.
Dimming function
Sunrise function
Color adjusting function
Angle adjustment function
Sunset function
Our team evaluated each product to find sunrise alarm clocks that offer advanced features such as multiple voice alarm settings, a snooze function, and a cordless design.
The testers evaluated each product, rated their satisfaction on the following points, and their satisfaction level was converted into a number score for each product.
Does it have an audible alarm function?
Can it be set to healing sounds?
Does it have a snooze function?
Can multiple alarms be set?
Is it cordless?
Ease of use is important, so we checked if each product is easy to operate and has an easy-to-understand manual.
Testers used each product and rated their satisfaction level.
No. 1: Philips|SmartSleep Sleep and Wake-Up Light|HF3650/60
No. 2: Philips|SmartSleep Wake-Up Light|HF3520/60
No. 3: Dekala|Sunstone
No. 4: Jall|Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock
No. 5: Lumie|Bodyclock Rise 100
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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