Best sunrise alarm clocks that help you wake up naturally, tried and tested
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journalism → help → readers
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Even if we’d prefer to wake up naturally, many of us will rely on an alarm – or several – to get up each morning.
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many → prefer → alarm
But if you struggle to get yourself out of bed, especially during the winter months, the best sunrise alarm clocks might just be the solution.
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clocks → struggle → months
Not only do they provide a gentler start to your day compared to your phone or a traditional alarm clock, but “waking up to light is typically better for alertness than waking up to a sudden, loud sound,” explains Dr. Hana Patel, resident sleep expert at Time4Sleep.
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Patel → provide → Time4Sleep
“This is because gradual light modulates cortisol and avoids the acute stress response sometimes caused by sudden alarms.
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light → modulate → alarms
“Gradual light can also help to clear sleep inertia (morning grogginess), and prepare your body for active energy.
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light → help → energy
A loud audio alarm could shock you awake during deep sleep, which can cause severe grogginess and trigger a burst of cortisol and adrenaline.
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which → shock → cortisol
If you’re a heavy sleeper or need extra encouragement to wake each day, it could be well worth switching to this type of morning alarm, which allows you to set a gentle alarm sound or tone.
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you → ’re → sound
Finding one which combines sound and light is also important, admits Rosie Scott, osteopath, founder of Erin Health and specialist in headache disorders.
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“In truth, it is better to wake up to both,” she admits.
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she → wake → both
Light alone is unreliable, while a sudden noise on its own is a startle response, which is a poor way to start any day,” and a particularly poor one if you’re prone to migraines or grogginess.
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you → start → migraines
How I tested
I put each of the sunrise alarm clocks to the test for at least a week, with one even becoming a permanent fixture in my bedtime routine.
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one → test → routine
To gauge how well each of the sunrise alarm clocks woke me up, and how I felt in the moments and hours thereafter, I compared how I woke using the sunrise alarm clocks, compared to my usual phone alarm, as well as a week of using no alarm at all.
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In testing each one, I focused on how easy they were to set up and use, how many features they had, whether or not they were good value for money, as well as how the light and sound settings worked when waking up or falling asleep.
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settings → test → money
Lastly, I assessed how much space they took up on my bedside table and how easy they were to charge or power.
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they → assess → table
Dreamegg Sunrise 1 Sound Machine
★★★★★
Best: Overall sunrise alarm clock
What we love: Easy to use, excellent sounds and light settings, dinky size, no need for an app
Take note: No sunset timer
With its dinky size, elegant linen finish, and impressive array of sleep-aid sounds, mood lighting, and adjustable sunlight settings, Dreamegg’s Sunrise 1 was an immediate favourite of mine.
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In fact, it is the one I still have on my bedside table to this day.
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Helping me wake up gently and gradually, it includes nature sounds – gentle birdsong became my go-to each morning – while the sunlight mimicked a natural sunrise in a way that wasn’t too bright or jarring as I started to wake and open my eyes.
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I → help → eyes
Being able to dim or completely switch off the clock face also came in handy, especially if, like me, you prefer to sleep in as dark a room as possible.
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you → dim → me
It replaces often cumbersome apps with simple-to-follow buttons.
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While it doesn’t have a sunset timer, which dims as you start to drift off, it does have a general multi-timer, which can be used either before bed or to give yourself a few extra minutes in the mornings.
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which → have → mornings
- Light settings: 9 colour settings
- Sound settings: 29 sleep-aid sounds
- Dimensions: 15 × 15 × 7.3cm
Groov-e Light Curve Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock with FM Radio
★★★★☆
Best: Budget sunrise alarm clock
What we love: Incredibly affordable, has an FM radio built in, nice selection of colours, sounds and brightness levels
Take note:
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Doesn’t come with a plug, feels quite plasticky, not as user-friendly
Just shy of £30, Groov-e’s Light Curve Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock with FM Radio is one of the most affordable sunrise alarm clocks.
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But it doesn’t scrimp on its settings.
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With 10 brightness levels, seven coloured LED options, an array of alarm tones and sound options, and FM radio, it packs a lot into a small package.
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It does have a plasticky look and feel to it, particularly when it isn’t lit up.
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But as soon as you switch on one of the different light settings, it’s more aesthetically pleasing.
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It takes a little trial and error to get to grips with the exact buttons and settings, and I was also disappointed that it doesn’t come with a standard plug (it does come with a USB charging cable).
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I know most of us will have an adapter or USB converter plug to hand, but if you don’t, you will need to factor this and the additional cost in.
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The clock face remains illuminated, but it wasn’t bright enough to bother me.
- Light settings: 7 LED colour options, 10 brightness levels
- Sound settings: 7 sound options, standard alarm tones, FM radio
- Dimensions: 18 x 20.4cm
Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 750DAB
★★★★★
Best: Multi-functional sunrise alarm clock
What we love: Great for using during the day as well as at night, available in different colourways
Take note:
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It has plenty of options to choose from, but the Bodyclock Luxe 750DAB most impressed me.
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750DAB → have → me
Though expensive, it’s packed full of features and settings.
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With DAB radio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, you can use built-in alarm sounds or connect to your own sleep or relaxing playlists (think Spotify or Calm), with the speakers providing clear and undisturbed sound.
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speakers → use → sound
This meant that I didn’t need to keep picking up my phone and looking at a screen, which has become a bit of a bedtime habit for me and prolonged how long it takes for me to fall asleep.
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me → mean → long
With its 15–90 minute sunrise/sunset duration, the clock is ideal for waking me up gradually, but it’s quickly become my go-to for listening to playlists, radio and even audiobooks.
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it → wake → playlists
I loved that you could choose from a few different colourways to match your existing interiors or style.
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The only negative, other than it being rather pricey, is that it did take some time to get used to all the buttons and settings, with some of them initially being a bit fiddly to use.
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But after a few times, this became second nature.
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- Light settings: Adjustable
- Sound settings: 34 sleep/wake sounds, DAB/DAB+ radio
- Dimensions: 20 x 23 x 13cm
Philips HF3531/01 SmartSleep Wake-up Light
★★★★☆
Best: Sunrise and sunset alarm clock
What we love: 20 light intensities, fading sunset timer, spa-like sounds, FM radio
Take note: No coloured mood lighting, radio can sound a bit muffled
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…and 37 more, not listed.
The Aporia
