touch screen monitors and burning in fingers made in china

2023-01-03 12:32:11

Next month, amid the usual hoopla, Apple is expected to officially unveil its latest gadget: the much-awaited iPhone 4G. But halfway round the globe from the company"s California headquarters, a young worker who has spent months in an eastern Chinese hospital wants consumers to look beyond the shiny exterior of such gadgets.

She is one of scores of young workers in the city of Suzhou who were poisoned by the chemical n-hexane, which they say was used to clean Apple components including iPhone touch screens.

At first, she thought she was simply tired from the long working hours at Wintek, a Taiwan-owned electronics giant supplying several well-known brands. She was weaker than before and noticed she could not walk so fast.

"Then it became more and more serious. I found it very hard to go upstairs and if I squatted down I didn"t have the strength to get up. Later my hands became numb and I lost my balance – I would fall over if someone touched me," she said.

By summer, she was admitted to hospital, where doctors struggled to diagnose the cause. "I was terrified. I feared I might be paralysed and spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair," she said.

An occupational diseases hospital which saw several victims diagnosed the problem in August and Wintek stopped using the chemical. But thanks to the previous months of exposure, at least 62 workers would require medical care. Many spent months in hospital.

Prolonged over-exposure to n-hexane can cause extensive damage to the peripheral nervous system and ultimately the spinal cord, leading to muscular weakness and atrophy and even paralysis, said Paul Whitehead, a toxicology consultant and member of the UK"s Royal Society of Chemistry. It can also affect male fertility. Recovery can take a year or more.

The chemical"s potential risks are well-known in industry, as are safe exposure limits. But the Wintek manager who decided to switch from alcohol to n-hexane for cleaning – apparently because it dried more quickly – did not assess the dangers. It was used without proper ventilation.

The change was obvious; workers disliked the pungent smell of n-hexane. But they had no idea it might affect their health. "We hadn"t even heard of occupational illnesses before," said Wintek worker Xiao Ling.

Asked if they knew what products they were working on, three of the affected Wintek employees said team leaders told them they were working for Apple. They instantly recognised pictures of an iPhone and said they were cleaning touch screens, adding that items for other brands were not affected because Apple had isolated its production line. A lawyer acting for 44 of the poisoning victims also said several had named Apple.

It now notifies workers whose jobs may involve risk in advance, has tightened procedures for the introduction of new chemicals, and carries out medical checks. It has paid medical fees for those affected and says it will pay compensation according to the law.

Given that the assessment and appeals process for compensation can take as long as a decade, lawyers hope the firm will pay quickly as well as fairly.

Bai Bing said she and her colleagues were cleaning components including Apple logos – the kind that appear at the bottom of desktop screens – when she fell ill.

Her employer, Yunheng, could not be reached, but work safety officials in Suzhou have said eight employees were poisoned there as they carried out work sub-contracted by another firm, Surtec.

Wintek has previously faced questions about its treatment of workers, with disputes in Taiwan and at another plant on the mainland. The Suzhou case only grabbed public attention when lingering concern over the poisoning and anger over unpaid bonuses sparked a mass protest.

Wintek blamed a misunderstanding and said bonuses had been paid and the dispute – like the other conflicts – resolved. It added that it had worked to improve communications with workers.

Apple declined to answer questions about the poisonings or about the firms involved, saying it does not reveal who it works with, although its spokeswoman added that Wintek had been "quite proactive" in discussing the issue. Instead it pointed to its code of conduct, which sets strict requirements for working and environmental practices, adding that many suppliers say they are the only customer carrying out such checks.

But the 2010 audit shows that manufacturers are routinely breaching the code. The majority – 54% – broke the 60-hour weekly work limit more than half the time. Another 39% failed to meet occupational injury prevention requirements; 17% failed on chemical exposure standards; and 35% did not meet wage and benefits requirements, with 24 of the 102 factories audited paying less than minimum wage for regular hours.

Three facilities used underage workers and three had falsified records. Apple said it terminated the contract in one of the latter cases, and required suppliers to make improvements and submit to reviews following other breaches.

But until it identifies its manufacturers, outsiders have no way of assessing how well its policies are working and what action it is taking to deal with problems such as the n-hexane poisoning.

"Apple is the most paranoid about commercial and product secrecy. That"s getting in the way of ensuring workers" rights are protected," says Geoff Crothall of China Labour Bulletin, a Hong Kong-based organisation campaigning for workers" rights.

The US giant – which last month reported quarterly profits of more than $3bn – could afford to monitor factories with serious issues "day in, day out" if it wished, he added.

"Apple products are not cheap and most Apple customers are willing to pay a premium – so why not add a tiny little bit extra to ensure working and environmental standards are met, as well as product quality?" he asked.

In the meantime, while Wintek says most of the poisoned employees have returned to work, at least some are opting to protect themselves by leaving factory life.

touch screen monitors and burning in fingers made in china

Responsible for performing installations and repairs (motors, starters, fuses, electrical power to machine etc.) for industrial equipment and machines in order to support the achievement of Nelson-Miller’s business goals and objectives:

• Perform highly diversified duties to install and maintain electrical apparatus on production machines and any other facility equipment (Screen Print, Punch Press, Steel Rule Die, Automated Machines, Turret, Laser Cutting Machines, etc.).

• Provide electrical emergency/unscheduled diagnostics, repairs of production equipment during production and performs scheduled electrical maintenance repairs of production equipment during machine service.

touch screen monitors and burning in fingers made in china

AMOLED burn-in on screens and displays is permanent. Fortunately, you can slow it down and reduce its visibility by using a few simple tricks, which can also increase battery life.

Each pixel within an Active Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode (AMOLED) comprises red, green, and blue (and sometimes white) sub-pixels. When they emit light, they decay. Burn-in appears because individual sub-pixels lose brightness at different rates, depending on its color. The most-used light-emitting sub-pixels, such as for navigation and status icons, wear out first, leading to uneven light production.

So the more you use the device, the more visible its burn-in. And the longer you display the same image, the more that image"s outline will persist on the display.

It doesn"t help that many user-interface buttons are white. For an AMOLED panel to produce white light, the display switches on three different sub-pixels in proximity to one another. Each sub-pixel produces a different color: red, blue, and green. Together they appear white to the human eye. However, each of the three colors wears out at different rates, depending on the manufacturer.

For the AMOLED on most smartphones, red sub-pixels are the most durable, followed by green. Blue decays the fastest. When you see burn-in, it"s often caused by a weakening blue sub-pixel. All "fixes" aim at addressing the failing blue sub-pixel. Remember, there are also tools available to fix dead pixels.

Everyone with an OLED display has some burn-in. But often, it"s not fully visible unless you display a solid color at maximum brightness. The Android operating system has access to many apps that detect burn-in damage. The best of these is Screen Test.

Screen Test is ultra-simple: install and run the app. Touching the screen shifts between colors and patterns. If you see a persistent image impression or blotchy coloration, you have burn-in.

For my AMOLED phone, I"ve taken every precaution against screen burn-in. Even so, the display is still a little blotchy after over a year of use. Fortunately, there are no indications of burn-in where the navigation buttons are.

Android 10"s dark mode finally allows for Android system menus and apps to appear dark in color. It will turn Chrome"s user interface black, as well as the Settings menu, navigation bar, and notifications shade.

Android made it possible to get rid of the navigation bar in Android 10. Once enabled, gestures allow navigation by swiping your finger on the screen. You can enable Gesture mode by doing the following:

Some might notice that the stock wallpapers in Android aren"t usually suited for OLED screens. OLED screens consume very little energy when displaying the color black, and they do not burn-in when displaying black. Unfortunately, older Android versions don"t include a solid black wallpaper option.

Fortunately, the free app Colors, from developer Tim Clark, allows users to change their wallpaper to a solid color. Just install and run the app, then choose a solid black background as the new wallpaper.

Using black wallpaper will improve the battery performance of your device, so this one is a win-win. However, if you have Android 8.0 or newer, you might already have solid colors available as a wallpaper.

If you don"t have Android 10 or newer, the default Android Launcher isn"t OLED friendly. In Android 5.0, it forces the App Drawer wallpaper to white (the worst color for OLED screens). One of the best launchers for darker colors is Nova Launcher. Not only is it more responsive, it offers better customization options.

Minma Icon Pack changes your bright, screen-damaging icons into a darker, OLED-friendly palette. Over 300 icons are available, which cover the default icons as well as many others.

Firefox Mobile is infinitely customizable. While they, unfortunately, removed many of their browser"s mobile add-ons, you can still turn entire webpages black. And, on top of that, Firefox includes a dark theme.

I recommend installing an add-on. The easiest-to-use add-on is Dark Reader. Dark Reader does more than just change the color of Firefox"s user interface; Dark Reader can change webpages" to black backgrounds with red text, reducing eye strain and burn-in while also improving battery life.

Android"s dark-themed virtual keyboard options can reduce burn-in (and improve battery life). The best of these is SwiftKey, which allows users to change the color of their keyboards. The best SwiftKey theme I"ve seen so far is the Pumpkin theme. If you turn on Android"s dark theme, it automatically turns the keyboard black. In this case, you can simply use the default keyboard.

There are a few other burn-in repair tools, but I don"t recommend them since they either require root access and/or can increase screen damage. However, for reference, you can read about them below and why using them is a bad idea. They fall into two categories:

I do not recommend using this option unless your screen is already trashed. It will cause additional damage but may reduce the appearance of already existing on-screen burn. Inverting colors simply reverses the colors displayed on your screen. Whites become blacks and vice-versa.

If you use the phone with the colors inverted for extended periods of time, it will burn-in the areas surrounding the burned-in navigation bar, reducing its visibility.

Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) introduced the Invert colors option to help the visually impaired. It"s not at all designed to combat burn-in and remains experimental. To invert colors, take the following steps:

Several tools claim to reduce the appearance of burn-in by attempting to age the entirety of your OLED panel. These screen burn-in tools flash red, green, and blue (or other) colors on your screen.

The reason is pretty simple: AMOLED burn-in occurs as a natural part of an organic LED"s life cycle. Therefore, tools that claim to fix AMOLED burn-in will cause uniform damage across all AMOLED pixels thus potentially worsening its image quality.

None of these methods will stop the inevitable and slow destruction of your device"s screen. However, using all the recommended options in this article will dramatically decrease the rate at which it decays. That said, some of the oldest AMOLED phones have very little burn-in. The decay of organic LEDs is almost entirely aesthetic, particularly on newer phones.

touch screen monitors and burning in fingers made in china

We"ve all been there. Tapping, swiping or zoom-pinching, there"s often a moment when the touchscreen display on your tablet refuses to respond. How do you overcome this, and achieve tablet-tapping Zen?

As the primary mode of interaction between you and your apps, the tablet touchscreen is vitally important. Any damage inflicted – knocks to the device, scratches or worse – will degrade the touchscreen. Short of paying for a replacement, you will need to make sure the display is kept safe and intact.

The following tips – also suitable for smartphones – will help you resolve your tablet"s touchscreen responsiveness issues. We"ve designed this guide for all touchscreen tablet computers. So, if your Android tablet touchscreen is not working, or your device uses iOS, or Windows, the answers you need are right here.

Perhaps the best place to start in troubleshooting screen responsiveness issues is to make more system RAM available. This may take a moment but should give you an idea of how bad the problem is.

Android users have a wealth of options for freeing up space on tablets, such as clearing the app cache or using third party apps. Our guide to spring cleaning your Android should come in handy here.

After you"ve closed all the apps you no longer need, your tablet should be more responsive. Jailbroken iPads can run task management apps, meanwhile, which will help you to close any running processes you don"t need.

If your Microsoft Surface touchscreen is not working, or you use a different Windows 10 tablet, close as many desktop apps as is practical can before switching to the Start screen. Then:

Restarting a tablet isn"t a case of just tapping the power button to turn the screen off. Instead, the whole device must be switched off and back on again.

iPad owners should close each open app before holding the Sleep/Wake button and dragging slide to shutdown. If closing apps isn"t possible, your model of iPad will determine how to restart.

Windows tablet owners can restart their devices by tapping Start then Power > Restart. If the device fails to respond, hold the power button for 10 seconds to reboot.

After all, how do you fix an unresponsive touchscreen when most of your options are accessible through the screen? The answer is surprisingly simple: connect a mouse.

If you have a USB mouse handy and an OTG adapter for your Android device, you can connect them up. Assuming your tablet is otherwise operational, it should recognize the mouse, providing access to the settings you need for repair.

Knowing which area(s) of the touchscreen are failing to respond correctly can be useful in diagnosing what is wrong. This information would prove useful to any engineer who ends up repairing the tablet.

For iPad, there is no calibration tool available or required. However, if you are using a jailbroken device that is registering your taps and swipes incorrectly, perform a hard reset. This will undo the jailbreak, but your device should work again.

On Android, free calibration and testing apps are available. Touch Screen Test is a good app that helps you find specific areas where input is not detected.

For devices that are in warranty, this means contacting the manufacturer and arranging a return, or dropping into a store. iPads, for example, can be taken to Apple Stores; Samsung tablets can similarly be taken to Samsung stores. In some cases, doorstep repairs are possible, where the device is repaired in a mobile Samsung-approved workshop parked outside your home. If your Samsung tablet touchscreen is not working, this fast-repair option might be available.

Whether you"re using a Samsung, LG, iPad, or your Lenovo tablet touch screen is not working, check your device manufacturer"s support pages to find the correct steps to arrange repair. Make it clear what steps you have attempted to resolve the touchscreen issues.

This is a risky option that sometimes pays off. However, only attempt if you have a device that is out of warranty and can"t afford a professional repair. It"s more suited to cheaper Android tablets rather than top end Samsungs, iPads, or Windows tablets.

Before you grab your tablet, check if you can find the tools and instructions for disassembling your device. YouTube is a great source if you can find a video for your device.

As noted above, if your tablet screen is cracked, it can impact touch reliability. Whether big or small, a cracked tablet screen will always fail eventually. Having your tablet looked at by an engineer under warranty is the smart option but isn"t always possible. If your tablet is out of warranty and the screen is cracked, you have two options:

Paying for a repair shouldn"t be too expensive. Often, the repair can be done the same day – in city centers, repair shops can often do it while you wait. This depends on the tablet model and the parts the shop has in stock, however.

Wondering how to repair a tablet touch screen yourself? For cheaper tablet models repair makes more sense than with premium brands. So, if you have a Vankyo, Onn, Yosatoo, Contixo, or Amazon Fire tablet with a screen that is not working or responding to touch, consider replacing the display yourself. Our guide to replacing a cracked Amazon Fire tablet display will help here.

Most problems can be avoided with care, a screen protector, and a case for your tablet. But where possible, avoid water and don"t get your tablet wet.

touch screen monitors and burning in fingers made in china

World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

touch screen monitors and burning in fingers made in china

Save space and increase productivity with an in-vehicle touch screen display of trunk-mounted equipment. Compatible and easy to connect to dash mounts, hinges, swivels, and peripheral connections.

Lightweight and strong solutions for securing a variety of tablets in medical, enterprise, and in-vehicle workplaces, built with theft deterrence, longevity, and stability in mind.

Save space in your mobile workstation with mounting systems designed to fit Motorola, L3, Data 911, Amrel, Dell, Panasonic, and more, all easy-to-install without permanent modification to your vehicle.

Safely connect additional office amenities like printers, card readers, and scanners with mounts designed to work with your existing equipment and console.

Simplify the ordering process with bundled SKUs containing mounting packages for our most popular vehicle applications, all compatible with our docking stations and universal laptop mounts.

Equip diverse vehicles with the strongest mounting solutions available to secure valuable equipment. With tunnel mounts, heavy-duty passenger side mounts, and more, we have a solution for road vehicles, boats, forklifts, pallet jacks, and more.

For the office that moves with you, Havis offers a full array of products that improve ergonomics and enable the comfortable use of equipment mounted in your vehicle. Search our selection of swivel mounts with adjustable, quick-release handles.

With the right trunk mount, you can optimize storage space and provide a clean, safe and secure mounting surface for expensive radio and communications equipment. Havis’ full width trunk trays are constructed of welded steel for added strength and support.

The new overhead console from Havis gives fleet managers the flexibility to mount a light and siren control head in a secure and accessible position, while preserving valuable equipment mounting space in other locations. It is lightweight, and the low-profile design with smooth rounded edges minimizes head impact in the case of a collision.

Havis is introducing a new way to equip your console! Now you can populate the 3.3”W section of Wide Consoles just like the main 9”W housing. Expand your equipment mounting space with your choice of Equipment Brackets for small radios and other devices. Add a Passenger Side Armrest for passenger comfort in dual occupancy vehicles. Keep your flashlight charged and within reach with a Flashlight Charging Pocket.

Havis has a full line of console and mount accessories, including accessory pockets, armrests, cup holders, equipment brackets, filler plates, radio relocation brackets, map lights, switches, mic brackets and more.

Keep your equipment secure with a wide range of brackets and control heads. Select a brand or use our Equipment Bracket Configurator to find your desired product.

Outfit your fleet with heavy-duty inmate transports in a variety of lengths and compartment configurations, compatible with all standard cargo and passenger vans.

Havis power management solutions protect valuable equipment while reducing fuel and maintenance costs, keeping you on-task and with power no matter where your work takes you.

From the front of your store to the back of your warehouse, Havis provides a broad selection of expertly-designed carts which are smart, durable and effective. Our innovative cart solutions are ideal for a number of use cases including point of sale, inventory management, price change and more.

Havis provides a wide range of innovative kiosks – from sleek, minimalistic podiums to fully customizable solutions. Whether you are looking to create a seamless self-checkout or an easy-to-use self check-in station, Havis has the perfect solution for your business.

touch screen monitors and burning in fingers made in china

Footnotes* Returns: The 30-day return period is calculated from invoice date. Exceptions to Dell"s standard return policy still apply, and certain products are not eligible for return at any time. See dell.com/returnpolicy.

* Offers subject to change, not combinable with all other offers, while supplies last. Dell may impose a purchase quantity limit (for example, 5 units per order). Taxes, shipping, and other fees apply. Free shipping offer valid only in Continental U.S. (excludes Alaska and P.O. Box addresses). Offer not valid for Resellers. Dell reserves the right to cancel orders arising from pricing or other errors.

* Rewards 3% back excludes taxes and shipping. Rewards are issued to your online Dell Rewards Account (available via your Dell.com My Account) typically within 30 business days after your order’s ship date. Rewards expire in 90 days (except where prohibited by law). “Current rewards balance” amount may not reflect the most recent transactions. Check Dell.com My Account for your most up-to-date reward balance. Total rewards earned may not exceed $2,000 within a 3-month period. Outlet purchases do not qualify for rewards. Expedited Delivery not available on certain TVs, monitors, batteries and adapters, and is available in Continental (except Alaska) U.S. only. Other exceptions apply. Not valid for resellers and/or online auctions. Offers and rewards subject to change without notice, not combinable with all other offers. See Dell.com/rewardsfaq. $50 in bonus rewards for Dell Rewards Members who open a new Dell Preferred Account (DPA), or Dell Business Credit (DBC) account on or after 8/10/2022. $50 bonus rewards typically issued within 30 business days after DPA or DBC open date.

Dell Coupon Offer:Offer valid 12/9/2022 - 1/5/2023 7:00AM CST. Coupon is valid with select other offers but not with other coupons. Coupon is valid on select order codes. One-time use only. Offer does not apply to, and is not available with, systems or items purchased through refurbished items or spare parts. Purchase limit of one item per order. Not valid for resellers and/or online auctions. Dell reserves the right to cancel orders arising from pricing or other errors.

^DELL PREFERRED ACCOUNT (DPA): Offered to U.S. residents by WebBank, who determines qualifications for and terms of credit. Taxes, shipping, and other charges are extra and vary. Your Minimum Payment Due is the greater of either $20 or 3% of the New Balance shown on your billing statement (excluding any balance on a Planned Payment Purchase prior to its expiration date) rounded up to the next dollar, plus any Monthly Planned Payment Due, plus the sum of all past due amounts. Minimum Interest Charge is $2.00. Rates range from 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR, as of 2/3/2023, depending on creditworthiness. Dell and the Dell logo are trademarks of Dell Inc. Six- and twelve-months special financing offers have different minimum purchase requirements. See Dell.com/nointerestdisclosures for important financing details.

^DELL BUSINESS CREDIT (DBC):Offered to business customers by WebBank, who determines qualifications for and terms of credit. Taxes, shipping and other charges are extra and vary. The Total Minimum Payment Due is the greater of either $20 or 3% of the New Balance shown on the statement rounded up to the next dollar, plus all past due amounts. Dell and the Dell logo are trademarks of Dell Inc. Three-month special financing is available on select purchases (a minimum purchase may be required). See Dell.com/DBCDisclosures for full promotional conditions.

Estimated valueis Dell’s estimate of product value based on industry data, including the prices at which third-party retailers have offered or valued the same or comparable products, in its most recent survey of major online and/or off-line retailers. Third-party retailer data may not be based on actual sales.

*Expedited Delivery: * Expedited Delivery not available on certain TVs, monitors, batteries and adapters, and is available in Continental (except Alaska) U.S. only. Other exceptions apply. Not valid for resellers and/or online auctions. Offers subject to change, not combinable with all other offers. See Dell.com/rewardsfaq.

* Accidental Damage Service excludes theft, loss, and damage due to fire, flood or other acts of nature, or intentional damage. Customer must return damaged unit. Limit of 1 qualified incident per contract year. See dell.com/servicecontracts.

touch screen monitors and burning in fingers made in china

Our products are designed to eliminate the fuss of multiple wires, with only one USB connection powerful to accommodate both video and touch capability, and run everything you need. Supported under Windows, Mac, and Linux, and designed

specifically for demanding commercial uses and industrial environments, we work to provide accessibility, versatility, security, and top-notch quality across all of our devices.

Our touchscreens are used across industries ranging from hospitality, to entertainment, IT, medical and transportation, ideal for interactive POP digital signage, point-of-sale systems, hands-on kiosks, conference rooms and more.

touch screen monitors and burning in fingers made in china

I’m a writer at Design Milk, and since 2006 I’ve been writing about home design for a multitude of design-focused outlets, including Apartment Therapy, Lonny, Metropolis, and Design Sponge. I’ve also written several guides here at Wirecutter, including on bedside lamps, floor lamps, bed frames, and patio furniture. Previously, as an industrial designer, I designed children’s toys and furniture, and this allowed me to learn the ins and outs of mass-market product design—from conception to manufacturing. I have an uncanny ability to wake approximately one minute before any alarm, but I’m still paranoid enough to set one as a backup.A budget digital alarm with a large face: DreamSky Compact Digital Alarm Clock

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).

Why it’s great: If you’re looking for an alarm clock that does a lot on the cheap, the DreamSky Compact Digital Alarm Clock is both an alarm clock and a USB charging station. Something that really stood out with this model, versus other clocks we tested: The DreamSky has an enormous digital display (each number is 2 inches tall) that stretches across the entire front of the clock. Although I’m nearsighted, with basically mole-like eyesight, I could read this clock clearly from a distance—without wearing glasses or contacts.

The DreamSky was easy and intuitive to set and adjust, with clearly labeled buttons for time and alarm and two physical dials for volume control and display brightness. Photo: Rozette Rago

Some digital alarm clocks we tested—specifically those with lots of extra features and controls, such as the Philips Wake-Up Light—required a detailed review of manuals to get them up and running. The DreamSky, on the other hand, was plug and play: The clock was easy and intuitive to set and adjust, with clearly labeled buttons for time and alarm and two physical dials for volume control and display brightness. The DreamSky was the only clock we tested that had such a wide range of customization options—it’s simple to literally dial in your personal preferences. The snooze button isn’t a physical button, but there’s a touch-sensitive surface that shushes the alarm in nine-minute increments.

If you’re picky about colors, you’ll like that this DreamSky model offers seven color variations, with different finishes and display hues to choose from.

You should know that this alarm clock is not fully battery-operated—two backup AAA batteries are responsible only for keeping time and alarm settings, in case of a power outage. There are two USB ports in the back—one to charge most mobile devices with 5 V output and the other to power the clock via USB (or you can plug directly into the wall).

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The DreamSky logo emblazoned at the top (underneath the snooze button) is downright ugly. The plastic case and buttons feel every bit like what you’d expect from a $20 device. The batteries protect only time and alarm settings, in case of a power outage; for a full display, you have to plug in the clock or keep it connected via USB cable.

The Lenovo is an affordable smart alarm clock that won’t take up much space. And with its built-in Google Assistant, it can be operated completely hands-free.

Best for: Anyone looking for a compact digital alarm clock that offers time, day, and weather info at a glance, and those who prefer using voice controls over physical buttons.

Why it’s great: Lenovo offers two Smart Clocks, the Lenovo Smart Clock and its cheaper sibling, the Lenovo Smart Clock Essential. We liked the smaller and more affordable of the two because its options are true to its name—Essential—with time, weather, and day easily viewed at a glance across its 4.5-inch auto-brightness-adjusting LED display.

Most everything this alarm clock can do is hidden, accessed using its built-in Google Assistant voice controls or with the Google Home app. Even though the clock is outfitted with four evenly distributed buttons—for volume, turning on music, and the alarm settings—they are obscured from view due to the angled wedge design. Unless you’re looking at them from above, the buttons are discernible only by touch, and I often fumbled at night or in the early morning while trying to turn on music or adjust the volume. There’s also a tap at the top to enable the snooze feature, but it sometimes required another touch to register. To set the alarm, adjust the volume, or turn on the night-light, it was always much easier to summon help with a “hey, Google …” instead. Fortunately, the clock’s two microphones (one in the front, the other in the back) are very sensitive and able to discern commands, even when we used a hushed volume at night. And though the clock’s single-speaker output can be a bit tinny for playing music, it can get surprisingly loud and is just fine for alarm tones and answering Google Assistant prompts.

The clock’s compact size is ideal for anyone with limited space. Even so, Lenovo included a USB 2.0 Type-A port in the back for charging devices (albeit at a slow rate, which is best for overnight charging). There’s also an oval-shaped night-light in the back. But the output is fairly dim, even at the brightest setting, so it’s best used as an ambient light to help you find your way in the dark.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The clock’s physical buttons make a satisfying click when pressed. But because of their angled pitch, they’re small and hard to discern. The tap-to-snooze feature can be finicky.

This alarm clock has a unique tip-proof, triangular design, and you can set the display to turn off automatically after 10 seconds (just tap the clock’s face to wake it up again).

Best for: Those who prefer the look of wood over plastic and who value unfussy contemporary design—as well as those who want an alarm clock that displays the time, date, temperature, and humidity at a glance.

Why it’s great: The Oct17’s triangular-shaped wood body looks much nicer than one might expect from a budget clock. In fact, it’s more attractive than many pricier clock options we considered. (It’s also the only clock we found that’s virtually impossible to tip over.) This model is very affordable, and yet compared with the cheap feel of the DreamSky and Capello alarm clocks, the Oct17 seems upscale. The clock’s wood-grain finish has a great feel, and its cool “now you see me, now you don’t” LED display shines from beneath its veneer.

The Oct17 displays more information at a glance than any other clock we recommend, showing the time and date (alternating) alongside the temperature and humidity level—all without requiring an internet connection. If you’re bothered by ambient light glowing from your clock, the Oct17 has three brightness settings. And it’s the only display we found that you can set to turn off completely after 10 seconds. But when you need to know the time again, a clap of the hands or a tap on the front face will reawaken the clock for 10 seconds.

If you don’t wake at the same time each day, this is the digital alarm clock for you: It has three separate alarms, including one you can set to skip on weekends (to allow for sleeping in).

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Navigating the clock’s mode settings and feature adjustments proved unintuitive, requiring more button presses than a Street Fighter move combination.

Why it’s great: The RCA RCD30 is an affordable digital alarm clock with a bright display, an easy-to-use button layout, and an alarm loud enough to wake even heavy sleepers. It’s also the least expensive model we tested, making it an easy choice when you need something cheap and dependable, like for a guest room or a vacation rental.

The RCA is a basic unit, but it has all you really need in an alarm clock. It’s one of the smallest clocks we considered, so it won’t take up much room on your nightstand. But it’s also easy to read, with a 3.75-by-1.4-inch illuminated display that’s visible in daylight and at night from at least 20 feet away. The large display size is a boon for people who wear glasses because there’s no need to fumble for them in order to check the time. If a big display keeps you up at night, know that the RCD30 does offer a dimmer setting.

The no-frills RCA is also easier to use than other, more complicated clocks we tested. It has a large snooze button across the top, so you can usually hit it without much trouble. On the back, there are three switches: one for setting the time and alarm, one for dimming the front display, and one for turning the alarm on and off. The alarm emits a loud, constant beep that can be heard from at least 20 feet away. That wake-up call continues until you shut off the alarm or hit snooze (which provides an extra nine minutes of slumber every time you press it, for well over an hour).

The RCD30 also comes with the option for backup via a 9-volt battery, so you won’t lose your settings if the power goes out at 2 a.m. As with most of the alarm clocks we tested, when the RCD30 is using only battery power, it will not display the time, but the alarm will still go off.

Flaws but not dealbreakers:A few of the alarm clocks we reviewed have up and down buttons for setting the time. The RCA does not. The minute and hour buttons go in only one direction, so if you get distracted while setting the time and go too far, you’ll need to cycle through again. This is not unique to the RCA, though; setting the alarm on the Alessi Optic 02 B presented a similarly frustrating, “careful, don’t miss it” experience.

This was one of the least sleep-disruptive digital alarm clocks we tested. Whether it’s the night-light, the snooze button, or the sound of the alarm tones, every detail feels like it’s been refined to reinforce a state of calm.

Best for: Those who believe in the minimalist ethos of “less, but better,” and people who enjoy falling asleep or waking up to ambient music and nature sounds.

Why it’s great: The Loftie can fool you into thinking you’re waking up of your own accord every morning, rather than being forcibly annoyed out of bed. Of all the alarm clocks we tested, the clock’s selection of five ambient compositions best induced the sensation of arising alongside the natural cues of the morning—sounds of birds, ambient tones, morning temple bells. After nine minutes, the Loftie follows up the first alarm with an ever-so-slightly more-insistent “get up” chime. (After first using the Loftie, I wrote down that “I felt like I had arisen to a morning directed by Terrence Malick, all contemplative mood and relaxing stillness.”) There’s the option to set different alarms scheduled for different days of the week, as well as a multitude of alarms you could set as reminders throughout the day—to get up occasionally, exercise, or walk the dog, among other everyday tasks.

You do not need your phone to use the Loftie—you can play everything, including podcasts, right from the device. But you do need to use the Loftie app on your phone to get the clock online during setup; this allows the clock to receive regular updates. Photo: Rozette Rago

The buttons on top of the Loftie, from left to right: snooze/night-light button, a multipurpose button to adjust brightness and volume, and a button for setting the alarm. Photo: Rozette Rago

The Loftie is also designed to help owners relax and fall asleep. It includes a variety of background-noise generators (white, brown, pink, and so forth), meditation/breathwork soundscapes, and even a podcast called Snoozecast. Any sound can be programmed to be activated or turned off with the press of a button, and this made the Loftie easy to use when the heavy blanket of unconsciousness began to take over at night.

The adjustable night-light hidden at the base can be turned on and off using the large button on top of the clock (it’s also a snooze button). Video: Rozette Rago

Of clocks we’ve tested, this one’s display isn’t the largest or the brightest. But it’s clear, and it automatically sets the time once connected to a Wi-Fi network. We also liked the clock’s all-black exterior (it comes in a white and black option, too), which is free of distracting lights or branding. There’s an adjustable night-light hidden at the base that’s easily turned on and off, using the large button on top of the clock (it also works as the snooze button). You won’t be able to read using the light, but it’s bright enough for when you’re fumbling for your glasses or going to the bathroom in the middle of the night. The two other buttons are for setting the alarm, accessing brightness and volume settings, setting the duration of the sleep timer, and choosing alarm tones. The Loftie isn’t “smart” like other smart alarm clocks, in that you won’t be served the news or the weather with the aid of a voice assistant. But on a regular basis this clock can get additional features delivered via Wi-Fi updates. For instance, we discovered one night that there were a few more soothing classical compositions to wake up to than we’d had the day before and that alarm-scheduling options had been expanded. The developers recently added Bluetooth speaker functionality and are promising Spotify connectivity and additional sounds as features that are “coming soon.” We’ll update this guide when—and if—these features appear.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Loftie was $165 when we first tested it, but the price has dropped to $150. We still think it’s a pretty penny to pay for any device, let alone an alarm clock with a purposely edited selection of features. The numerical display is legible up close, but it’s slightly dimmer when viewed off-center. And, for nearsighted sleepers like us, we wish there were an option to increase the display size.

A serene alternative to loud alarms, this clock induced a gentler wake-up (a simulated sunrise accompanied by birdsong) than any other clock we tried. But it’s pricey, and it’s harder to navigate than the other clocks we tested.

Best for: Anyone who hates being jolted awake each morning with a wailing alarm, and those who prefer easing into consciousness with increasing luminosity.

Why it’s great: A top pick in our guide to sunrise alarm clocks, the Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light HF3520 is still our favorite sunrise alarm clock for anyone who hates being woken abruptly. Over the span of 30 minutes, the luminous LED orb produces a convincing simulation of dawn or dusk. It provides a kinder, gentler wake-up than any other alarm we recommend, and it’s the only clock we tested that can help lull you to sleep at night. The Wake-Up Light also includes more alarm options than most clocks we tried, with five nature-themed tones, along with a built-in FM tuner and a backup alarm. (However, navigating the clock’s touch surface and icon-based menu system isn’t very intuitive, and not always responsive.) Our favorite setting was a combination of the simulated sunlight paired with the convincing sounds of cheerful chirping birds.

We also found the clock’s light sufficiently bright enough to work as a decent reading lamp, making the Wake-Up the only clock we recommend that can do so. At 8 inches wide, this model takes up a lot more room on the nightstand than other clocks we tested. But when you think of the Wake-Up as a combination alarm clock and bedside lamp, it presents a pretty efficient use of space.

The buttons around the rim of the Wake-Up Light are small and almost indistinguishable from one another, so it can be easy to press the wrong one. Photo: Sarah Kobos

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Despite the Wake-Up Light’s overall size, its numerical digital display is less than an inch tall and so not as easy to read as those of the other clocks we tried (especially with its light at full brightness). The secondary set of tactile buttons across the unit’s top are more intuitive to use than the icons on the clock’s display, but they’re small and all the same size, so it’s easy to press the wrong button. The FM radio is a plus, but considering that the clock is our second-most-expensive pick, the silver-dollar-sized rear-facing speaker is tinny and disappointing. The LED bulb is rated to last seven years with regular use. But it cannot be replaced, so over time the clock could lose its most distinguishing feature.

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.

Why it’s great: If you want a dependable alarm clock with a timeless analog design that’s dead silent and easy to use, the Lemnos Riki checks all of those boxes. The only alarm clock among our picks with a design-award pedigree, the sedate beechwood Riki was designed by Japanese modernist Riki Watanabe, whose work was known for being simple yet functional. The Riki’s prominent face has half-inch-tall numerals and large hour and minute arms, so it’s easy to read—even in dim light and from a distance. The clock’s sole button consolidates the light and snooze functions (doling out extra sleep in four-minute increments), and we found it effortless to use, even with our eyes closed. When you press the button, the clock illuminates just enough to make the face legible (a big plus for those of us who like to peek at the time before we have any real intention of waking up). The brightness level seemed more akin to candlelight than to the intrusive modern glare produced by the LED- or LCD-backlit displays on other clocks we tested. Even the next-dimmest night-light (on the Marathon Analog Desk Alarm Clock with Auto-Night Light) seemed much too bright after we’d acclimated to the Riki’s tranquil illumination.

Although it looks perfectly round, the clock actually has a subtle indentation on its base that keeps it from rolling away—and from moving when brushed or bumped. And because this clock is battery-operated (it needs only a single AA battery), there are no cords to worry about. In addition to its snooze button, the straightforward Riki has just three controls: an on/off switch for the alarm and two dial knobs to set the time and the alarm.

If the tick-tock of some clocks’ mechanical movement tends to keep you awake, rest assured that this clock is completely silent—something we can’t say about the percussive passing of time produced by the Alessi Optic 02 B or the faint bzzzz emanating from the Marathon Analog Desk Alarm Clock with Auto-Night Light. The only sound the Riki makes comes from its alarm, which is loud enough to wake you without being annoying.

Flaws but not dealbreakers:The Riki isn’t cheap, and it’s gone up a bit in price since we first tested it. Even though this clock is still available on Amazon and at various other retailers, the Lemnos site currently lists the Riki as “archived,” so we’re investigating whether it may have been discontinued permanently. We will update this guide as soon as we know more.

Setting the Riki’s alarm to a specific hour is fairly simple to do, but setting it to an exact minute is more of an estimate, due to the clock’s dial face. The ABS resin snooze-and-light button matches the color of the beechwood clock case, but it isn’t made of wood.

Alarm clocks may seem a bit old-fashioned, since everyone and their grandmother now uses a phone as an alarm. A search for “alarm clock” on Amazon returns a paltry seven pages of models to choose from, many only minutely different from the next (and most so ugly that the thought of sleeping near them is enough to induce mild insomnia).

Produces a pleasant alarm tone:The ideal alarm will wake you up without creating a jarring effect. We favored models with pleasant tones and the option to change them based on personal preference.

Dimmable: A persistent, noticeable bright light can be a detriment to falling asleep. We highly recommend a clock with the option of manually or automatically dimming the display.

Simple to set: Accessing alarm on/off settings or adjusting features like snooze, brightness, and alarm volume shouldn’t require a PhD or a YouTube tutorial.

Unobtrusive: An alarm clock should not be the first thing you notice in a bedroom—perhaps it should even be the last. Leave the statement pieces to the living room.

Extra features: Radio, USB ports, Bluetooth and internet connectivity, multiple alarms, alarm sound and tone options, and a backup battery are all welcome (but not necessary).

In 2018, after reading through customer reviews on Amazon and other retailers—and focusing particularly on the qualities listed above—we called in the 10 most promising alarm clocks. We used each clock for a few days and nights. In 2021, we again scoured retailers and called in four more alarm clocks to test. We tested each model in our bedrooms, with the alarm set half an hour earlier than our usual wake-up time, to ensure the clock’s alarm tone was responsible for breaking our usual sleep cycle as well as to allow us to use each clock’s snooze function while still groggy. We also kept an eye out for cosmetic defects, and we inspected the durability of materials and construction, imagining the litany of abuse an alarm clock may have to endure over its lifetime. Aside from the largest clock (the Philips Wake-Up Light), our picks are small; they should fit on most nightstands and won’t slide or knock over easily.Other good alarm clocks

If you’re just looking for a basic and affordable AM/FM radio clock: Consider the Sangean RCR-5, a back-to-basics dual-alarm clock radio that costs less than $50. The Sangean scores solidly online with owners, but we found the clock’s cheap, glossy plastic finish and overly conspicuous logo distracting and reminiscent of models found on drugstore electronics shelves. It made us appreciate the similarly priced Lenovo Smart Clock Essential’s tasteful simplicity that much more.

If you’re looking for a smart alarm clock with a color screen: Consider the Lenovo Smart Clock, which is just barely larger than its more affordable, monochromatic, non-touch Essential counterpart but combines a punchy, full-color touchscreen display with the same Google Assistant hatful of tricks. The introduction of another bright color screen in the bedroom isn’t a great idea, though, and the few other extras the Smart Clock adds—a selection of user-customizable faces and more alarm options than in the Essential—do not really justify its price.The competition

Amazon Echo Spot: Amazon discontinued the Echo Spot, so we can no longer recommend it. Although it was the most expensive clock we tested, we loved how small and simple it was to set up. It also offered more features than any other clock in our tests. Amazon has folded features from the Echo Spot into its smart displays, like the Echo Show 8 and the cheaper Echo Show 5 (which you can read more about in our guide to smart displays). We also recommend the Echo Dot in our guide to Alexa speakers, one of which comes in a version with an LED clock display.

Marathon Analog Desk Alarm Clock with Auto-Night Light: The Marathon has many great features. In addition to its compact design (the clock measures 3.5 inches wide by 1.5 inches deep), the Marathon features a sensor night-light, dead-quiet movement, a clearly marked alarm and snooze buttons, and a low-glow light that’s similar to (but not quite as good as) the one on the Riki. Its one and only shortcoming was legibility: The clock’s printed numerals were small and hard to read at a glance. We’d still recommend it if you want a battery-operated alarm clock that’s easy to throw in your luggage.

Lexon Flip On/Off Alarm Clock: (Of note: This clock has now been replaced by the Lexon Flip Plus; the size hasn’t changed, however.) The Lexon Flip is fun to use and has a novel design that works well: To turn the alarm on or off, you flip the entire clock over, instead of pressing a button or a switch. Each side is clearly marked, with “on” written across the clock’s rubber coating on one side and “off” written across the other side. The Flip (which is nearly impossible to tip over) takes up little space, but its small size also means it isn’t as legible as we’d like for an everyday alarm clock. Its LCD display is hard to see in standby mode, and it’s easy to read only with the backlight on. Also, its high-pitched digital tone is effective yet annoying.

MoMA Alume Cube Clock: We liked the Alume for its compact, 2.75-inch minimalist silver-cube design. It should fit on any surface with plenty of room to spare, displaying the time, date, and temperature with a snap of the fingers or a tap on its top. Where the clock comes up short: the absence of snooze or dimming options (the display turns completely off between snaps or taps) with an LED display that glows a bit too cold and bright for tired or still-waking eyes. If you do like this design, there are several knockoffs—with similar features—for a lot less.

Capello Round Time Table Clock: The Capello is a small and lightweight plug-in alarm clock with an easy-to-read LED display and a stylish gray-fabric front. A USB port in the back works great for overnight charging, but the listed “option to plug in your phone so you can listen to music” didn’t really work for us (with an iPhone). And the clock’s lightweight plastic construction made it easy to knock over. The snooze button isn’t a real button—touches or light taps won’t register. Snoozing the alarm requires a firm, palm-down press across the entire clock. If you’re sensitive to light, you should note that even at the dimmest of this clock’s three settings, the LED display was distracting. We eventually had to turn it face-down.

Alessi Optic 02 B Alarm Clock: This now-discontinued model from Alessi was an example of high design being hampered by low-quality features. This clock was too audible to be a peaceful bedside companion, producing a tick-tock sound so loud that it bothered us even when we were in the next room. No doubt, the Italian space-age design is eye-catching, but having this clock near the bed made the passing of time a torturous, second-by-second affair. And we found its plastic construction flimsy, with tiny and difficult-to-set dial controls that had more in common with a cheap, drugstore alarm clock than something sold for many times the price.

touch screen monitors and burning in fingers made in china

Look for software updates; the set of watch faces that follows might differ from what you see on your Apple Watch Ultra. Not all watch faces available in all regions or on all models. To see the latest set of watch faces, make sure your software is up to date.

Available complications:Activity • Alarms • Astronomy (Moon Phase) • Audiobooks • Blood Oxygen • Calculator • Calendar (Today’s Date, Your Schedule) • Camera Remote • Compass (Compass, Compass/Elevation, Elevation, Level) • Compass Waypoints • Contacts • Controls (Battery, Cellular) • ECG • Find Devices • Find Items • Find People • Heart Rate • Home • Mail • Maps (Maps, Nearby Transit) • Medications • Messages • Mindfulness • Music • News • Noise (Sound Levels) • Now Playing • Phone • Podcasts • Reminders • Shortcuts • Sleep • Stocks • Stopwatch • Timer • Tips • Voice Memos • Walkie-Talkie • Weather • Workout • World Clock (Sunrise/Sunset)

Available complications:Activity • Alarms • Astronomy (Moon Phase) • Audiobooks • Blood Oxygen • Calculator • Calendar (Today’s Date, Your Schedule) • Camera Remote • Compass (Compass, Compass/Elevation, Elevation, Level) • Compass Waypoints • Contacts • Controls (Battery, Cellular) • Cycle Tracking • ECG • Find Devices • Find Items • Find People • Heart Rate • Home • Mail • Maps (Maps, Nearby Transit) • Medications • Messages • Mindfulness • Music • News • Noise (Sound Levels) • Now Playing • Phone • Podcasts • Reminders • Remote • Shortcuts • Sleep • Stocks • Stopwatch • Timer • Tips • Voice Memos • Walkie-Talkie • Weather • Workout • World Clock (Sunrise/Sunset)

Available complications:Activity • Alarms • Astronomy (Moon Phase) • Audiobooks • Calendar (Today’s Date, Your Schedule) • Compass (Compass, Compass/Elevation, Elevation, Level) • Controls (Battery) • Heart Rate • Medications • Messages • Music • News • Noise • Now Playing • Podcasts • Reminders • Shortcuts • Stocks • Stopwatch • Timer • Weather • Workout • World Clock (Sunrise/Sunset)

Tip:When you add the Moon complication to a corner of a watch face that includes it, you can see the time of the next moonrise or moonset. For example, 11:44 PM, 12H 4M indicates that, at your location, the moon will set below the horizon at 11:44 in the evening, which is 12 hours and 4 minutes from the current time.

touch screen monitors and burning in fingers made in china

You Might Also Be Interested In