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LCD Clock (VGW-P2684/VGW-269) Pen holder Time display Five drawers for small stationeries collection Three drawers in-between with 360 turning Choose different combination of tw…

There are better ways to wake up in the morning than by relying on your phone’s alarm function. Not only can that be a recipe for disaster should you forget to charge your device overnight, but a real alarm clock often has a louder volume, a clearer display, and other handy add-ons like USB ports (for charging said phone) and sunrise-simulating light bulbs. So while we’ve written about lots of things that will help you fall asleep — including natural supplements, nighttime earbuds, and comfortable linen sheets — here, we’re focusing on things that will wake you up. Specifically, the best alarm clocks, as praised by the most enthusiastic reviewers on Amazon.

This Strategist-approved alarm clock has more than 30,000 five-star reviews from buyers who love its minimal and sleek design. In fact, nearly 20 percent of reviewers say it “looks great,” with one going so far as to call it a “perfect little gem.”Another reviewer, who “did not want an obnoxious bright light staring at me during the night or when I wanted to take a nap,” was delighted with this purchase. They like it so much, in fact, that they “plan on getting about three more to place in various places in the house” because the adjustable brightness and dark interface are ideal for light sleepers.“Not only is it sleek and beautiful (we purchased the black), but the numbers are easy to read and it’s very easy to program (you’ll want to read the directions once),” writes another reviewer, who’s also so happy with the purchase that they “are going to purchase another one for my side of the bed.”

There are nearly 12,000 verified five-star fans of this simple, effective electric alarm clock with battery back-up on Amazon. “What I like about the clock are the large numbers, so very easy to read” writes a typical reviewer, echoing hundreds of similar declarations. Reviewers also say the dimmer is especially effective. As one puts it, “If, like me, you like the alarm right by your bedside, the dimmer allows you to set the brightness to your comfort level — all the way from exceedingly bright to exceedingly dim.” “[Y]ou can even make the display go completely dark,” adds another. And, while basic, customers like that that clock includes “a bright night light at the top for reading in bed.” This beep’s job is to awaken, not comfort, and reviewers note that it is not a pleasant, soft tune: “Alarm is loud even on low and an awful sound,” says one. Another says, “I expected this clock to be okay, based on the reviews, but it is so MUCH better. I LOVE IT.” They describe the sound as “effective but not jarring,” and add that they “like the nice solid and satisfying click of the button when you set the time.”

People like this old-school clock radio for its compact size and blue numbers. “Even at its brightest, it’s a lovely blue light. Not obnoxious at all,” says one reviewer. Several note that the “instructions are intuitive.” And for its size and price, people are impressed with the features. “Another neat addition is a USB port in the back of the unit for charging your smartphone while you sleep,” one points out. And this is not a violent wake-up call: “Alarm volume comes up in steps for 5 seconds so it does not startle,” as one who gives this clock five stars puts it. It also has a thermometer, which one buyer calls “a super feature.” Several reviewers warn that this is a small speaker, not a hi-fi system, but most users are pleased with the antenna. One says, “Where I live it is sometimes hard to get a good signal, but with this the radio reception is outstanding.”

People like this Peakeep for its throwback looks, simplicity, low price, and loudness. As one reviewer writes, “The volume of the alarm is ‘old school’ awesome with a hammer beating two bells without the option to stop them other than getting up and turning it off. The lack of a snooze button is a godsend.” It’s so loud it’s effective for those with hearing loss. Several dozen purchasers with hearing issues vouch for this alarm. One says, “I no longer stay awake all night fearing that I’ll miss a wake-up call.” They also call the clock “adorable” and “a miracle.” Users also like that, when the alarm isn’t going, this clock has a smooth second hand, so it’s especially quiet, “The second hand sweeps too, so no annoying ticking next to the bed,” as one purchaser puts it.

About a quarter of reviewers love this alarm clock because of its built-in night light that’s both very bright and shifts colors. One parent, who bought this for their seven-year-old, says, “It stays on long enough for him to fall asleep and if he wakes in the middle of the night he can easily turn the light back on.” It’s a hit with another reviewer, who keeps it in a guest room: “The night light feature is so helpful for guests to move around in an unfamiliar house at night.” Users can also choose between seven colors for the night light, depending on your mood or decor, which dozens admit is cool. One reviewer says their daughter “changes the color multiple times every day - super fun and unexpected.” In addition to the night light, reviewers like how compact this light is. One even says “it fits on my mini clamp-on side table just fine with room for my Kindle and tablet, phone and other small items.” It also comes with two USB ports and the sound is adjustable, which one reviewer, who bought this for their daughter who “jump scares” easily, appreciates: “She has it on low and that doesn’t startle her awake but instead is gentle enough to be a pleasant way to awaken.”

Along with a bright seven-inch LED screen, USB charging, and five adjustable dimming levels, the Mesquool Alarm Clock has a 180-degree tiltable projector that shows time on your wall or ceiling. One reviewer says, “It’s very easy to change from one color to another by toggling the top of the clock. It also has a very large, easy-to-read display, I don’t even need my eyeglasses.” Another reviewer who says they have poor eyesight finds the projected time display so helpful. A third reviewer says the range of brightness is impressive, “meaning you can set it to be so dark that you can barely see it in the dark, or so bright that it can be seen in bright light.”

Nearly 71 percent of reviewers give this alarm clock five stars, including nearly 500 who praise its dual USB ports. “I wanted something that was more of a one-stop function for my bedside,” begins one such reviewer, who purchased two “unfortunate” alarm clocks before finding “the USCCE answer to my prayers! Being able to plug in and charge my phone or Kindle as needed leaves more room on my nightstand.” Another pleased customer didn’t expect to use the USB charging ports, but he found them helpful when anticipating some important middle-of-the-night calls. “Instead of having to move my charger from where I prefer to keep it and set it up next to my bed,” he says, “I just plugged the phone in to the clock. That allowed me to sleep without being concerned that the phone battery might die during the night.” But the USB ports aren’t the only nice thing about this alarm clock. One reviewer, who calls it a “feature-packed package,” especially likes that this clock offers two separate alarms to set and that it has a small footprint. Even so, “the numbers are large and very readable. The multifunctional dial on top can be used to adjust brightness all the way down to nothing,” they add.

Dozens of five-star reviewers love that this alarm clock’s built-in audio input allows it to do double duty as a speaker via an auxiliary cord. One customer bought this for their daughter’s new apartment and was surprised “at the excellent sound quality from the speakers when we put on the radio and when she plugged in her mp3 player with an aux cord. She doesn’t feel like she needs to buy a radio or stereo anymore; she just uses the clock.” Another customer, who bought this alarm clock specifically to use as a speaker, is also pleased with its easy-to-read screen and projector: “The actual clock screen is able to be seen by me (a wearer of glasses) from where I lay about eight feet away, and I aimed the projector across the room near the ceiling, which is about 20 feet, and I can see it perfectly. Neither light is overly bright but is still able to be seen without strain.” Given all the features, nearly 500 shoppers say this clock is well worth the price, even though you have to buy an aux cord to use the similarly well-reviewed audio input. One even says mornings are no longer a “battle” with her teenage daughter: “The projection display is clever and engaging. She is able to see the time without rolling over in bed. She has to get out of bed to turn off the alarm, so it actually wakes her up!!!”

This do-it-all device functions as a speaker and control for smart-home devices, but hundreds of reviewers love using it as an alarm clock.One reviewer who bought this as a replacement for an alarm clock they had for decades writes, “I don’t regret getting this Dot. With Alexa, [setting an alarm] is a no-brainer … just tell her what time to wake you, and she will ask you all of the questions needed to be sure that is the time you will be awoken!” Others appreciate that the “setup was a breeze, even though it’s a smart-home device. Another traded out their old alarm clock for this little speaker and calls it “the best addition to my bedroom!”Though they note the display “could be a little larger for my age group,” its other capabilities make it worth it: “The ability to say, ‘Hey, Alexa, play Jimi Hendrix,’ without getting out of bed to plug in a CD makes up for a little squinting. Looks nice, functions well, and we are super-happy with this latest device.”

“This is the one you want,” writes one reviewer, because it comes with just about every feature you could imagine. “It auto dims at night, so [you] can still see it but it isn’t a beacon in your room. It has a USB charging port, date, time, day, temperature and humidity level and even cycle of the moon. It appears to be accurate and the convenience of being able to charge my phone from it is great.” And you don’t have to wait to start enjoying this alarm clock, because reviewers say it works straight out of the box. “The minute I plugged it in, it showed the right time, date, etc. No setting was necessary,” writes one reviewer. This wasn’t a fluke, since dozens of reviewers say the same thing. The built-in humidity gauge, though specific, is especially popular among users withhumidifiers. “The moist ‘bang for the buck’ came with the humidity display,” one jokes, before getting serious. “I have had a humidifier in the bedroom for years but I never knew what the actual reading was. Now that it is displayed, I can regulate when higher humidity is not needed and I can turn the humidifier on and off when the desirable humidity is reached.”

“In short, if you need an analog alarm clock that doesn’t keep you awake with an audible ‘tick,’ this should be on top of your list,” writes a reviewer, one of dozens who point out that this alarm clock is silent. One reviewer says it’s not noisy, with “no irritating ‘tick tock’ sound – but its alarm is more than ample if placed on a motel bedside table close to you.” More than 40 percent of reviewers say it’s great for travel, too, since it’s “small, lightweight, light to see time in the dark and no click movement.” Plus, it’s reliable. One reviewer, “Used it on my golf trip and never missed a tee time.” But it works just as well at home: “These are small and meant for travel but in my family we also use them in our bedrooms next to our beds as everyday clocks, and we like them enough to have ordered several.”

A reviewer writes that this alarm clock is great for seniors “to read and orient themselves to information that they might find confusing — such as date, day, and time.” Another review says the large blue numbers make it convenient “to be able to refer to the date when I’m having a ‘senior moment’ and my other digital devices are turned off.” They say the temperature display is an added bonus. A reviewer who says that their husband has dementia and bad eyesight notes that “this clock is easy to see across the room, but can also be dimmed at night. Instead of asking multiple times a day what the day and date are, the clock is right by his recliner. I can even set the alarm for each of his medication times.”

The Sonic Bomb, which we’vewritten about before, has more than 18,000five-star reviews from reviewers who appreciate its serious volume and bed-shaking option.Nearly 350 reviewers specifically say that it’s effective for the notoriously hard-to-wake teen.“For months, [our teenage son] would be late to class and always claimed he never heard his alarm. But along came the Sonic Boom,” one reviewer writes.“Not only is this a fully functional alarm clock with HUGE numbers you can see very easily, but this clock packs an enormous and loud alarm … that will rock your face off!”That thunderous volume is a recurring theme in the reviews. “I actually worry the neighbors will complain. For real,” writes one. Hundreds also mention that it can “wake the dead.” A verified buyer even says, “This thing actually woke up a dead pet I had buried in my yard.”People also love the wired vibrating disc, which a user can place under the mattress or pillow. This feature can be used alone for a silent alarm (“like if your two roommates don’t have to be up for hours,” as one reviewer puts it) or in concert with the sonic alarm. As one fan sums up, the Sonic Boom is “absolutely ridiculous, but in the best way possible.”

“This will shiver your timbers,” warns one reviewer, who says if this alarm doesn’t get your attention, “you might want to check your pulse.” They placed the vibrating device under their “17-inch-thick innerspring mattress” and could still feel it going off. Another reviewer who hates how “jarring” regular alarms are calls this the “best hearing-impaired alarm clock ever” and appreciates that the “cord for the vibrator mechanism is nice and long and fits snugly under my pillow.” And a third reviewer whose son is partially deaf and can’t hear regular alarms got this “hoping it would help him wake for school each morning.” They report, “We have had this one for months, and so far he hasn’t missed a day of school.”

“The clock is simple and intuitive to set, as is the alarm feature,” one reviewer says, summing up the main appeal of this digital alarm clock with over 8,000 positive reviews. It has “a gentle but effective alarm sound,” as one user puts it. “If you need to see the time at night, all you do is press the top button and the dial lights up just long enough to see the time,” says a fan who bought it for tight quarters on a cruise, though a few reviewers noted the blue light could be a little too bright. Ultimately, people like this clock for its simplicity. One reviewer, in addition to noting it “seems robustly built, and the buttons have a nice feel,” likes that the display has “no weather, no incoming ICBM warnings, no horoscope symbols — just time, which is complex enough.”

Over 800 five-star customers use the word travel in their reviews of this alarm clock, mentioning its efficiency in hotel rooms, camper vans, and tents alike. “Great for travel, this alarm clock will not set off TSA scanners like larger travel alarm clocks,” says one reviewer, who notes that it “belongs in every traveler’s grab-bag of tricks.” Hundreds of other reviewers mention that this clock is well-designed, with no ticking sound. One self identified “clock person” says that she and her “non-clock addicted husband” were both thrilled when using this product in their camper van: “The clock is SILENT, very important when your living space is approximately 6 by 5. Love the light button, it’s got a good but not ear-shattering alarm, it keeps perfect time, and it’s so cute.”

Compared to the ultra-small version above, this alarm clock is about one ounce and one inch bigger. And while many reviewers say it works for travel too, they also continue to use it as their primary alarm clock at home. “Bought a more expensive clock for my bedroom which did not work as advertised so I returned it immediately. However, in the same order I had purchased this clock for travel,” writes one customer who says that this clock “amazingly turned out to be the perfect solution for my bedroom clock.” They add, “All that money spent looking for the right bedroom clock and here it was all along.” Another pleased customer, who says this clock is “GREAT” for camping, traveling, and home use, names it as one of their “best purchases,” especially for the price: “I love the ‘sweep’ second hand and the face is big and easy to read (especially using the light at night).” In fact, over one hundred of the nearly 1,000 five-star reviewers mention readability as a major selling point of this simple, durable clock. One such reviewer says this clock is a “winner” because they can read it without glasses, and it doesn’t damage easily. “I knocked it off the nightstand when I dragged a towel over it while drying off and it flew across the room no scratches or damage.”

This alarm clock has been recommended to us by sleep experts, and is a favorite of writer Liz Krieger who says it provides “a slow, gentle progression from a barely-there golden glow to a bright, everything’s-gonna-be-all-right white light, steadfastly streaming just a few inches away from my head every morning, no matter what’s happening outside my window.” Amazon reviewers love it too. “I got it because I got tired of being owned by my phone,” writes one reviewer, who’s fully adjusted their nighttime routine thanks to this light therapy alarm clock. They set the timer, “and get in bed and read a book for an hour. Then the ‘sun goes down’ gradually, and I go to bed. Eight hours later, the ‘sun’ starts coming up gradually.” One reviewer, who sleeps with the shades closed, says, “This perfectly solves the problem of not being able to wake up to pleasing sunlight at an unnaturally late hour.” They continue, “The light is really powerful and works great as a reading lamp or just to get more light in the room during the day.” More than a quarter of reviewers also appreciate the natural (or natural-ish) sounds from this alarm clock. “I especially like the birdsong with flute music, as it reminds me of being in a spa,” says one reviewer, but you can wake up to ocean waves, classical music, and FM radio, too. And though this is the most expensive alarm clock on our list, reviewers think it’s worth it. “I initially had a hard time being willing to spend over $100 on a lamp/alarm, but you will not regret this purchase,” one reports.

This robot-shaped alarm clock is expressly designed to appeal to mechanically minded children. One reviewer’s “little guy” loves robots and was especially enamored with the “light-up eyes and the hand clips he can put pictures on.” (They also like that it is “quite sturdy and heavy.”) The alarm sound isn’t too ear-splitting — according to another reviewer, it’s “the perfect volume” to wake up their son so it doesn’t “startle him awake but just slowly get[s] him to wake up.” A third reviewer writes that their “4-year-old is the envy of all his siblings since I gave him this cute little robot alarm clock,” and they like how its “eyes flash and it has a nice (not annoying) beep when the alarm goes off.”

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.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.What to look forward to

We’re keeping an eye on the OneClock, a supposedly built-to-last-a-lifetime analog alarm clock that was crowdfunded on Indiegogo. But at a $300 retail price, it’s definitely not cheap. The pre-production sample we saw seemed promising, but we’ll update this guide once we’ve tested the publicly available version. We’re also going to look at the Echo Dot with clock in our next round of testing, to see how it compares to the Lenovo Smart Clock Essential.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.

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