No matter how many hours of sleep you manage each night, hearing your alarm tone and trying to wake up in the morning never really gets any easier.
Tech can’t yet promise to help you feel fresher in the morning, but devices like smart alarm clocks are helping to ease the burden on your body, by supporting handy home automation and friendlier reveilles.
There’s something for every budget, so let’s dive in and help make your wake-ups less problematic. If you still can’t decide, we’ve also got a list of things to consider at the end of this article that should help you narrow things down.
Top pick: Best smart alarm clock
For
- Sleep sensing features Surprisingly capable speaker Great smart home controls
Against
- No charging options for phones
Google’s second iteration of the Nest Hub represents a real change of emphasis, with the display now able to act as a dedicated sleep tracker.
Google’s Sleep Sensing feature allows the smart display to monitor your rest, provide a full report and, naturally, wake you up when you require. After a while, you’ll even get recommendations based on how restful your sleep is trending, with even more detail to be found in Google Fit.
With Google Assistant, a surprisingly good speaker on board and the lack of a camera, this is an excellent pick for your bedside table.
Improved sound quality Wide compatibility with third-party apps Well priced
No proper display
You get all the same benefits of the Echo Dot and Alexa, just with the added bonus of a small display for checking the time, alarms, timers and more at-a-glance. Plus, it’s the best-sounding Echo Dot so far. That makes it a natural pick for your bedside table.
Built for Google Assistant Optional Qi charging pad Available in three finishes
Limited touchscreen functionality for alarms
Lenovo jumps near to the top of our list with a device that is custom-designed for your bedroom. It’s a little smart display with Google Assistant built-in, but also packs a range of clever touches making it great for your bedside table.
Its auto-brightness system sees it actually get properly dark at night, unlike some screens, while having access to all your smart home commands and Google Assistant is almost luxurious.
The Smart Clock 2 is available in a range of finishes to match any decor and has much-improved audio compared to its predecessor.
Video call functionality Ring doorbell compatible Loads of features for the price
No YouTube support
A built-in camera also features, which is great news for those who crave video calling. If the thought of a camera on your bedside table is concerning, though, just know that a privacy shield is also there for ultimate assurance.
Soothing soft nightlight Sleep sound library Sunrise alarm functionality
Fewer features than some of the other options
The Hatch Restore is a smart alarm clock that blends in a warm light that allows you to get a personalised sleep schedule dialled in.
The light gently wakes you up with a gradual increase of light that mimics the sunrise, which is a great way to regulate your circadian rhythm.
You can add in sounds of your choosing, too - maybe bird sounds will help you smoothly rise from the depths of slumber.
To get even more access to different moods, there’s a connected app and subscription to go with it. Worth it if you’re looking for some variety.
How to choose a smart alarm clock
As you can see from our top picks, smart alarm clocks come in all manner of shapes and sizes. There are so many different features, interfaces and ecosystems that it can be hard to know where to start, So, to help you decide, here are some things that we recommend considering before you hand over your hard-earned cash.
Display or clock?
One of the most apparent differences between models is that some opt for a traditional digital clock, while others offer a fully-featured touchscreen display.
There are obvious benefits to having a full display, it unlocks so many more features and capabilities for the device. On the other hand, it can make your smart alarm clock much pricier and it might not be something that you will ever use.
We doubt that most people watch YouTube videos or Netflix on their smart clock but being able to see the video feed from a smart doorbell is pretty handy and adding visuals to your weather report can be super useful too,
Ecosystem compatibility
If you’re starting from scratch with smart home devices, then there’s not too much to worry about here; but if you’re already invested in an ecosystem then you’ll want to be careful with which smart alarm clock you buy.
There are all kinds of workarounds when it comes to making smart home devices talk to each other, but buying within the same ecosystem saves a lot of time and hassle.
Aesthetics
Of course, it’s no good having an all-singing, all-dancing smart alarm clock if it sticks out like a sore thumb. Luckily, there is a huge variety of styles that can match just about any decor.
Some models are available in a range of colours to make things even easier. Have a think about where your smart alarm clock is going to live and it should help you narrow down your options.
