![]() They don’t offer any of the latest technology or frills, but they get the job done. Most have one alarm setting and some, but not all, have a snooze button. Types of alarm clocks Analog alarm clocksĪnalog alarm clocks are powered either by batteries or electricity. ![]() However, using an alarm clock instead of a smartphone can reduce distractions as well as disturbances (from calls or messages) at bedtime. The standard Wake-up light (HF3520 £90) resembles an old car headlamp, beams light in a diffuse pattern into your room and has five wake-up sounds and an FM radio but the speakers aren’t great.Many people use an app on their phone as an alarm clock. Its current products are expensive but still popular, with better light than most competitors and fairly simple operation. Philips has been making them for the best part of two decades. The theory is that simulating dawn with increasing levels of light triggers your natural arousal, so that by the time it ramps up to maximum brightness you are ready to wake, feeling refreshed rather than feeling as if you have been dragged out of the deepest, darkest void. These are essentially alarm clocks that wake you up with light, with sound as a backup. Verdict: A small and great smart display that’s not too expensive.įull review: Google Nest Hub review: the smart display to buy Wake-up lights It can act as a good touch-control centre for smart home devices and show feeds from smart cameras. You can set multiple repeating alarms, while routines can be used to turn things on and off as you go to bed or wake up. ![]() The Google Nest Hub’s basic time setting. It is powered by Google Assistant, which can run all sorts of routines alongside various different alarms, so you can set it up to automate your mornings or nights, such as turning lights off, showing you the traffic ready for your commute. It is pretty compact and there is no camera to be worried about in the bedroom. The 4in touchscreen Lenovo shows a big clock most of the time rather than photos or other information. Verdict: A small, simple and smart Alexa alarm clock replacement.įull review: Echo Dot with Clock review: Amazon’s cheap Alexa alarm clock replacement Lenovo Smart Clock If you want a version that’s a full smart display there is the £50 Echo Show 5 as an alternative. It can be grouped with other Echo devices for multi-room audio, too. It sounds good for the money and is perfect for radio, or can pair with another Bluetooth speaker or output via a standard 3.5mm socket. The light ring at the top shows when it is listening to you. Four buttons on top take care of volume, mute and actions. Otherwise, it is the same as any Echo speaker. When set, it displays the time and your alarms, which you can set to repeat weekly, on weekdays or only at weekends. The simplest smart alarm clock is Echo Dot with Clock – it is Amazon’s cheapest Alexa smart speaker with an LED clock that glows through the front mesh and dims with ambient light. Verdict: It may be worth spending a bit more to get something good. ![]() Pitfalls to look out for are screens that are too bright at night, dimmer functions that make high-pitched whines and analogue clocks that make loud ticking sounds. The £30 Invicta looks stylish with its dark grey case or there are cheaper versions in other finishes.īrand-name clock radios with DAB start at about £50, such as the Pure Siesta series or the £80 Roberts Ortus 2. Acctim makes several versions with displays including the day, date and temperature, and a light that comes on at the touch of a button. Photograph: Argosįor a similar price you can get a radio-controlled clock that sets the time automatically when it is first switched on.
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