The smartphone killed the alarm clock. Once mobile phones became our constant companion, it’s fair to say that most of us chucked our old-school alarm clock across the bedroom and directly into the bin. But as anyone who’s suffered a smartphone-related alarm failure will testify, there is still something to be said for a dedicated device that has only one purpose: to wake us up every single morning without fail.
To survive, the alarm clock has had to evolve. Today’s cutting-edge alarm clocks not only guarantee to get us out of bed in the morning, but also claim to aid us in getting a better night’s rest. For example, while light sleepers may require a little background noise to help lull them to sleep, deep sleepers need raucous, forceful alarms to wake them in the morning. No matter what your sleeping habits are, however, there’s an alarm clock out there that’ll do the job for you.
How to buy the best alarm clock for you
What kind of alarm clock should I buy?
Most alarm clocks offer the option of playing the radio or a selection of sounds when the alarm goes off. Retro alarm clocks with a traditional clock face may offer bells as opposed to a digital buzzer. However, there are other options to consider. Some models may have a Humane Waking System (HWS), which is a type of buzzer that starts off at a low volume and becomes louder at set intervals. Others, meanwhile, gently illuminate your bedroom as the set time appraoches, in order to simulate sunrise – these are designed to rouse you from your clumber in a more gentle, steady manner, which may appeal to those who really hate getting up in the mornings.
Do I want a mains– or battery-powered alarm clock?
An alarm clock’s power source is a key consideration. Obviously, travellers will want long-lasting battery models which make it clear when the batteries need changing, while those looking for a clock to put on a bedroom table will prefer ones which run off mains power. It’s also worth bearing in mind that a power outage can disrupt a mains-powered alarm clock, so ones equipped with a battery backup are well worth paying a little extra for.
Can I use my own music to wake me up?
In addition to the standard radio and buzzer options, some alarm clocks allow users to dock a media player like an iPod to play content from the device, or connect a USB stick, for a customised way to start the day.
What kind of display do I want?
Today, you can easily find digital alarm clocks with LED and LCD displays, as well as retro designs with the traditional clock face and analog quartz technology. For those of you who opt for a digital display, you’ll want to look for a display that is easy on the eyes and has an acceptable brightness level, which will vary from device to device – bear in mind, though, that those with automatic display brightness will stop your alarm clock lighting up your bedroom at night. Some alarm clocks move beyond standard displays and project the time onto the wall or ceiling for a larger, more easily readable display. If you want to be able to check the time without leaning over the bedside table, these are a great choice.
The best alarm clocks to buy
1. Sonic Bomb SBB500SS Loud Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker: The best for the seriously heavy sleeper
Price when reviewed: £31
You’ll feel as if a Norse God showed up at your bedside when this one goes off first thing in the morning. If you’re a properly heavy sleeper, then how about a 113-decibel buzzer to get you going? Just a warning: this is seriously loud. And if that somehow wasn’t enough to get you out of bed, this alarm clock also flashes multiple, bright LEDs and comes with a vibrating pad that fits under your mattress - to literally shake you out of your stupor. You can set the alarm to sound only or vibrate only - if both is a bit of a sensory overload - and it also comes with a 9 volt battery backup if the electricity cuts out in the middle of the night. Overall, this is a great, easy-to-set-up alarm, with our only slight niggle being we wish there was a bigger Alarm Off button.
Key specs - Size: 14 x 14 x 7cm, Power Supply: 230V-Adapter (included) or Battery (optional), Alarm time: 1-59 minutes, Snooze Time: 1-30 minutes, 113 db alarm
2. Philips Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock HF3520/01 Coloured Sunrise Simulation: The best for gentle mornings
Price when reviewed: £109
If you like the idea of waking up to the sunrise, but need that wake-up call to come at 7am every morning throughout the entire year, then this is the alarm for you. Philips’ Wake-Up Light uses a gentle glow to simulate the rising sun, waking you gently and naturally. You can choose from five different calming sounds to pair with the gradual light for an all-round sensory experience - so it’s like waking under tent canvas, without the cold and insect bites. It has an LED bulb, which although is not easily replaceable, is manufactured to last around 10,000 hours and has a low power usage. It also looks great on your bedside, as opposed to some of the other alarms on this list. However, there’s no USB port for you to wake to your own music, which for an alarm that costs over £100 is a disappointment. And although Philips call this a ‘coloured sunrise’ in fact the ‘colours’ are white - just at different levels of intensity.
Key specs - Size: 19.2 x 19.9 x 14.6cm, Power Supply: 240V-Adapter, 20-40 minute adjustable sunrise simulator, Snooze time: 9 minutes
3. SUCK UK Clocky - The Runaway Alarm Clock: The best for forcing you out of bed
Price when reviewed: £40
If you need a little extra incentive to get you out of bed in the morning then we may have the alarm for you. Clocky is the alarm that aims to get you up and out of breath before breakfast time. After the first time you hit snooze, the alarm starts moving away, creating enough distance to quite literally force you out of bed. It should be said though, that Clocky is unbelievably annoying. Unlike other alarms, it doesn’t just play a loop of music or emit a regular series of beeps that soon become synonymous with your mornings and can often be ignored. Instead, it plays a garbled, arrhythmical set of beeps, buzzes and pings that are simply too awful to ignore. However, if you’re a regular snooze hitter and don’t want to splash out mega money, Clocky may be the early-morning drill sergeant you’ve been looking for.
Key specs - Size: 13.3 x 8.9x 8.9cm, Power Supply: 4 AAA batteries, Alarm Time: up to 59 minutes, Snooze time: 9 minutes
4. HITO Atomic Radio Controlled Projection Alarm Clock: The best for easy reading
Price when reviewed: £25
You’ll never have to squint to see what the time is with the HITO Atomic Projection Alarm Clock. How many times have you rolled over to check the time and been blasted with bright blue light from your alarm or smart phone? Well this clock makes that a thing of the past as its projection feature displays the time on your wall or ceiling for easy viewing. Another great little feature is the temperature display, so you’ll already know what to wear when you’re out of bed. There are a few downsides however. Firstly, the function buttons can be quite confusing initially and secondly the fact that to run the projector permanently you have to go off the mains - whereas if you use batteries the projection only lasts for 30 minutes at a time is rather annoying. For those with of us with glasses who have trouble seeing first thing in the morning however, the Projection Alarm Clock is a lovely option.
Key specs - Size: 21.4 x 10.2 x 5.6cm, Power Supply: AC Power adapter included, Projector rotates 90 degrees
5. HITO 5.3" Smart, Simple and Silent LCD Alarm Clock: The best budget option
Price when reviewed: £5
If you’re after something cheap and cheerful and don’t feel that your smartphone is enough to wake you in the mornings, then HITO’s LCD Alarm Clock is a perfect budget option. It’s incredibly easy to use with a large display and also has an auto light sensor, which allows you to read the time easily in the middle of the night. Of course, with such a cheap alarm there are a few niggles. It doesn’t come with batteries, so make sure to get 3 AAAs before you buy and it’s also quite hard to see the display from a lower or elevated angle. Another issue is the short battery life - thanks largely to the backlight - and the short five minute snooze time. Other than that though, this is an effective alarm clock at an attractive price.
Key specs - Size: 9.9 x 5.8 x 6.4cm, Power Supply: 3 AAA batteries (not included)