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Are you seeking a gentle way to rise or an alarm to wake the dead? We've tested 9 of the best alarm clocks over the past three years, and our current hunt for the perfect morning wake-up includes eight of the most popular clocks on the market. Although there is a lot of variation in these simple-looking little machines, we have organized our side-by-side comparisons so that you can find the perfect clock for your needs. Our in-depth analysis examines everything from alarm options to display types to ease of use and considers special features. While waking up to an alarm is not always enjoyable, you can at least rest easy knowing you have picked out a model that works best for your needs.
Editor's Note: Our alarm clock review was updated on March 13, 2024, to shine more light on how we tested these products and to include some additional recommendations in our award section.
The Amazon Echo Dot might not be what comes to mind when you think of an alarm clock, but this fifth-generation version of the Echo product line blew us away with its ease of use and variety of sleep-rousing options. The Echo Dot is Wi-Fi enabled, and although it requires using the Amazon Alexa app to set up, it only took our testers two taps of a finger to have an accurate time displayed on the small screen. Alarms can be set using the app or by asking Alexa to set an alarm for you. We enjoyed the tactile snooze feature — press the top of the device to snooze — but you can also ask Alexa to snooze if you are out of reach. With a large variety of built-in sounds, music streaming integrations, a small visual display for quick time checks, plus all the benefits of the Alexa smart-speaker product line, the Echo Dot is an ultimate alarm clock.
Despite its high performance, those looking for a more traditional or less interconnected device may have some qualms with the Echo Dot. Wall power, the phone app, and an internet connection are all required to use this clock. Although the setup is a breeze, adjusting the alarm time and details (beyond setting a single-use alarm) also requires the app. While the Alexa will happily recite the date or temperature, you will be disappointed if you hope to see more than the time displayed on this clock. Nevertheless, if you are looking for an integrated alarm clock — that also doubles as a smart speaker — look no further than the Echo Dot. If you prioritize a big bridge display above all else, check out the American Lifetime Day Clock.
The sleek design of the Amazon Echo felt futuristic when paired with the accompanying app and voice control capabilities.
The Magnasonic Projection alarm clock brings an interesting twist to the alarm lineup. It includes unique features that set it apart while costing much less than other top-scoring clocks. We were impressed with the easy setup of this device despite the higher-than-average number of buttons. We also liked the time-projection feature, which is handy if you do not want to stare right into an LCD with sleep-blurred eyes. Dedicated nap and sleep sound timers also came in handy because we didn't need to adjust our normal alarm for a mid-day snooze.
The Magnasonic Projection displays plenty of information like the day, time, and temperature, but reading the dot-style screen can be challenging. The time projects on a ceiling in large, bold numbers and is very readable in the dark, but easily reading it during the daytime was a struggle. Also, the alarm sound, which is a simple, jolting beep, is pretty uninspiring. But if you are shopping for better-than-average features in an alarm clock at a better-than-average price, the Magnasonic is still our first pick. If you want a better display, consider the JALL Wooden Electronic LED.
A dedicated sleep-sounds and nap feature are nice touches on the Magnasonic Projection clock, enabling a quick snooze without adjusting alarm times.
While simplicity is nice, having a highly customizable alarm that eases you awake instead of shocking you into consciousness is nice, too. The JALL Wake Up Light Sunrise alarm specializes as a gentle alarm clock. The clock offers seven light settings that slowly brighten over a customizable period before the alarm sounds. The alarm settings range from bird sounds to soft music to a more traditional beeping. The volume and text brightness are adjustable, so you can dial in your perfect settings to suit your sensitivities.
Unfortunately, this alarm requires a lot of fiddling to set up any particular preferences. For instance, you must first set the time, then ringtone, then volume, then wake-up brightness, then the length of the simulated sunrise — oh, and don't forget the color of the light. While this is not hard to do, it requires much more work than other models. Once customized to your liking, the Wake Up Light Sunrise alarm is straightforward and can make mornings all the more pleasant. If you prefer to skip the hassle and want an easier setup, consider an option like the Magnasonic Projection.
Ease into your mornings with the ultra-customizable JALL “sunrise” alarm.
Among the increasing complications of gadgets and devices in our lives, the simplicity of the Travelwey Home Digital is much appreciated. The slider dimmer for the display is intuitive and effective. The redundant battery power source and the night light are welcome features for those traveling with this alarm clock. The grippy rubber feet are also a nice touch for those groggy users swatting at the oversized snooze button.
Speaking of the snooze button, we miss the ability to adjust the snooze interval length with this clock. As it is, the Travelwey Home Digital is fixed at five-minute intervals instead of the typical ten-minute. This alarm is also limited by its lack of display colors or additional features like a phone charger port. However, you can adjust the alarm volume to either high or low with the flip of a switch, which is a nice touch. All in all, this is a simple and practical alarm clock at a very reasonable price. But if you value an adjustable snooze setting, the Sonic Alert Sonic Bomb Dual is worth a look.
Rest easy with the simple and effective Travelwey Digital alarm clock.
The Sonic Alert Sonic Bomb Dual alarm is designed to wake the dead. In addition to its loud alarm, it has a bed vibrator that will shake you awake. This later feature will help you keep on the good side of those sleeping nearby as they will not have to hear your alarm blaring while you saw logs. We also appreciate the adjustable alarm volume and the customizable snooze.
While the Sonic Bomb could be a standby in the modern necromancer's tool kit, its operation is no mystery. It lacks adjustability in the color and brightness of the text. Adjustments to both the time and alarm are a one-way scroll, which can be very frustrating if you accidentally miss your set time. However, it has a redundant power supply using both batteries and a cord, so your time and alarm settings will be saved when the unit is unplugged or the power goes out. If you are a heavy sleeper with a penchant for snoozing through alarms, this one will ensure you never miss a wake-up again. Also consider the Travelwey Home Digital for easy setup and a dimmable display.
The Sonic Bomb offers a buzz instead of buzzers; this alarm will vibrate you awake.
The Travelwey Digital Travel is a barebones, classic travel alarm where the display cover doubles as the unit's stand. Two AAA batteries power it, and it has a minimal footprint on the nightstand. The time and alert are easy to set, and the snooze is repeatable.
Despite how much we like the simplicity, the Travelwey Digital Travel lacks almost every feature offered by other models we reviewed. Most notably, this alarm will not charge your phone, the snooze interval is not adjustable, and you can not set more than one alarm. Furthermore, the alarm volume and tone are fixed, and the display is tiny. While all of that may seem too simplistic, it is a perfect, inexpensive option for those light travelers who still want a dedicated alarm clock outside their phone. The more techy travelers might prefer the Amazon Echo Dot, which is still relatively small and has the benefits of doubling as a speaker and Alexa hub.
The Travelwey Digital Travel alarm is plain and simple, just what the light traveler needs.
Credit: Laura Casner
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Alarm clocks lined up and ready for testing.
Credit: Hale Milano
How We Tested Alarm Clocks
Our review begins with ample market research. After comparing and contrasting dozens of products, we purchased all these clocks for side-by-side testing. From time and alarm settings to light and sound adjustments, we explore the full capabilities of every alarm we review, and this in-depth analysis provides insight into how these machines will perform in real-life situations.
We used four performance metrics in our alarm clock testing:
Alarm (30% of overall score weighting)
Display (25% weighting)
Ease of Use (25% weighting)
Features (20% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
GearLab Tester Hale Milano is a veteran home electronics tester. His experience allows him to tease out the nuanced differences that are often difficult to distinguish. Regarding alarm clocks, he's also a pro — waking up early frequently for work, travel, and morning workouts. He understands first-hand how an extra minute saved setting your alarm, or the perfect gentle wakeup, can make all the difference in a solid night's sleep.
The Magnasonic Projection clock puts the time up on the wall for an easier read in the middle of the night.
Unlike most models, the American Lifetime displays settings as you change them, and features large lettering along with two different color schemes.
Push-button operation makes setting the time, alarm, text brightness, and alarm volume a breeze on the DreamSky clock.
Slight differences in alarm clock features can make all the difference in how a model performs and whether or not it meets your needs.
Analysis and Test Results
To ensure that we covered all the uses and applications, we developed four metrics — alarm, display, ease of use, and features — that span all functional aspects of a high-quality alarm clock. Below is a detailed look at each metric, which clocks performed well in the underlying assessments, and why we chose to highlight specific alarm clocks.
What's the Best Value?
To rate the value of each alarm clock, we considered the blend between each model's price and overall performance. There is a broad range of prices and scores, and it is important to remember that price is not an overall factor of performance, nor does it guarantee that a device will meet your needs.
A great blend of price and performance is the Magnasonic Projection clock. It packs various features and user-friendly controls that helped it score highly across the board and comes in well under the average cost of other top-scoring models in our lineup. Although it is on the higher end of our price range, the additional features and overall performance score of the Echo Dot make it well worth your consideration, especially if you value the features of a smart speaker and alarm clock combination. Lastly — proving that your needs ultimately determine the value of a model to you — the Travelwey Digital Travel is one of the most budget-friendly alarm clocks in our lineup and is the perfect, packable option for people on the go.
Ultimately the features that are most important to you determine which alarm clock is the best value. While the Travelwey Digital Travel clock is great for those on the go, folks at home might find it too simple.
Credit: Laura Casner
Alarm
The most critical feature of an alarm clock is simply the ability to set the alarm and wake a sleeping person. We compared each model's different sound options, the range in alarm volume, and different types of sensory alarms, such as light and vibration. We also assessed whether or not each clock could store multiple alarms, and whether or not the snooze was adjustable.
Thanks to its Wi-Fi-enabled features, the Echo Dot was a top performer in this metric. Its ability to theoretically set an infinite number of alarms is unlike any other model we tested. We also loved the ability to set a quick alarm with only your voice, maximizing the amount of time you can dedicate to sleeping. This device also earned high marks thanks to many pre-loaded alarm sounds and the ability to integrate with music streaming services. A unique feature of the interconnected Echo is integrating your alarm with other smart home devices for a custom wake-up routine.
You can snooze the alarm with a tap of the finger, or by just saying “snooze”, with the smart Amazon Echo.
Credit: Hale Milano
The JALL Wake Up Light also scored highly in our alarm tests. This highly customizable model features a gentle light-based alarm that integrates with various audio options for a soothing wake-up.
The gentle wake-up of the JALL Sunrise alarm makes for a soothing morning simulating the natural sunrise.
Credit: Laura Casner
Notable mentions in our alarm tests were the Sonic Alert Sonic Bomb Dual for its jarring alarm volume and vibration features and the JALL Wooden Electronic LED clock, which can set three different alarms.
The Sonic Bomb is the only alarm clock we tested with an auxiliary buzzer to vibrate you awake.
Large text alerts on the American Lifetime clock can accompany each alarm.
Helpful features like vibration, lights, and multiple alarm options set some models apart.
Display
While the display may seem like there is not too much to it, there is quite a bit going on with an alarm clock's display. We considered the size of the display, how a clock displayed information like time — whether it can be displayed as a 12- or 24-hour clock — and the text size, including the size of the AM/PM indicator. We also considered the ability to adjust the color and brightness of the display, two factors that can greatly affect your ability to read a clock.
While many clocks in our lineup offer limited display options, the JALL Wooden LED stands out. Although its accuracy is somewhat erratic, this clock can additionally display temperature and humidity.
Displays vary in the information they provide. The JALL Wooden clock is unique in that it will tell you the temperature and humidity.
Credit: Laura Casner
Another standout is the American Lifetime Day Clock, which has a huge five-by-five-inch display. This clock's bold letters and numbers are easily readable from a distance, and it functions as a calendar by displaying the date and day of the week.
Calendar clocks, like the oversized American Lifetime, are great for offices and living rooms.
Credit: Laura Casner
If you're looking for a clock with particularly large text, the Travelwey Home Digital and DreamSky Compact Digital are also solid choices. Although the display leaves something to be desired, the Magnasonic Projection can project the alarm time in large, bold font on the wall or ceiling.
Big, bold text is a sight for sore eyes on the TravelWey Digital clock.
The JALL Sunrise clock has a display that is surprisingly easy to see, even during the day.
The bright text of the DreamSky is easily dialed down when it's time to hit the hay.
Each clock has large displays easily read daily and at night.
Ease of Use
The ease of use metric considers overall setup, individual alarm settings, and adjustments for each clock. When every minute of sleep counts, time spent fuddling with alarm adjustments — or even worse, having to look up instructions — is wasted. There were several top contenders for this metric, all with their strengths and weaknesses.
The Travelwey Home Digital is one of the most intuitive alarm clocks we set up, with clearly labeled and easy-to-use buttons. Setting an alarm is the same as setting the time — an elegantly simple operation.
The Travelwey clock has an incredibly intuitive setup.
Credit: Laura Casner
The travel version of that clock, the Travelwey Digital Travel, has the same features, just in a smaller package. The Dreamsky Compact is easy to set and can even cycle through time settings at a fast or slow speed.
The Travelwey Travel clock is so simple, it can't be anything but easy to use.
Set-up is a critical component of our assessment of alarm clocks, and alarms with easy adjustments score higher in this metric.
Good things can come in small packages, and quick scroll buttons help change time easily.
Features
Since all alarm clocks have the same ability to wake us up and tell the time, the features often set certain models apart. Well-designed feature sets create a positive experience or expand the functionality of each one to something more than just an alarm clock.
The Echo Dot swept away the competition regarding features. Because this clock is part of the Echo lineup, it has the full range of smart-speaker capabilities that all the Echo products have, such as smart home integration, music streaming, and voice control. One downside is that the Echo does not have a battery backup — something most alarms do — so without power or Wi-Fi, it loses all utility. As a smart clock, it also requires a phone app for setup.
If you want to adjust specific alarm features you'll have to use the accompanying phone app with the Amazon Echo.
Credit: Hale Milano
The Magnasonic Projection clock also includes plenty of features. Our favorites were a sleep sounds timer that plays music for a set period (90, 60, 30, or 15 minutes) and a nap timer that sounds a buzzer alarm for up to 90 minutes (in 10-minute increments). It was also the only clock with an AM/FM radio and AUX cable input for use as a speaker. Its namesake feature, a small projector, is helpful for checking the time in the dark without lifting your head.
The time projection feature on the Magnasonic Projection clock can be flipped to view on the wall or ceiling.
Credit: Hale Milano
The American Lifetime clock also deserves mention for some unique features. Users can choose between two text colors and set the display to automatically dim between 7 PM and 7 AM. Additionally, this machine can be set to chime on the hour, from 9 AM to 6 PM or all 24 hours of the day. The most helpful feature was five programable alarms with text alerts (all regarding taking medicine). The downside is that this clock does not have a snooze button, lending itself to serve more as a clock in the living room rather than the bedroom.
The large font and bold lettering on the American Lifetime clock was easy to read from a distance in both the light and the dark.
Credit: Hale Milano
Conclusion
In this hands-on review of alarm clocks, we looked at all aspects of product functionality. We collated the information from our tests to easily show which models satisfy specific needs. Namely, we assessed each model for its primary ability to serve as an alarm and its display, ease of use, and features.
While many of us have other devices to play music, the best clock radios on the market today are incredibly versatile — many also have alarm features. If you decide a clock isn't the best approach, consider one of the best wireless chargers so you have a dedicated spot by your bedside to use your phone as an alarm. And if you regularly travel, consider one of the best power banks from our tests to ensure your phone stays well-charged through the night.
