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In the photo above, you can see the five sunrise alarm clocks I’ll be discussing in this article. From left to right: Reacher, Lumie Sunrise Alarm, Philips SmartSleep, Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300, Dreamegg Sunrise 1.
Contents
The core concept of a sunrise alarm clock (also sometimes called a wake-up light) is that it makes waking up in the morning a more pleasant experience. No more loud alarm tones that rudely remind you that your dream world wasn’t real and you have to go to work, again.
Sure, you still have to get up and go about your business, but hopefully the transition from blissful sleep to the daily grind will be a bit more subtle.
I always have a wake-up light in my bedroom; experience has taught me that I feel better waking up with light rather than just loud noise in total darkness. I also love falling asleep as the light dims from white to deep orange or red.
I’ve tested and used a wide range over the years, and in this article I’ll be sharing my current top picks to help you choose one. None of them require another device, app, or subscription to control them or access any features. There are some devices that do, but in my experience there are plenty of excellent sunrise alarm clocks that work very well straight out of the box.
Overview
Philips SmartSleep
Key features: 20-40 min sunrise, sunset, FM radio, alarm tones, weekday and weekend alarms, reading light, dimmable clock.
Price: $$$
The Philips SmartSleep is currently my top pick because the sunset and sunrise effect are beautiful and realistic, and it has noticeably better audio quality than the rest.
With 20 brightness settings, and a very bright maximum, it does the main job of waking you up gently very effectively. The dimmest colours are warm deep oranges that fade in slowly, and are also lovely to fall asleep to.
It has an FM radio or relaxing sounds to wake up to. There aren’t many sounds, but the birds + music is our personal favourite of all five devices.
The main issues to consider are the complicated buttons to program it and the larger size.
Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300
Key features: 15-90 min sunrise, sunset, FM radio, alarm tones, daily alarms, reading light, night light, dimmable clock.
Price: $$$
The Lumie is an excellent choice if you want the best fade from red to white in a sunrise alarm clock. The dimmest settings are gorgeous deep reds, which then slowly fade through orange and yellow to a bright white.
The maximum setting is the brightest of all five wake-up lights, so it’s very effective in the morning. It also works well as a reading light or nightlight.
The FM radio and 15 alarm sounds give plenty of options to wake up to, and you can program an alarm for each day of the week independently.
The main issues are the complicated sequences of buttons needed to program it and the basic speaker quality.
Lumie Sunrise Alarm
Key features: 30 min sunrise, sunset, 6 extra colours, alarm tones, one alarm, reading light, night light, dimmable clock.
Price: $$
The Lumie Sunrise Alarm is much lower priced than the Bodyclock Shine 300, but also has less features.
While it does have an additional six non-fading colours, the main sunrise and sunset effect has 10 brightness levels rather than 20. The dimmest are warm white rather than deep orange or red.
The speaker quality is quite basic, but the bird alarm tones are pleasant on quieter volume settings. It’s a simpler device overall, but does take up less space to make up for that.
Dreamegg Sunrise 1
Key features: 5-60 min sunrise, sunset, 9 dimmable colours, 6 alarm tones, 29 white noise sounds, night light, reading light, one daily alarm, dimmable clock.
Price: $$$
The Dreamegg Sunrise 1 is a cute little clock that doubles as a wake-up light and white noise machine, with 29 sounds ranging from brown noise to birds and lullabies.
There are nine colours to choose from, all of which can be dimmed and used for the sunrise or sunset, or left on one brightness setting as a reading light or nightlight.
It doesn’t fade through a range of colours like the Philips or Bodyclock, and there’s only one daily alarm, but it’s much easier to operate.
Reacher Sunrise Alarm Clock
Key features: 5-60 min sunrise, sunset, 8 dimmable colours, 3 alarm tones, 26 white noise sounds, night light, reading light, one daily alarm, dimmable clock.
Price: $$
The Reacher is a budget-friendly sunrise alarm clock that’s similar to the Dreamegg in several ways. It has eight light colours to choose from, all of which can be dimmed.
The sunset and sunrise work with any of those colours, and there are three alarm sounds and 26 ‘any time’ sounds.
The main downsides are the poor speaker quality and limited alarm tones, which don’t sound good at loud volume levels.
The overall design is basic compared the other four, so this is one that will suit those on a budget who prefer bold colours rather than a more subtle sunrise or sunset effect.
Comparison tables
Table 1: ratings
In the table below, I’ve given the sunrise alarm clocks a score out of 10 in some key areas: the quality of the sunrise/sunset effect, the maximum brightness, ease of use, and sound quality.
The blue links will take you to the relevant Amazon listing.
| Device | Sunrise effect | Max brightness | Ease of use | Audio quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips SmartSleep | 10 | 9 | 7 | 9 |
| Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Lumie Sunrise Alarm | 7 | 8 | 8 | 5 |
| Dreamegg Sunrise 1 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 8 |
| Reacher Sunrise Alarm | 5 | 6 | 8 | 4 |
Notes on the points I considered when scoring them:
Testing time: I used the BodyClock Shine 300 for over two years, the Philips for the last three months, and the other three I spent at least two weeks using them every night.
Sunrise effect: how well it fades in or out, if the light settings jump noticeably, and how warm and gentle the lowest light settings are.
Max brightness: how bright it can get as a reading light, or for waking you up.
Ease of use: how easy it is to program. I also imagined how intuitive it would be if you lost the manual!
Sound quality: the speaker quality for the radio and/or wake up sounds, and how repetitive the sounds are.
Table 2: Light features
In the next table, you can compare the main light features I look out for when using sunrise alarm clocks.
| Device | Sunrise / sunset duration (mins) | Brightness settings | Colours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philips SmartSleep | Sunrise 20-40 Sunset 5-60 | 20 | Orange to white fade |
| Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 | Sunrise 15-90 Sunset 15-90 | 20 | Red to white fade |
| Lumie Sunrise Alarm | Sunrise 30 Sunset 30 | 10 | White fade + 6 colours |
| Dreamegg Sunrise 1 | Sunrise 5-60 Sunset 5-180 | 10+ on a slider | 9 dimmable colours |
| Reacher Sunrise Alarm | Sunrise 5-60 Sunset 5-180 | 10+ on a slider | 8 dimmable colours |
Table 3: Audio features
In the next table, you can compare the size and main audio features.
| Device | Size | Radio | Alarm sounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philips SmartSleep | Large | ✔ | 5 |
| Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 | Large | ✔ | 15 |
| Lumie Sunrise Alarm | Medium | X | 6 |
| Dreamegg Sunrise 1 | Small | X | 6 alarm sounds 29 ‘any time’ sounds |
| Reacher Sunrise Alarm | Small | X | 3 alarm sounds 26 ‘any time’ sounds |
In the photo below, you can see the lights again, but on lower light settings. Keep in mind that the colours might look different depending on the device you’re reading this on. From left to right: Reacher, Lumie Sunrise Alarm, Philips SmartSleep, Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300, Dreamegg Sunrise 1.
The sunrise alarm clocks in detail
1. Philips SmartSleep
In the photo above, I have the Philips SmartSleep on my bedside table. The clock can be dimmed or switched off completely.
The Philips SmartSleep is the first sunrise alarm clock to come along that made me willing to replace my Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300, which was my personal favourite for a long time.
As you’ll see below, more basic sunrise alarms often noticeably jump through the brightness settings. Like the Lumie, the Philips fades in and out in a much more subtle way, such that I often don’t notice the changes.
The maximum brightness is a very bright white, which definitely wakes me up in the morning. It’s also perfect to use as a reading light, even on dimmer settings.
I love how warm the colours are when it drops to the dimmest settings. It has some beautiful deep pink-orange hues that feel more natural than some of the garish green or blue colours that other lights offer.
For me, this is essentially what makes a good sunrise alarm clock: the focus is on a realistic sunrise and sunset effect rather than packing in a range of colours. I find the slow sunset helps me unwind and fall asleep, and the slow sunrise helps me wake up gently. Exactly what a sunrise alarm clock is meant to do.
In the photo above, you can see one of the dimmest light settings. It may look more or less orange depending on the device you’re reading this article on. The main point to consider is that the dimmest settings are warm and soft.
If you want audio when the sunrise finishes, you can pick between the FM radio or alarm tones, both of which are loud enough to wake us up when combined with the bright light. There aren’t as many alarm tone options as some other devices, but my partner and I both agreed that they are the best of the bunch.
Philips took the idea of ‘gentle’ wake up to heart it seems, with some pleasant bird sounds, and peaceful meditation/yoga style music. We use the one that has music combined with birds, and it’s just so much nicer to wake up to than an annoying old alarm tone.
As for the criticisms, I have three of note. Firstly, the buttons take some getting used to. If you don’t have the manual, it’s going to be frustrating trying to work out how to set all the sunrise and sunset options. With a row of buttons on the top and the front, you need some patience to get all your settings in place.
In the photo above, you can see the top bank of buttons. Unlike setting the timers, it’s at least very easy to turn the light and radio on or off.
It’s also frustrating trying to set the volume of the alarm tones. You have to manually set the volume before or after choosing the tone, rather than inside the series of alarm options you go through to set the time.
Secondly, it’s the largest of the five wake-up lights, which means it takes up considerable more space on a bedside table. I’m tolerating it for now, but may move it to the chest of drawers opposite my bed as the light and alarm will still work from there.
In the photo above, I’m using the Philips SmartSleep as a reading light. With my vision, the Philips and Lumies were the most comfortable to read with.
Finally, it’s one of the more expensive sunrise alarm clocks. It typically costs just over $100 the US and just under £150 in the UK. There are more expensive Lumie, Hatch, and Philips models, but there are also much cheaper lights if you’re on a tight budget.
On balance though, the Philips SmartSleep is a great choice if you’re willing to spend a bit more for a realistic sunrise and sunset simulator with better audio quality and an overall higher-quality design.
2. Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300
In the photo above, you can see the Lumie is very bright. This is on setting 16 out of 20 as the maximum was too much for my little camera!
The Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 was the wake-up light I used for several years before I finally decided to replace it with the Philips. Don’t get me wrong though – I still think it’s a superb device, and there are some circumstances where I think it could be a better choice than the Philips.
Starting with those, the first is that it’s smaller in size. The other three are smaller still, but the Lumie isn’t as deep as the Philips. So if you only have a small bedside table and want the light next to you in bed, the Lumie might be better.
Secondly, you can program a different alarm time for every day of the week rather than just the two alarms of the Philips. Finally, there are more alarm tones to choose from – 15 compared to 5.
Aside from that, there is one standout feature that the Lumie and Philips have in common: the realistic sunset and sunrise simulator.
In the photo above, you can see one of the deepest colours of the Lumie. This appears at the start of the sunrise or end of the sunset. You can also set it as a nightlight.
What I loved about the Lumie all these years is the gorgeous spectrum of colours it fades in or out with. It runs from a very deep and soft red up to a bright and warm white.
I actually prefer the dimmest settings of the Lumie to the Philips – the final reds are even deeper than the final oranges of the Philips.
The maximum brightness is the brightest of all five devices. So if you’re going to replace your current reading light and you need plenty of light to read, this could be the best choice.
In the photo above, I’m using the Lumie’s reading light setting. It’s a lovely, warm white to read to and you can keep it on one brightness setting for as long as you like.
If you want alarm sounds at the end of the sunrise, you can choose between the FM radio or 15 in-built sounds. The loops are around 90 seconds, which is much longer than some wake-up lights I’ve used and long enough not to be annoying.
The speaker lacks bass and is relatively quiet, which is common with sunrise alarm clocks, but it’s fine for morning use and the combination of light and audio still woke me up effectively on the many, many nights I used it.
My main criticism is similar to the Philips: the buttons. This is by far the most complicated wake-up light to program, especially when setting the alarms and sunsets. Even after a year, I still found I’d press the wrong sequence of buttons sometimes.
In the photo above, you can see the buttons and clock of the Lumie Bodyclock shine 300. You may be able to work out the settings without a manual, but it will require some patience.
Another potential issue for those on a tight budget could be the price. It typically costs over $150 in the US and just under £150 in the UK. There are more expensive Lumie models, which typically have a DAB radio and a more modern design. But there are also some lower cost models, such as the one coming up next.
On balance, this is an excellent wake-up light where the most important feature is concerned, simply because it has one of the most gorgeous sunrise and sunset fade effects I’ve seen.
Read my full Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 review.
3. Lumie Sunrise Alarm
In the photo above, you can see that the Lumie Sunrise Alarm doesn’t take up as much space on my bedside table as the previous two devices. I also quite like the circular light effect with the buttons in the middle.
In the middle price bracket for wake-up lights, the Lumie Sunrise Alarm is one of the better devices I’ve tested. It’s often available at a third of the price of the Lumie Body Clock Shine 300. However, it’s less customisable in ways that could be a deal-breaker for some people.
One trick it does have up its sleeve compared to the Bodyclock and Philips are the six light colours in addition to the sunrise effect: green, red, blue, magenta, orange, and cyan. They can’t be dimmed though, so they are best used as a nightlight or mood light.
The sunrise and sunset simulation only occurs with the white light. There are 10 brightness settings compared to the 20 of the previous two lights, so I do notice the jumps more often. It also doesn’t finish with a deep red or orange – just a warmer amber/soft white. After using the Bodyclock and Philips, I found I missed their more realistic effect.
In the photo above, you can see that the Lumie Sunrise Alarm is still just about bright enough to use as a reading light. I found the previous two devices more comfortable though, especially if I’m tired and my book has a small font size.
You can also only set a 30 minute sunrise or sunset timer, compared to the more flexible timer lengths of the other lights I tested.
There’s just one daily alarm you can set, with a choice of six sounds. The birds are quite pleasant, and definitely wake me up on louder volume settings. However, the speaker sounds too tinny at those volume levels, so I had to set it to be quieter.
Like all Lumie models in my experience, the buttons take some getting used to. To be fair, I’m yet to find a sunrise alarm clock that’s very simple to program; it seems to go with the territory.
In the photo above, you can see the front buttons. There are five more on the top, so 11 buttons in total to change the settings. The light has a warmer white / amber hue in the middle brightness settings.
It typically costs just under $50 in the US and just under £50 in the UK, though it’s sometimes unavailable in the US. This makes it much more affordable than higher end Lumie, Philips, or Hatch wake-up lights, for example.
Overall, it lacks the flexibility of timings and depth of colours in the sunrise and sunset effect of higher end sunrise alarm clocks. But for a lower price, it’s one to consider if you’re happy to have a simpler device that doesn’t take up as much space on the bedside table.
4. Dreamegg Sunrise 1
In the photo above, you can see the interesting pattern created by the light shining through the fabric on the front of the Dreamegg. It’s a cute little clock that doesn’t take up much space.
Dreamegg are arguably better known for their white noise machines. I’ve tested and reviewed several over the years, such as the Dreamegg D3 Pro.
So it didn’t surprise me that some of the sounds in the Dreamegg Sunrise 1 are very similar, if not the same, as the D3 Pro white noise machine.
And I think this is a good thing, as Dreamegg balance audio quality with longer loop lengths quite well, which can only be a good thing considering how basic the alarm tones of sunrise alarm clocks sometimes are.
The odd thing is that only six of the sounds can be set as alarm tones, while the full 29 can be used like a normal white noise machine.
Looking at the light options, it has nine colours to choose from: red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, dark blue, purple, amber, warm white.
Unlike the Lumie Sunrise Alarm, any of these colours can be set to dim with the sunrise timer, which is great if you like the ambience of different colours.
However, the lack of fading through different tones of red, orange, yellow, and white like the Bodyclock Shine 300 or Philips SmartSleep was noticeable for me. I think once you experience those effects, the more basic fade in or out of just one colour feels lacking. I also noticed the sudden jumps in brightness more often.
The maximum brightness isn’t as bright as those two, or the Lumie Sunrise Alarm either. While I found it was enough to wake me in the morning along with a sound, it was too dim as a reading light. On the plus side, it makes a lovely night light.
In the photo above, I’m trying to read with the light of the Dreamegg. It’s a bit too dim for my preference, but those with better vision might enjoy the warm glow.
One point I really liked about the Dreamegg is how easy the buttons are to operate. They were more intuitive, and wouldn’t be too hard if you lost the manual. That said, one reason they are easier to operate is the fact that there’s only one daily alarm available.
In the photo above, you can see the buttons of the Dreamegg Sunrise 1, all of which are on top. There’s also a slider on each side under the visible buttons to adjust the light or clock brightness.
It typically costs just under $100 in the US and £100 in the UK, which puts it in the middle-higher price bracket for wake-up lights.
If it only had the light and limited alarm options, I would feel this is too expensive. However, the fact that it can also be used as a white noise machine, albeit a quieter ones, helps justify the higher price.
5. Reacher Sunrise Alarm Clock
In the photo above, you can see the yellow glow of the Reacher Sunrise Alarm Clock.
The Reacher is probably the best low-cost sunrise alarm clock I’ve tested, with the caveat that best most definitely doesn’t mean great.
Starting with the design, I do like how small it is, so it’s another one to consider if you have a small nightstand. It’s important to understand that the wood effect on the device is just plastic, and the whole device looks and feels quite basic once you turn the light off and inspect it in daylight.
Like the Lumie Sunrise Alarm and Dreamegg Sunrise 1, there are several colours to choose from: red, yellow, orange, green, light blue, dark blue, purple, amber. All eight colours can be dimmed and used for the sunrise or sunset too.
In the photo above, you can see four of the Reacher’s colours. The Dreamegg colours are very similar. The Lumie also has some similarities in terms of the strength and hue of the colours.
There’s only one daily alarm to program, so it’s less flexible than higher end devices in that respect. But it’s good that you can program shorter or longer sunrise and sunset effects. Once again, however, I missed the more realistic fade of the Philips or Bodyclock Shine 300 on the nights I tested the Reacher.
Interestingly, it appears to have quite a lot in common with the Dreamegg, such as the colours, timers, sounds, and timer options.
Perhaps my biggest criticism is the speaker quality and sound choices though. The speaker sounds very, very basic, and the birds are unpleasantly piercing when the volume is turned up, for example.
I also don’t understand why there are only three possible alarm tones, yet 26 sounds that can be used at any time. Similar to the Dreamegg then, but with even less alarm tones available.
In the photo above, you can see the buttons of the Dreamegg Sunrise 1, all of which are on top apart from the sliders on the back.
The buttons are quite easy to work out, but the user manual is the least clear of all five devices. It’s the one case where it’s almost easier to work out how to operate it if you don’t read the manual!
In the photo above, I’m trying my best to read with the yellow light of the Reacher. It’s a bit too dim for me, and I would have liked to see a ‘normal’ white light to read with.
It typically costs just under $50 in the US and £50 in the UK, which makes it one of the more budget-friendly wake-up lights.
However, the overall design quality leaves a lot to be desired, especially where the audio is concerned. Still, it did its principal job as a sunrise alarm clock when I used it, helping me wake up more gently with some light over 30 minutes. You just might find you end up using your phone alarm if you don’t like the limited three alarm sounds.
