For most people, waking up on time is probably the toughest task of the day. Many of us just can’t spring out of the bed fully awake. And if you’re in the same boat, you probably rely on an alarm clock to wake you up. While traditional alarm clocks have largely been replaced by modern smartphones to do the job, is there a better way to do it? The answer is yes, with smart alarm clocks.
Why Use a Smart Alarm Clock
While modern smartphones can perform alarm duties just fine, using a smart alarm clock unlocks a whole new experience. From providing morning news and weather reports to making calls and playing music, a smart alarm clock does it all. And investing in one will yield you features like sleep tracking, breathing exercise, connect to your smart home products, act as a Bluetooth speaker, and much more.
While the benefits are endless, so are the choices. Thus, we’ve done the hard bit of scouring the web and shortlisting the 7 best smart alarm clocks to help you roll out of the bed this year.
1. LaMetric Time Wi-Fi Clock
Size: 7.9 x 1.4 x 2.4 inches | Weight: 1.17 ounces
LaMetric Time sets itself apart with stellar looks and a unique pixelated display. The clock features three basic buttons at the top and a pair of stereo speakers at either end of the device. Setting up the smart clock is simple with its official app, available for both Android and iOS. With the built-in ambient light sensor, the smart clock knows when to dim or brighten the lights. Though the most iconic feature of LaMetric Time is its custom apps for email, weather, YouTube, Twitter, etc. which allow you to use the clock as a status bar as well.
To wake you up, LaMetric Time will play your favorite Internet radio station and you can connect it with Alexa or Google Assistant to set up alarms via voice commands.
With the custom app support and cool looks, it’s hard not to like LaMetric Time. While the pricing is steep at $200, it makes up for it by offering the most exciting features that you can play with.
Pros
- Easy setup
- Custom apps
- Pixelated display
Cons
- Expensive
- Sound quality not great
Buy from Amazon ($199.99)
2. Lenovo Smart Clock with Google Assistant
Size: 4.48 x 3.14 x 2.95 Inches | Weight: 11.52 ounces
Lenovo Smart Clock blends some of the basic features of a smartphone and a Bluetooth speaker well to keep you away from your phone at night. The 4-inch touchscreen display allows you to browse weather, reminders, news, and more. An extra USB port on the back charges your phone at night without requiring an extra socket.
With its ‘Sunrise Alarm’ feature, the smart clock will increase its brightness over a 30 minutes period to wake you up gently, before the sonic alarm goes off. Do note that despite having a screen, Lenovo Smart Clock does not allow you to play videos on it. Not a deal-breaker but worth noting. Overall, coming in at just $70, Lenovo Smart Clock makes a compelling choice as a smart alarm clock.
Pros
- Affordable price
- 2.1A USB port
- Built-in Google Assistant
- Excellent sound quality
Cons
- No camera
- Only one color option
Buy from Walmart ($69.90)
3. iHome iAVS16
Size: 7.5 x 3.6 x 5.8 inches | Weight: 30.56 ounces
iHome has quietly gone about its business of making cool smart clocks in recent times, and the iHome iAVS16 is no exception. It takes a traditional design approach with its bulky rectangular shape and tactile buttons at the top. Setting up alarms is easy since it’s Alexa enabled. Meaning, you’ll be able to set an alarm using voice command and snooze it in an orthodox way with a button at the top which is really satisfying.Â
Similar to Lenovo Smart Clock, there’s a 2.1A USB charging port on the back. Note that, while you can dim or turn off the front LED, you can’t do the same for button LEDs at the top, which is a bit disappointing.
That said, priced at around $80, iHome iAVS16 checks out most of the boxes with great sound and quality hardware making it a popular smart alarm clock among users.
Pros
- Sound quality
- Built-in Alexa
- LED accent lighting
Cons
- No FM/AM radio
- Bulky design
- Too many buttons
Buy from Amazon ($79.99)
4. Amazon Echo Dot with Clock
Size: 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.5 inches | Weight: 12.3 ounces
Amazon’s Echo Dot with Clock features a spherical design, mostly covered in fabric with a plastic base at the bottom. And the elegant blue Alexa light at the bottom will spread well across the surface of your bedside table. With this smart alarm clock, you’ll get all the smart features of Alexa like play music, answer questions, check the weather, set alarms, and more.
Echo Dot will wake you up with the music service of your choice, giving you options like Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, or TuneIn. While the 1.6-inch front-facing speaker is good enough to wake you up, it’s certainly not enough to work as a standalone Bluetooth speaker.
Overall, Amazon Echo Dot with Clock is undoubtedly one of the best smart alarm clocks around. However, if you want to go a step further and add a smart screen for video calling in your alarm clock then you can get Amazon Echo 5 for $80.
Pros
- Simple setup
- Unique spherical design
- Compatible with many smart home devices
Cons
- Average sound quality
- No battery backup
Buy from Amazon ($59.99)
5. Anker Soundcore Wakey
Size: 7.9 x 3.6 x 3.2 inches | Weight: 19.04 ounces
At first glance, Anker Soundcore Wakey almost looks like a Bluetooth speaker with a LED timepiece at the front. But trust me, it offers a lot more than that. Design-wise, Soundcore Wakey takes a minimalistic approach with smooth white plastic around and a grey fabric mesh that will look good next to your bed – whatever your interior style. The most talked-about feature though is the 10W wireless charging at the top and 2 extra USB ports at the back to allow you to charge your phone, earphones, and smartwatch simultaneously.Â
The speaker is surprisingly loud and will wake you up no matter how heavy of a sleeper you are. Our only gripe is that it doesn’t have a voice assistant built-in. Other than that, for $100, Anker Soundcore Wakey is certainly one of the best smart alarm clocks around.
Pros
- Minimal design
- Companion app
- 10W wireless charging
- Impressive sound quality
Cons
- No built-in voice assist
- Expensive
Buy from Amazon ($99.99)
6. Phillips Somneo
Size: 12.05 x 11.1 x 5.43 inches | Weight: 53.76 ounces
Next up is an oddly shaped smart alarm clock with a therapy light from Phillips. When turned off, Phillips Somneo looks like a piece of art since it doesn’t carry any physical buttons on it. Besides being a smart alarm clock, Phillips Somneo is mainly a therapy light. And its ‘wind-down’ feature will prepare your body for sleep by gradually decreasing light and playing relaxing sounds over a set period of time. What’s more? The light-guided breathing exercise will help calm your mind, setting you up for a restful night’s sleep.
Thanks to its built-in AmbiTrack sensor, you’ll get sleep recommendations based on your bedroom’s temperature, noise, light, and humidity levels. However, the only letdown with Phillips Somneo is the speaker quality. It’s good but not great.Â
All in all, Phillips Somneo might be slightly expensive, but with a rating of 4.4/5 on Amazon, it’s also the most loved.
Pros
- Battery backup
- SleepMapper app
- Built-in AmbiTrack sensor
- Simulated sunrise and sunset
Cons
- Initial setup
- Slightly heavy
Buy from Amazon ($199.99)
7. Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
Size: 7 x 2.5 x 5 inches | Weight: 6.38 ounces
Google Nest Hub features a 7-inch screen that is crisp enough for any viewing angle, making it perfect for use as a digital photo frame. The display is mounted on a fabric foot that contains a loud speaker inside. For entertainment, Nest Hub allows you to cast videos directly from Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube directly. Plus, you can also listen to your favorite music on YouTube Music, Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora.
Nest Hub’s sleep sensing metrics will track the duration, schedule, and quality of your sleep in a timeline format. The Sunrise Alarm helps you wake up gently, and you can snooze it by simply waving a hand.
When compared to the competition, Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is a more attractive smart display in every way and justifies its $100 price tag.
Pros
- YouTube integration
- Reliable sleep tracking
- Sound quality
- Air gestures
Cons
- Slow User Interface
- No camera
Buy from Walmart ($99.98)
Rise and Shine With the Best Smart Alarm Clocks
Using an alarm clock app to wake up feels pretty dated. With more and more advanced features, smart alarm clocks are more than just a fancy piece of hardware by your bedside. However, picking the best smart alarm clock out of all will entirely depend on how you intend to use it. Pick one that suits your specific needs and get your day started on a positive note.
Also Read: 7 Best Alarm Apps for Mac to Never Oversleep at Your Desk
