The Hatch Restore 3 and its previous generations are probably the most popular sunrise alarm clocks. I constantly see the Restore 3 recommended online, from gift guides to TikTok videos, and it’s understandable why it’s so popular. It’s controlled by the Hatch app, which offers a wide range of sounds, lights, and routines you can use for both mornings and evenings. The Restore 3 came out in early 2025 and has more buttons and controls, so once you set up your favorite settings, you can easily toggle them on with the press of a button. The Restore 3 isn’t too large, which is nice for fitting onto bedside tables, but it’s not quite as bright as I’d like to force me to wake up in the morning. Note that some of Hatch’s audio content requires a Hatch+ subscription. —Nena Farrell
Honorable Mentions
Casper Glow Light for $129: This light is cool because it responds to touch and movement. It turns on or off when you flip it over, and when you twist it, it brightens or dims the light. There are no sound features, but it is battery-powered and intuitive to use. —Nena Farrell
Photograph: Nena Farrell
Melalight Red Light Lamp for $169: If you’re looking for something super simple, the Melalight might be what you want. This red-light lamp promises to help you wind down with its 660-nanometer wavelength. It’s the same wavelength commonly found in red-light masks to improve your skin, but it won’t impact your face from your bedside table; instead, Melalight says this wavelength is melatonin-friendly. Red- and warmer-toned lights are known to help you relax, as opposed to blue light, which is why your phone and e-readers often have a warm-light mode for evening use. You can turn it on and off by tapping the Melalight logo on the front, and adjust the brightness by holding it. There are two buttons on the back to set a 30- or 60-minute timer so it turns itself off. It’s portable and rechargeable, making it a good option if you’re short on outlets at your bedside. It’s not bright enough for reading, but I’d use it with a backlit e-reader. It won’t wake you up, but it’s an option to help you fall asleep. —Nena Farrell
Blueair Mini Restful Air Purifier Sunrise Clock for $124: This device combines an air purifier with a sunrise alarm clock. The Mini Restful is the smallest air purifier in Blueair’s Sleep Collection, and it promises to gently wake you and clean the air in your bedroom. You’ll use Blueair’s app, which includes nine sounds, and you can start your sunrise anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes before your alarm. You can read more in our guide to multi-use air purifiers. —Nena Farrell
Hatch Baby for $80: The updated version of the popular Hatch Rest is the Hatch Baby, with a new look and app options similar to the Hatch Restore 3 above. (Previously, the app options were much simpler, even though the devices all share the same Hatch Sleep app.) This is a fun option for kids, though it doesn’t offer gradual sunrises. It does, however, turn on fun colors and play music at certain times and for set durations. My 3-year-old looks forward to the “green light” turning on every morning (but this does not, unfortunately, keep him from leaving his bed for mine at 4 in the morning). You’ll also get a six-month subscription to Hatch+ content. —Nena Farrell
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Loftie Lamp for $280: Loftie’s lamp is gorgeous; it’s my favorite for filling my bedroom. It has three light colors and a handful of brightness settings for each. But for the high price, you need the Loftie Alarm to get sound features, and there’s only a nine-minute brightening and dimming window, which doesn’t help me much. It syncs with Alexa, though. —Nena Farrell
Rise Centered Original Sunrise Alarm Clock for $199: This unique sunrise alarm clock features a beautiful, spherical salt lamp on your choice of a beech or walnut wood base. There are no subscriptions, no Wi-Fi, and no Bluetooth, specifically to discourage phone use around bedtime. I tested the Himalayan pink salt version, but found its light to be far too dim and muted to wake me up. The company says the white version is brighter. Still, I absolutely love the look of this clock and, because it’s touch-controlled, it makes an excellent bedside lamp on its own. —Kat Merck
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Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light for $109: The SmartSleep wake-up light was once our budget pick and remains one of the most basic—and least expensive—options on this list. It offers 20 brightness settings, simulated sunset and sunrise settings, five natural wake-up sounds, FM radio, tap-to-snooze, and an automatically dimming display. This basic model is best for people who want help waking up more gently but don’t need much else. —Molly Higgins
FAQs
Do Sunrise Alarms Work for Heavy Sleepers?
Yes! I’m a heavy sleeper in the morning, and these can still help me wake up. You might want to choose the most gradual increase in brightness on the sunrise lamp you choose, so the slow brightening of the room can better rouse you from that deep sleep.
What’s the Difference Between a Sunrise Clock and a SAD Lamp?
These two gadgets might look similar on the outside, but sunrise clocks and other wake-up-style lights are designed to wake you up, while a SAD (seasonal affective disorder) lamp is meant to simulate sunlight during the day. SAD lamps provide light therapy to help combat seasonal depression during the darker months, while sunrise alarms are just meant to make the morning wake-up less rough. Both can help regulate your circadian rhythm, but in different ways.
How Does WIRED Choose Sunrise Clocks to Test?
We research all models in advance to determine which are a fit for testing. We ensure they have wake-up features. (Some SAD lamps look similar to a sunrise alarm, for example, but if there’s no gradual sunrise to wake up to, they don’t qualify for testing with this guide.) We also test a variety of price points and additional features to see what’s really worth buying. We make an effort to select both more affordable options with fewer features and high-end options to compare and contrast in our testing rounds.
How Does WIRED Test Sunrise Clocks?
I tested each recommended sunrise clock on my bedside table in a room with blackout curtains to see how much it could brighten the room over the course of its sunrise routine. I slept with each model for anywhere between one and seven nights, depending on its performance. I also tried out the various sound options each machine had to offer to test the speakers and see how pleasant the sounds were for waking up or falling asleep. If there was a nighttime routine option, I tested that too.
