These devices use a combination of gradually-brightening light and sound to cue your body’s natural wake-up response, resulting in a more relaxed (and less groggy) morning. They can also be a great antidote to dark winter mornings. Most wake-up lights take 20 or 30 minutes to reach full brightness and some even simulate the red-to-white colors of a sunrise. By the time the alarm comes on, your body is ready to wake up and there’s a light on beside your bed. As an added bonus, many of these alarm clock lights can double as a bedside reading lamp or mood light. We’ve tested out several wake-up light alarm clocks and compiled a list of our favorites below. If you’re interested in incorporating smart home gadgets such as lights and speakers into your morning routine, we also recommend checking out our smart home device reviews. The Philips HF3520 simulates a gradual sunrise to help your body wake up naturally, combining red-to-white light with nature sounds, music, or the radio. You can also set two different alarms and toggle between them with the push of a button. At night, the sunset feature dims the light from white back to dark red to help you fall asleep. As our reviewer Rebecca Isaacs notes, the HF3520 is pretty bulky at 9.9 x 4.6 x 9.2 inches and 3.6 pounds, and it will definitely crowd a small nightstand. But the design is sleek, and once the device is set up, it’s easy to use. Rebecca tried out the SmartSleep as both an alarm clock and a bedside lamp and confirms that the higher brightness levels are great for reading. She particularly liked how the light gradually brightens and then stays on when you hit snooze, allowing for an overall gentler wake-up experience. Light Settings: 20 / 300 Lux | Bluetooth: No | Radio: FM | APP Enabled: No Our reviewer Rebecca liked the lightweight design and simple interface, but she found the features to be a bit limited for the price. It has only three alarm sound options and does not change color to simulate a sunrise like the more expensive models. But she also notes that it works very well as a wake-up light and can double as a “basic, albeit dim” reading lamp. Light Settings: 10 / 200 Lux | Bluetooth: No | Radio: FM | APP Enabled: No The HF3650/60 has several different features for both falling asleep and waking up. Our tests found the light to be extremely effective, and it naturally woke up our reviewer right before the alarm audio started to play. Like other high-end wake-up lights, it simulates a sunrise starting with a deep red light that gradually brightens. You can customize both the color and level of brightness. Our reviewer thought the bedtime features were just as good. She tried out the breathing exercises (the light brightens and dims to prompt calming breaths) and used the sunset simulation to fall asleep, noting that it was a “worthwhile investment” as part of a relaxing bedtime routine. Light Settings: 25 / 310 Lux | Bluetooth: No | Radio: FM | APP Enabled: No This Aura lamp can reach up to 10,000 lux of brightness and perfectly mimics sunlight (without any harmful UV rays). The lamp can be angled up and down or even mounted on the wall, though Sandra preferred to move it from room to room throughout the day. It also has a built-in timer that automatically shuts off the light after a certain amount of time, making it a great choice for anyone scheduling light therapy into their daily routine. Light Settings: 10,000 Lux | Bluetooth: No | Radio: No | APP Enabled: No You can choose from 10 different relaxing sounds, such as rainstorm or white noise, and customize the color, pattern, and brightness of the lighting. It has settings and sounds for both waking up and falling asleep. At 5 x 4.5 x 6 inches, the Zenergy is larger than a typical alarm clock but smaller than the high-end wake-up lights on our list. It has a pod-like design and color-changing lights on all three sides, with a companion app that lets you remotely control the lights and adjust the alarm settings. Andy noted that the Zenergy is significantly easier to set up through the app as opposed to navigating the device’s many buttons. Light Settings: Color / 10 / 1,000 Lux | Bluetooth: Yes | Radio: FM | APP Enabled: Yes This makes it a functional alarm for older children and a great sleep scheduling device for younger kids who are inclined to jump out of bed at very early hours. Kids don’t need to know how to read the clock—they can simply watch for the light to turn green to signal it’s time to get up. Our reviewer, Andy, especially liked the cute design of the clock and the fact that it comes with interchangeable faceplates. He also noted that the large buttons were kid-friendly and intuitive to use. His main criticism: The construction feels a bit flimsy, which means it could get broken if it’s knocked onto the floor. Light Settings: Variable color | Bluetooth: No | Radio: No | APP Enabled: No Rebecca Isaacs has been writing for Lifewire since 2019. She’s covered a variety of products focusing on smart home, and reviewed a large number of the wake-up light therapy alarm clocks on this list. She loved the Philips HF3520 for its reliable set of features and multiple brightness options and sounds. Sandra Stafford has been reviewing products for Lifewire since 2019. Specializing in pet devices and smart home, Sandra reviewed the Aura Daylight Therapy Lamp, praising it for its adjustable light levels and safe UV-free light. Andy Zahn has reviewed products for Lifewire since 2019. As a tech generalist, he’s reviewed a wide range of devices, including the HeimVision Sunrise Alarm Clock which he liked for its smart home connectivity.
What to Look for in a Light Therapy Alarm Clock
Brightness Settings
The more brightness settings an alarm clock has, the more gradually the light will increase. Most have a minimum of ten settings, but some premium options have 20 or more.
Light Intensity
Light intensity, measured in lux, indicates how bright the light gets at its peak. A light with a 200 lux maximum is a solid bet, although some models have lights up to 10,000 lux; the difference isn’t as big as it sounds.
Design
Functionality aside, design is a matter of personal preference. Some people like the look of a round alarm clock that mimics the sun, while others prefer a more traditional design. Compact travel models make it easy to take your gadget on the go, and still, others can be mounted on the wall.
