The 7 best sunrise alarms you should break before the 2025 fall time change

October 29, 2025Last Updated: October 29, 2025

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The 7 best sunrise alarms you should break before the 2025 fall time change

By Nena Farrell | Published: 2025-10-27 14:06:00 | Source: WIRED

Compare our favorite sunrise alarm clocks

Honorable mentions

Vivilumens Sunrise Alarm Clock is a silver ring with a square base attached to the lower left corner

Vivilumens Sunrise Alarm for $50: The sunrise alarm works well but looks more appropriate as a desk lamp than a real sunrise alarm. But it can be a fun choice if you live in a studio and need a device that can work with your desk and your bedside alarm clock. It also has a USB-A charging port and can display 24- or 12-hour time.

Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Lamp (HF3520/60) $149: This may look similar to the lamp we recommend above, but it has a different shape and is missing the word “sleep” from the name because it doesn’t offer a nighttime routine like our top pick. But it still works great as a morning sunrise light, and like other Philips models, it’s easy to set up without any instructions on hand. It’s a good, affordable model, but not as cheap as other options with similar offerings.

Lumie BodyClock Glow 150 for $139: This cute little clock worked well, but our other picks are larger and brighter. You can get a WiiM for the same price, or a Philips HF3520 for cheaper.

Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 for $169: This Sunrise watch is very similar to the Luxe 700FM but doesn’t have many of the front-facing radio features like the telescoping antenna and multi-channel save buttons, and the lighting controls aren’t as easy as a dial. But if you don’t mind these changes and want to spend less money, the Shine 300 is a great alternative option.

Hatch Baby for $100: The updated version of the popular Hatch Rest is Hatch Baby, with a new look and app options similar to Hatch Restore 3 above (previously the app options were much simpler, even though all devices share the same Hatch Sleep app). This is a fun option for kids, although it does not produce a gradual sunrise. However, it does turn on fun colors and plays music at certain times and for certain periods. My 3-year-old looks forward to turning on the “green light” every morning (but unfortunately that doesn’t motivate him to not get out of bed at 4 a.m.) You’ll also get a six-month subscription to Hatch + content.

Hatch Restore 2 for $170: Hatch doesn’t sell this model anymore, but you can find it again at some third-party retailers and sites like Walmart and eBay. It’s a good device that gives you the same app and audio offerings as the Hatch Restore 3, but the Restore 3 has much better controls. I recommend skipping this device for the newer model, which is only available refurbished from third-party retailers.

Instructions

How do sunrise hours work?

Your body is built on Wake up naturally with sunrise He feels sleepy as the sun sets. The light at the beginning and end of the day is a warm, golden color, in contrast to the bright, slightly blue light of midday sunlight that keeps you wide awake. This sunrise alarm mimics the transition from morning to bright daylight, helping to signal your body to wake up (or sleep, if the watch also has a sunset option).

Each model we recommend offers a sunrise routine, which means you choose a time to wake up and then the sunrise clock will begin displaying a deep orange glow and transition to bright light by the time the audio alarm is set. Some offer customization, allowing you to choose how long you want the artificial sunrise to last, while others have set a timer. Some also allow the reverse option with a sunset routine and can double as acoustic instruments. Most plug into the wall like a classic alarm clock and stay in place, though there’s sometimes an accompanying app or recharging capabilities (if they’re not mentioned, assume they don’t).

What should you look for in a sunrise alarm?

There are a lot of features to consider in a sunrise lamp, but which ones you prefer will vary by person.

If you have difficulty sleeping: Splurge on a sunrise alarm with a nighttime or quiet routine. These help build a routine to fall asleep into.

If you need a bedside lamp and sunrise clock: Get a brighter sunrise clock that features easy controls to operate as a bedside lamp. Not all sunrise watches have these elements, so check the details carefully (and reviews like ours)

If you want a specific bedside sound: Check the number of votes submitted. Almost every Sunrise watch has some sound machine features and options, but cheaper watches tend to only have two sounds and may not have the sound you’re looking for.

If you want to control the app: Some of the options in this guide don’t have a partner app or Wi-Fi capabilities, especially some of my favorites. The app doesn’t necessarily make for a better sunrise watch, but it may be convenient to use. If you prefer an app to set up your sunrise lamp, shop for Casper, Hatch, Loftie, and WiiM.

Do sunrise alarms work for heavy sleepers?

Yes! I sleep especially well in the morning and this can still help me wake up. You may want to choose to gradually increase the brightness of the sunrise lamp of your choice, so that the slow room lighting can slowly wake you from this deep sleep.

What is the difference between a sunrise hour and a sad lamp?

These two gadgets may look similar from the outside, but sunrise clocks and other wake-up style lights are meant to wake you up, while a Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, light is designed to simulate sunlight for you during the day. Sad lamps Perform phototherapy To help combat seasonal depression during the darker times of the year, while sunrise alarms are just to make waking up in the morning less harsh. Both can help regulate your circadian rhythm, but in different ways. You can set a sunrise clock to stay constant throughout the day to help simulate sunlight, although these don’t promise the same benefits and you may not get the help you’re looking for.

How does WIRED choose sunrise hours to test?

We research all models in advance to see which ones are suitable for testing. We’re looking to make sure they have the alarm features (some SAD lights will look similar to a sunrise alarm, for example, but if there’s no gradual sunrise to wake up, they’re not eligible to test with this guide) and we’re looking to test a variety of price points and additional features to see what’s really worth buying. We make an effort to select both less expensive options with fewer features and high-end options to compare and contrast with each other in our testing rounds.

How does WIRED test sunrise hours?

I tested each recommended sunrise hour on the side of my bed in a room with blackout curtains to see how well they brightened the room over the course of my sunrise routine. I slept with each model for between one and seven nights, depending on their performance. I also tried out the different sound options each device offers to test the speakers and see how pleasant they sound when awake or asleep. If there was an option for a nightly routine, I would test that too.

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