Best Dawn Alarm Clock (2026): Lumie, Hatch, WiiM

Finally, these lights can do a lot. They can double as a sound machine, help you wake up and fall asleep, and even act as a regular bedside lamp if they’re bright enough. Not all sunrise alarms have all of these features, though, so you have to choose how much you want to spend and which features are most important to you.

What? What Features Should You Look For In A Sunrise Alarm Clock?

You can see a wide range of features listed for a sunrise alarm, and the more expensive ones will include more of these than the cheaper models. If you’re not sure what features you want, try this series of questions to figure out what features you need.

Do you struggle to sleep? Display the sunrise alarm in night or descending order. These help build a sleep routine.

Need one device that doubles as an alarm clock and bedside lamp? Get the brightest dawn clock that has simple controls to turn it on as a bedside lamp. Not all alarm clocks are great, so check the details carefully (and reviews like mine!) and remember that cheap and small alarm clocks usually won’t brighten up an entire bedroom.

Do you choose your ringtones? See how many sounds are produced. Almost every smartwatch has some sound machine features and options, but the cheaper ones only have a few sounds and may not have the sound you’re looking for.

Do you want software control? Some of the options in this guide don’t have a partner app or Wi-Fi capability, especially some of my favorites. The app doesn’t make it the best sunrise watch, but it might be easier to use. If you prefer software to set up your solar light, buy Casper, Hatch, Loftie and WiiM.

What Are the Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks?

This sunrise alarm clock is my favorite. It’s big and bright with a sleek exterior, and it has a light mode button so you can easily turn it on for evening use as a normal lamp, and it was bright enough to fill my bedroom as a normal lamp. It has a good range of sounds, and not only connects to the radio but allows you to store five channels. There are sunrise and sunset settings. The downside is that it only has a 24-hour clock, and it doesn’t connect to Wi-Fi or apps so you have to set the time yourself (and change it manually for daylight savings). If you want to spend less, then Shine 300 ($169) it’s a little smaller and has less volume, but otherwise it’s just as great.