The glossy orb design is arguably as attractive as that of the more expensive Philips models, and it’s definitely an upgrade from the plasticky designs of the lower-end choices. This Bluetooth-connected model has many of the same features as our main pick, but with some nice-to-have extras like a USB charging port, soothing sunrise lighting, and multiple alarms. It has only one shade of light, and while you can adjust the brightness, you can't make it warmer (yellower) or cooler (bluer). Our expertly-developed Bodyclock lights offer a natural and gentle way to wake up in the morning, mimicking the rising sun and gradually brightening your room. The disadvantage with this option is that the countdown timer will appear to jump by one hour if you watch it exactly when DST ends.

As the light dims gradually according to your set time interval, over the course of, say, 15 or 30 minutes, you can choose from seven “wind-down” programs to go with it, complete with breathing exercises and relaxation sounds. Perhaps it's worth it if you have a particularly large bedroom and want the extra light for reading as you settle into bed. Casper’s Glow Light is a 3-by-5-inch cylindrical lighting device that the popular mattress brand touts as “a magical light for better sleep.And don't get me started about how, when I was a kid, my dad would wake me up for school by thrusting the window curtains open as if he were opening the Ark of the Covenant right in my face. Timer switches help to reduce energy consumption and extend bulb life by giving you the option to control when your lights go on and when they go off. She got her master’s in anthropology from the University of Chicago and worked for years in the restaurant service industry. The HF3520 has a good range of five alarm sounds, a backup alarm, a backup power source (so your alarm will still function in case of a power outage), and a decent radio.

This approach works best if you’re confident about getting up without the help of a just-in-case audio alarm (though you can use a regular alarm clock or your phone as backup, of course).Keep tapping and you’ll see it also switches to green, red and blue, as well as different brightnesses of the warm white light. We also like that you can set multiple alarms during the week and that the sunset component comes with the option of several “wind down” routines. The Philips SmartSleep Connected Sleep and Wake-Up Light has many of the same features as our top pick, including a natural, red-tinted sunrise and sunset light. Instead I switched on this Lumie Mini, small enough at 16cm wide to slot next to my monitor without getting in the way.

However, when we spend most of our time indoors, especially during winter or in dimly or poorly lit environments, we can experience a decline in our well-being and energy levels.The Nordlux Smart app determines the sunrise and sunset time of your approximate location and schedules the light according to your needs. This Lumie Mini is so compact I can easily throw it in my rucksack and carry it to and from work, although I wish the stand at the bottom was foldable. Well, this four-in-one sunrise alarm clock has a host of extra features, almost to the point of attempting too much. But if you like the convenience of programming your alarms via an intuitive app, setting multiple alarms during the week (including a very loud, very bright get-up-or-else one), customizing your sunrise themes, and using the clock as a calming tool for falling asleep, you may find the Philips SmartSleep HF3670 to be worth the extra cost.