If you're looking for a sunrise alarm clock to take you from late riser to early bird, these are the best sunrise alarm clocks we've tested to ease you into each morning.
The Black Friday sale event is one of the best times of year to invest in tech that can help you through the colder, darker months — especially when it comes to your sleep.
However, by late September, I was ready to reset my body clock, which had been discombobulated by my recent sunny vacation. I know that autumn isn't the best time of year to wake up early, what with the mornings getting darker and the clocks set to change, so I decided to try a sunrise alarm.
For the last two months, I've been using the Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 700FM sunrise alarm to restore my wake-up schedule. I love using it, but I do know it's out of most people's budgets (especially if you have a lot of Christmas shopping ahead of you).
So, here's everything I love about the Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 700FM, and the affordable alternative you can buy in the Black Friday mattress sales if you're on a tighter budget this year.
The sunrise alarm I've been using...
The Bodyclock Luxe 700FM is the most advanced and expensive sunrise alarm in Lumie's wake-up light collection in the US, costing $259. It has more sounds and features than Lumie's 300 model, which we tested in our four-star Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 sunrise alarm clock review.
The 700FM model has over 25 wake-up sounds (10 more than the 300 model), including tweeting tropical birds, bleating goats, purring kittens, and (my personal favorite) the ambient sounds of a coffee shop.
FM radio is also included, as are high-quality Bluetooth speakers, but the best element (and surely the feature you all came for) is the sunrise-mimicking feature.
The faux sunrise can last up to 90 minutes and you can set it to begin on a daily or weekly basis, allowing your Saturday morning alarm to be set at a different time from your Monday alarm. There's also a sunset function, to help you wind-down before bedtime.
5 reasons why I love the Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 700FM sunrise alarm clock
1. It's reset my sleep schedule after vacationing
We all know how hard it is to sleep well while travelling. You're going to airports at crazy hours to catch early flights, and your bedtime schedule goes straight down the drain when you're on a fun-filled vacation.
And once you return home, a week of late nights and lazy mornings means you can struggle to reacclimatize to your regular sleep and wake-up time.
However, the sunrise alarm helped me readjust to my 9-to-5 lifestyle of waking up before 7am. it's definitely a game-changer if you're looking to get your schedule back on track after a weekend of oversleeping, too.
2. It's helped me feel less groggy in the mornings
Let's face it, phone alarm sounds are awful (we're looking at you, Radar). They're sharp, abrupt and seem to make sure that you start your day irritated.
And that's why I love the Bodyclock Luxe 700FM: a variety of 25+ alarm sounds that don't make me want slam the clock against the wall.
Instead of annoying beeping, a gradual sunrise light combined with purring kittens or ambient café noise eases you out of bed instead. I now wake up feeling refreshed, not bleary-eyed and cranky.
3. It's given me a serotonin boost on dark mornings
The fall can be lovely, with its bright orange leaves and festive-flavored lattes, but the darker mornings aren't part of that loveliness. Even after the clocks go back in early November and briefly give us slightly earlier sunrise times, they're still later than in summer.
Basking in natural sunlight each morning is a great energy and mood booster. Research has shown that exposure to bright sunlight increases serotonin levels, and as serotonin is a precursor to melatonin, this can help our sleep at night.
And while the light from a sunrise alarm clock won't mimic sunlight realistically enough to replicate its benefits (if you want that, try a SAD lamp), it certainly gave me a boost when it was dark outside.
4. It's got me covered for the week
Need to wake up earlier on Tuesday mornings or skip the alarm on Saturdays? The Bodyclock Luxe 700FM has got you covered.
You can pre-set your alarm for different times each day, allowing you to program your alarm for 7am on Mondays but 6.30am on Tuesdays.
This has been a huge help for me, as I'm trying to keep my sleep space tech-free and stop using my iPhone as my wake-up call.
5. It helps me wind down
As well as a sunrise alarm, the Bodyclock Luxe 700FM also acts as a sunset relaxer to help you unwind before bed.
Like the alarm, you can program the sunset feature to begin at the time of your choice and for different durations, and you can change this depending on the day.
You can even choose soothing music. While I haven't been using this feature this November (it's starting to get dark around 4pm after all), I know this'll come in handy in the new year.
3 reasons why I reccomend buying a cheaper sunrise alarm instead
While I love the Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 700FM and feel it lives up to its premium price, I have to admit that its $259 price tag is going to stop a lot of people from buying it immediately, or even adding it to their wish list this Christmas.
However, there is a budget alternative that does everything that a sunrise alarm clock should, minus the bells and whistles of the 700FM, that has now had a huge price drop. Right now, you can save 38% on the JALL Wake-Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock at Amazon, knocking it down from $52.98 to $32.88.
While it doesn't have the advanced feature of the Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 700FM, here are three reasons why the testers in our JALL Wake-Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock review still loved it...
1. It's affordable
While Christmas is a time to indulge, $259 is outside most festive (or day-to-day) budgets. The JALL Wake-Up Light, however, is a budget-friendly option that makes a great beginner sunrise alarm if you're not sure if you really need one.
However, our tester did say she found it a little tricky set up and change the settings, so check out our review for tips on how to get it up and running.
2. It covers sleep, not just waking up
While it may not have a sunset option, you can still incorporate the JALL sunrise alarm into your bedtime routine. Thanks to it's mood lighting function it can be a warm nightlight with adjustable brightness.
The nature sounds can also be used as wind-down noise, with the sound of sea waves or a crackling campfire acting as soothing white or background noise.
3. It has plenty of options for a budget clock
Like the Bodyclock Luxe 700FM, the JALL Wake-Up Light has several non-harsh alarm sounds to choose from, including chirping birds and croaking frogs, and three different sunrise duration options.
There's also two alarm settings (each with their own separate sounds and lights), an FM radio, and a variety of light colors you can select from.
Yes, it may not have a sunset feature, but that shouldn't matter quite as much in the fall and winter, or if you're simply looking for a device that'll help you wake up every dark winter morning.
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