Cliff notes: the Hatch Restore 3 is still the sunrise alarm clock most people should buy if budget isnt the limiter, but its no longer the only good option. The Buffbee at $25 is shockingly close on the core function, the Casper Glow Light has better build quality if you dont need sound, and the Loftie Clock is the best for sleep tech nerds. This is what 2026 actually looks like in this category, not the lazy Hatch-or-nothing take you see most places.
I’ve been rotating between five sunrise alarms over the last few months. Heres the head to head, ranked by who they actually fit.
The Five We Tested
- Hatch Restore 3 ($170)
- Casper Glow Light ($129)
- Buffbee Sunrise Alarm ($25)
- Loftie Clock ($149)
- Philips SmartSleep HF3520 ($110)
All five do the basic “wake up to a slowly brightening light instead of an alarm” thing. Where they diverge is in everything else: sound, app, build quality, sleep features, and price.
The Winner: Hatch Restore 3
Score: 9 out of 10
If you only read this far, the Restore 3 earns its reputation. The light is the best in this group, the sound machine is excellent, the app is the most polished, and the sunrise simulation actually feels like sunrise instead of “the room is getting brighter for some reason.”
Where it falls short: $170 is a real ask. The premium “Hatch+” subscription is annoying. And it’s tied to their app, so if Hatch ever shuts down the cloud service, you have a $170 nightstand decoration.
Buy this if: budget is flexible and you want one device that handles wake up light, sleep sounds, alarm, and night reading light without compromise.
Skip if: you’re allergic to subscription nudges, or you only need a sunrise alarm without the sound machine layer.
Best Budget Pick: Buffbee Sunrise Alarm
Score: 8 out of 10 for the price
The Buffbee is the surprise of this group. At $25 its 15% the price of the Restore 3 and it does the sunrise alarm function maybe 80% as well. Light is bright enough, the gradual brightening curve is decent, and it has multiple alarm sounds built in. No app, no subscription, no cloud dependency.
What you give up: smart features, scheduled bedtime routines, sound library, build quality. The Buffbee feels like a $25 product because thats what it is. But for “I just want to wake up to light instead of buzzing,” it nails the job.
Buy this if: budget is the limiter, or youre a sunrise alarm skeptic who wants to try the concept without committing $170.
Skip if: you want the sleep sound machine layer or any kind of app control.
Best Design: Casper Glow Light
Score: 8 out of 10
The Glow Light is the prettiest device in this group by a wide margin. Its a tactile little orb with no screen, no buttons in the usual sense, just gestures: flip it to turn on, twist for brightness, shake to dim. Theres a clear design philosophy here and it shows.
What you give up: sound. Theres no sound machine, no audio at all. Its a light. The sunrise function is excellent but its purely visual.
Buy this if: you have a separate sound machine already and you want the prettiest sunrise alarm on your nightstand.
Skip if: you want one device that does everything.
Best for Sleep Nerds: Loftie Clock
Score: 8 out of 10
The Loftie is the most interesting device in this group from a “thinking about sleep” perspective. It has a sound library, sunrise simulation, sleep meditations, and most importantly a two phase alarm that nudges you awake gently before the real alarm hits. Its also one of the few devices in this category designed specifically as a phone replacement (no notifications, no social apps, just sleep stuff).
The build quality is excellent. The display is a small e-ink ish display that doesnt blast you with light at night.
What you give up: the brightest sunrise light. The Loftie’s sunrise is good but not as bright as the Hatch or Casper. If light is the primary thing youre after, this is third place.
Buy this if: youre trying to get your phone out of the bedroom and want a smart bedside device that takes sleep seriously.
Skip if: you just want a bright wake up light.
Best Pure Light Therapy: Philips SmartSleep HF3520
Score: 7 out of 10
The Philips is the original sunrise alarm clock that everyone else copied. Its still a solid device. Bright, simple, no app required, with a half decent sunset wind down function. Build quality is meh, the interface is clunky by modern standards, and theres no smart functionality.
What it has going for it: clinical light therapy intensity. The Philips puts out more lumens than anything else in this group. If youre using a sunrise alarm to treat seasonal affective disorder or chronic morning sluggishness, this is the one that has actual medical literature behind it.
Buy this if: you want a no nonsense, no app, no subscription, light first device with real therapeutic intensity.
Skip if: you want any modern conveniences like app control or scheduling.
Side By Side: What Each Does Best
| Device | Best At | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hatch Restore 3 | All in one device | $170 |
| Casper Glow Light | Design and feel | $129 |
| Buffbee | Budget pick | $25 |
| Loftie Clock | Phone replacement | $149 |
| Philips SmartSleep | Pure light therapy | $110 |
Which One Should You Buy?
Honest answer depends on what you actually want:
- Want everything in one device, dont care about $170, Hatch Restore 3
- Want to try sunrise alarms but dont want to commit, Buffbee
- Care most about how it looks, Casper Glow Light
- Trying to get phone out of bedroom, Loftie Clock
- Have seasonal depression and want clinical light therapy, Philips SmartSleep
FAQs
Do sunrise alarm clocks actually work? For most people, yes. The research is solid on the general concept (gradual light wake versus jarring sound). The effect is bigger if you currently wake to a phone alarm in a dark room.
How early should the light start? Most devices default to 30 minutes before your wake time. I prefer 20 to 25, which feels less drawn out.
Is the subscription worth it on the Hatch? Probably not. The base functionality is great. Hatch+ adds some guided sleep content but you can find equivalent free content elsewhere.
Will any of these work for kids? Hatch makes a separate kids version (the Rest) that’s a better fit. These adult models work but the kids one has sleep training features built specifically for parents.
Can I use these as a regular reading light? Hatch, Casper, and Philips: yes. Buffbee: technically yes but the light is more functional than ambient. Loftie: no, its strictly a sleep device.
Bottom Line
If you’ve never used a sunrise alarm and you’re curious, the Buffbee at $25 is the smartest entry point. If you know you want one and youll use the sound machine layer, the Hatch Restore 3 is still the best buy in this category. The Casper Glow Light is the design pick. The Loftie is for people serious about sleep hygiene. The Philips is the medical pick.
The category got better in 2026. Hatch isnt the only option anymore, and that’s good for buyers.
