Ten dawn-simulation alarm clocks were tested by reviewer Pete Wise, who used every model for at least two nights before recommending eight of them in a Guardian Lifestyle article published on 9 October 2026. His overall pick is the Lumie Bodyclock Glow 150, priced from £118.96.
Wise states that only two of the devices he assessed hold medical certification as light-therapy products for seasonal affective disorder (SAD): the Bodyclock Glow 150 and the Bodyclock Spark 100, both made by Lumie.
According to the piece, waking in darkness through winter separates daily life from the circadian rhythm, the body clock, pushing processes such as cognition and metabolism into use before they are ready. Sunrise, or dawn simulation, alarms counter this by brightening gradually as the wake-up time approaches.
How the clocks were tested
Each model was used to wake the reviewer on at least two mornings, with multiple light and sound settings explored and the quality of each wake-up logged. Brightness, how closely the glow matched real sunlight and audio quality were all weighed, alongside how refreshed the reviewer felt afterwards. Sundown functions, where fitted, were used as well, and each clock also served as a reading light.
Wise notes that he has worked as a freelance gadget reviewer since 2017, covering items including SAD lamps and electric heaters, and that he tested three further models during winter 2025/26. Some brands did not ask for their clocks to be returned, and those units are to be donated for fundraising to Cat Action Trust 1977, a national charity for feral cats. The Guardian states that it earns commission on purchases made through affiliate links.
Best overall: Lumie Bodyclock Glow 150
Wise describes Lumie as the brand that pioneered consumer-grade sunrise alarm clocks in the early 1990s, and says that pedigree still shows. He rates the sunrise effect among the most convincing he has experienced and calls it the best clock of those he has tested, though he notes the price is high.
The unit is controlled through five buttons around its digital display, and Wise says the personalisation options that matter are all present, including sunrise intensity and duration. He singles out the range of alarm tones, from very gentle to firmly rousing, preferring tropical birds and waves over beep or steam train.
- Price: from £118.96 (£119 at Argos, £118.96 at Amazon)
- Certification: UK MDR 2002 and EU MDR 2017/745 medical classification
- Modes: sunrise alarm, sunset, bedside light
- Footprint: W19 x D12cm
- Features: light-sensitive auto-dimming display
- Brightness settings: five
- Sunrise duration: 20, 30 or 45 minutes
Downside: only one colourway is offered, black with a white lamp.
Best value: Lumie Sunrise Alarm
Priced from £39.99, this model brightens subtly in the minutes before the alarm and produced an awakening Wise compares to natural light. He found the clock easy to set, though some buttons are fiddly and he advises keeping the manual nearby. Its alarm tones include kittens purring alongside goats bleating and birdsong.
- Price: from £39.99 (£49 at John Lewis, £39.99 at Amazon)
- Certification: none
- Modes: sunrise alarm, sunset, mood, bedside light
- Footprint: W17 x D9cm
- Features: mood lighting in six colours
- Brightness settings: 10
- Sunrise duration: 30 minutes
Downside: it is less bright than Lumie’s pricier models and, in Wise’s view, lacks some bedside-table appeal.
Best for heavy sleepers: Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100
Wise reports feeling great on waking with this medical-grade device, which fills the room with intensifying sun-like light before the alarm sounds. He says it imitates the lightening shades of a sunrise more convincingly than any other brand he tested and can reach a high brightness depending on the setting chosen.
A sunset function runs through the same red, orange and white tones in reverse, after which the light either switches off or stays on in a gentle night-light mode. Wise also praises the build, the soft-edged but robust body and the cable storage in the base.
- Price: from £98.46 (£98.46 at Healf, £98.96 at Amazon)
- Certification: UK MDR 2002 and EU MDR 2017/745 medical classification
- Modes: sunrise alarm, sunrise, sunset, bedside light
- Footprint: W19 x D12cm
- Features: tap to snooze, auto-dimming display, adjustable sunrise and sunset duration, adjustable display brightness
- Brightness settings: five
- Sunrise duration: 30 minutes
Downside: the alarm tone turns piercing at the top three of five volume levels; Wise settled on 2/5.
Best for late-night reading: Philips SmartSleep
The SmartSleep quickly felt like part of the furniture for Wise, who calls it a dependable, good-quality product with a solid, neutral design. Setup was slick, with alarm time, sound and brightness set through on-screen prompts and no need for the manual.
He describes the wake-up performance as impressive, pairing bright light with a varied selection of alarm sounds. FM radio and a 3.5mm auxiliary input are included, along with a 5V USB charging outlet at the rear that can free up a bedside socket. As a reading light, Wise found the output mellow and restful even on bright settings, and it switches off with a press.
- Price: from £181.99 (£183.99 at Philips, £181.99 at Amazon)
- Certification: none
- Modes: sunrise alarm, sleep mode with sunset simulation, bedside light
- Footprint: W22 x D12cm
- Features: FM radio, aux audio input, RelaxBreathe breathing exercises, adjustable sunrise duration, snooze, up to two wake-up profiles with separate alarms
- Brightness settings: 25
- Sunrise duration: 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40 minutes
Downside: the price is one of the highest in the group.
Best mini option: Lexon Mina Sunrise
Wise’s standing complaint about sunrise alarms is that they often look worse than a standard bedside lamp, and he calls this French-made model a stylish exception. It combines a mushroom-shaped light with a colourful metal base and a wraparound digital display, and it fits neatly on a small bedside table.
The sunrise function roused him gently ahead of the alarm tone, and he got up feeling alert even though the light is not especially bright. It also worked for bedtime reading. Five alarm tones are offered, all described as rich and full, including birdsong and water sounds plus louder piercing options for heavy sleepers.
- Price: from £77.94 (£79.90 at John Lewis, £77.94 at Amazon)
- Certification: none
- Modes: sunrise alarm, sunset, bedside light
- Footprint: W11 x D11cm
- Features: mood lighting in nine colours, snooze, cordless operation
- Brightness settings: five
- Sunrise duration: 30 minutes
Downside: the control buttons sit on the base and cannot be seen in the dark without a second light source such as a phone torch.
Best for couples: Beurer Wake-up Light WL 50
Because it stores two alarms at different times with their own sound and light settings, Wise says the WL 50 suits couples who rise at different hours. He notes that this feature is rare among sunrise alarms, particularly at the price charged.
The sunrise mode is gentle but effective, and a groggy tap turns the device into a reading light. Only two alarm tones are provided, which Wise found he liked regardless, and the unit adds an FM radio with room for 30 presets, Bluetooth and an auxiliary input. It can also be unplugged once charged and used on the move for up to three hours, a function he calls hard to imagine needing but a welcome gesture.
- Price: from £54.99 (£57.56 at John Lewis, £54.99 at Amazon)
- Certification: none
- Modes: sunrise alarm, sunset simulation, bedside light, radio and speaker
- Footprint: W11 x D11cm
- Features: FM radio, aux audio input, Bluetooth audio, portable use up to three hours, LED mood light
- Brightness settings: adjustable
- Sunrise duration: 10, 20 or 30 minutes
Downside: sound quality is not great, though Wise considers it adequate for the half-awake.
The best of the rest
Two further models were tested but did not make Wise’s final selection. The Blueair Mini Restful, from £169, is billed as the world’s first sunrise clock combined with an air purifier. Wise found it too bulky for a bedside table, resting it on the floor instead, but the sunrise function woke him reliably with warm, brightening light and the purification left his air feeling fresher after a dusty sanding session. The fan runs very quietly. It missed the cut because the sunrise alarm can only be triggered through the Blueair app, which he otherwise enjoyed using.
- Blueair Mini Restful: from £169, no certification, modes of night light and sunrise alarm, footprint W17 x D17cm, air purification, app control, alarm scheduling, brightness on a 0-100% scale, sunrise duration of 15-30 minutes
The Dreamegg Sunrise 1, from £62.99, offers 29 ambient sounds for falling asleep plus five morning options including birdsong, a crackling campfire and breaking waves. Wise notes that for him the sounds worked better at sending him to sleep than waking him. He praises the textured front, the foolproof dimmer controls on each side and the prominent snooze button on top, but finds the light relatively dim.
- Dreamegg Sunrise 1: from £62.99 (£62.99 at Dreamegg, £69.99 at Amazon), no certification given, 29 ambient sleep sounds, five wake sounds, side dimmer controls, snooze button
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