We see it appearing on the market more and more: the smart alarm clock. No wake-up lights (although these days there is also a smart variant), but just small alarm clocks with smart options. In other words: that are connected to your phone via the internet, so you can set them up on your smartphone. However, that begs the question: why not just use your smartphone?
You can wake up peacefully with it
If you use your phone as an alarm clock, chances are that when you awake immediately becomes all sorts notifications will appear on your screen. As a result, you force yourself to immediately get up and get down to business, while it is probably better for your brain to wake up quietly, ponder your dreams, think about what you are going to do today and what you are going to do. attracts. Not all those social media messages, those WhatsApp messages to immediately spam the space you created in your head at night.
You can talk to it
While you’re brushing your teeth or putting on your pajamas, you can probably ask your smart alarm clock to set itself. An alarm at 8 o’clock tomorrow? No problem. Many smart alarm clocks are equipped with a voice assistant. Of course you will also find these assistants on your smartphone, but because you can do so much more with them, some people dare to trust their smartphone less when they ask an assistant to set an alarm. What if he stands still? Does the alarm clock go off? Although the answer to that question is yes, for some people it is nice to have a device whose main purpose is to wake you up at a specific time.
You can ram it
Although very hard ramming is never the best, the advantage of a separate alarm clock is that you can give it a small blow to turn it off. Striking a smartphone is not only risky (although you have to hit it very hard if you want to break it), it is above all unnecessary. There are no touch buttons or real buttons on a smartphone to switch off the alarm, for this you often have to drag something away or press a small button on the screen. With an alarm clock, you can touch something physical to turn it off. For many people, that helps when waking up, where when you open your eyes with a phone you tend to snooze and possibly oversleep.
They have a clearer screen
If you sometimes have ‘ceiling duty’ at night, it is inconvenient if you have to pick up your phone to see what time it is on that small screen (or actually: how many hours you have left to fall asleep). A smart alarm clock, such as the Lenovo Smart Clock or the Lenovo Smart Clock Essential stands on your bedside table with its big numbers waiting to tell you the time every moment of the night. So completely hands-free.
You don’t have blue screens
The bad thing about a smartphone is that the screen often emits blue light, which keeps you awake longer. In any case, a smartphone offers far too many distractions before you go to sleep, so it is better to keep it as far out of your bedroom as possible. In many cases, a smart alarm clock does not have a blue screen, but even if it does: you are not always right on top of it, so that you are less bothered by this ‘attack’ on your eyes.
It has a reading light
There are smart alarm clocks that double as a reading light and that’s a lot better than what your phone can offer. The flashlight is also such a spotlight. A separate alarm clock can spread the light much more evenly. This allows you to read for a while before going to sleep, without needing your smartphone or having to switch on the main light right away (and possibly crawling out of bed again to switch the light switch).
There are specialized variants
There are smart alarm clocks specifically made for a particular problem. The DAPRIL Alarm Clock for Heavy Sleepers is a good example of this. The volume of this alarm clock can be nice and loud, between 90 and 120 decibels, to ensure that even the most deep sleeper or loud snorer is still awakened. For people who love design, there are also very nicely designed smart alarm clocks. Amazon Echo Spot is an eye-catcher, partly thanks to its circular color screen. There are even variants that can monitor how you sleep by means of cameras and microphones and can provide you with insights and advice. The Google Nest Hub 2 is also suitable for on your bedside table and can also track your sleep with the Sleep Sensing function.
Cons
There are also disadvantages to smart alarm clocks compared to the smartphone. Where you need a smartphone anyway, this is an extra gadget to buy. In addition, there are many overlapping functions. A voice assistant, who has a smartphone too. A possibility to check the weather or your agenda, which you can also find on your smartphone. Moreover, in many cases you even need a smartphone to set your smart alarm clock.
In addition, compared to regular alarm clocks, there is also a major flaw in many smart clocks: a back-up battery. If the power fails, you will at least be woken up in time by the backup battery. There are smart alarm clocks that have it, but keep in mind that this does not apply to all variants.
Conclusion
Ultimately, a smart alarm clock on paper makes no difference compared to using a smartphone, but in practice you will certainly notice that the device offers added value in the bedroom. Especially not having to look at your phone immediately when you wake up (and the temptation to stare at your phone for too long when you actually have to sleep) is extremely useful in a smart alarm clock. And well, being able to hit that harder to turn it off can definitely help wake it up. In any case, you get a satisfied feeling that an alarm clock on your smartphone really can’t give you.
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