Can’t Fall Asleep? Difficulty Waking Up? This May Help
Philips’s SmartSleep sunshine-mimicking alarm clock makes for a better wake-up routine
At almost 9 inches tall, the Philips SmartSleep Sleep and Wake-Up Light stands higher than your average alarm.
Photographer: Will Anderson for Bloomberg Businessweek
Modern life’s ability to disrupt our circadian rhythms—whether with blue light from our devices or jet lag—has spurred a cottage industry of alarm clocks that aim to provide inconsistent sleepers with a measure of control. Philips’s touch-sensitive SmartSleep light ($200) mimics natural light patterns to ease you into and out of a restful state. To simulate dawn, LEDs glow from red to orange to yellow over the course of 30 minutes, culminating in your choice of FM radio, nature sounds, or ambient music that gradually increases in volume. At night, a sunset setting reverses the color range to prepare you for bed. A connected version works with the companion SleepMapper app with a built-in sensor to track humidity, temperature, and sound and light levels.
• Lumie’s Bodyclock Active 250 ($125) uses an incandescent bulb to mimic sunrise and sunset for 15 to 90 minutes. It has sound effects, a lamp that can be dimmed, power backup, and a display that shuts off completely.