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Tom's Guide
7 days ago
- Tom's Guide
Hatch Restore 3 review 2025: A versatile sunrise alarm clock well worth the upgrade
Released in January 2025, the Hatch Restore 3 is a phone-free upgrade on the popular Hatch Restore 2 and after testing we think it's worthy of replacing the Restore 2 as the best sunrise alarm clock you can buy online right now. I've tested over half a dozen sunrise alarm clocks and, I'll admit, I was hesitant over whether a sunrise alarm clock would be useful in summer when the sun naturally shines through my window by 5:30am. Alas, I was wrong. The Hatch sunrise alarm clock is a versatile sleep gadget that operates as a sound machine and wake up and night light. It's built to elevate your bedtime and morning routine, and align your circadian rhythm, with an authentic sunrise simulation and library of 60+ sleep sounds from historical stories to meditative sound tracks. Type: Sunrise and sunset light alarm clockBest for: Sleepers looking for a better wind-down and wake-up routineDimensions: 7.24" L x 2.43" W x 5.31" HWarranty: 1 yearPrice: $169.99 at Hatch Hatch has always shone as a good looking sunrise alarm clock, and the Restore 3 is no different. In terms of looks, it is similar to the previous generations, sporting the sleek cloth finish in neutral colors. The difference with the new Restore 3 is it has a bigger button on top, enabling you to operate it without your phone to hand. The device gradually brightens to mimic a natural sunrise, and dims for a sunset effect, aiding energizing wake-ups and gentle nighttime routines. It's chic upon first look, but I also discovered some fun twists in the Hatch audio library including house music alarm sounds. There plenty of soothing sleep sounds too (which we'll delve in to below) and a night light setting to help lull you to sleep and find your way to the bathroom at night. Alongside being a well-rounded bedside light, the Hatch is a proficient sound machine packing music, sleep stories, dreamscapes and guided mindfulness practices in the digital Hatch library (accessed via its accompanying app). Do note, you need to be confident with smart phone tech to easily navigate all of the functions. The Hatch Restore 3 is available in three neutral colors and there was a limited edition Rosy colorway released for Mother's Day, so we may see other exclusive colorways hit the shelves in future. The device also comes with a 30-day trial period and a one-year warranty. I've tested the Hatch Restore 3 through July and it'll certainly be the one I keep on my bedstand come autumn, when the benefits of a sunrise alarm clock really come into play. Here's why… Hatch is at the forefront of the sunrise alarm clock industry, which is projected to reach over $651 million in value by 2032, according to Dataintelo. You've likely come across Hatch in the trendy wellness corners of TikTok or Instagram, but if you're not familiar, the Restore 3 is the third generation Hatch released in January this year. Built on customer feedback, the Hatch Restore 3 comes with phone-free controls you can head expert advice and keep your sleep space screen-free. Plus it has enhanced audio and a greater selection of sleep sounds, all for no extra cost. Value for money is where the Hatch Restore 3 shines. Despite its upgrades, the Restore 3 costs no more than the previous generation. At $169.99, the Hatch is a premium model compared to other sunrise alarm clocks. But that does mean elite features. Considering its upgrades on the Restore 2, we expected to see a price hike when the Restore 3 was released, yet that wasn't the case. In fact, it's stayed cheaper than the Restore 2, which retailed at $199 when it hit the market in July 2023. In comparison, the Restore 3 launched at $169.99 and has stayed at that MSRP, even dropping to $139.99 during Prime Day sales. In short, I think it's great value for money. How does Hatch compare to other sunrise alarms? Of course, it's not the cheapest model (head to Amazon for budget buys like the the JALL sunrise alarm clock at $31.18 now), but it's also not the most expensive. The Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light, which matches the Hatch in terms of sunrise simulation but falls short as a sound machine, retails at $179.99. Do note that to access all features it has to offer, you must sign up to the Hatch+ subscription which will set you back $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. Of course, a subscription fee isn't ideal. But one less coffee a month for better sleep? Take my money, Hatch. Although you can get away with using the sunrise setting and basic sleep and wake sounds without it too. But to access the full library of sounds, making the Hatch a worthy investment, you must get past the paywall. Price score: 4.5/5 Hatch Restore 3 Sunrise Alarm Clock: $169.99 at HatchThe Hatch Restore 3 is a versatile sleep gadget coming in clutch as a sound machine, wake up light and night light. Plus it looks chic. It retails at $169.99 and we've recently seen it drop to $139.99 around major tech sale periods. Though you may need to wait until Black Friday to see this discount again. The premise behind a Hatch alarm clock is pretty simple: it uses light and sound to help you sleep peacefully and wake up with energy. Even in summer months, I've found there are benefits to using a sunrise alarm clock like the Hatch. The Hatch Restore 3 comes in three standard colorways (Putty, Greige, and Cocoa) and a limited edition Rosy if you shop at the right time (unfortunately, it's sold out right now). I tested the Putty and it blends seamlessly with my neutral bedroom aesthetic. Thanks to its partial cotton cover, it looks chic on my bedside unit — one of the reasons I love Hatch over other plastic sunrise alarm clocks. Plus it's minimal and doesn't take up too much space. In the morning, it wakes you up with colorful light and gentle sounds (goodbye, jarring iPhone alarm and incessantly hitting the snooze button). By night, it sends you to sleep with calming, sleep-inducing audio from podcasts to guided meditations. And you can customize your routine to suit your changing mood through the week. Personally, I like the upbeat Coachella sunrise on weekdays when I need to rise early for work and the more calming sound of crashing waves on weekends. Although you must set it up via the Hatch app, you can leave your phone out of the bedroom once set up is complete and operate the clock via buttons (a request of previous Hatch customers). Even as a sleep tech writer, one thing I hate is sleep gadgets that require extensive tech knowledge and I'm pleased to report the Hatch app is easy to navigate. And the buttons, though sparse, work well without being overwhelming — bravo, Hatch. Features score: 4.5/5 You need a fair understanding of Bluetooth connectivity and smartphone technology to set up the Hatch and personalize your routine. But once that's done you can operate the Restore 3 via buttons on the device. There are three buttons on the top of the device: a pause button, an Unwind Swap button, and what Hatch calls the Big Button, aka the one with a lot of responsibility. It's the snooze button, volume button (twist to turn up and down), and the one you'll use to start and stop your Unwind routine. Next to that, the swap button is used to move to the next step in your unwind routine. The other side, the pause button is there to pause audio. On the side of the device there's the alarm toggle to disable and enable the audio alarm. On the other side the light button is there to sync your clock with Bluetooth. To see the digital time? Simply tap anywhere on the cloth clock front. The Hatch App is where you'll pick your sleep and wake sounds of choice and set your preferred alarm times. I subscribed to Hatch+ for the testing period, which offers a wider variety of wake-up and wind-down sounds and light settings. Though I think going subscription-free would suit my needs. I found the app easy to navigate and I like how you can alter your sleep and wake times by day of the week to suit your work routine (the last thing I want is to be woken at 6am on a Sunday morning.) It's great that you can save your favorite sleep sounds too, cutting out the hassle of scrolling to find them each night. Ease of use score: 4/5 I've been testing the Hatch Restore 3 for just over a week, assessing it in key areas of performance, including ease of use, set up and general night-to-night function. Here's how it performed in tests... Everything about the Hatch is sleek, including its packaging. In the box, you'll find the device, cable and plug and a brief three-step instruction manual (the rest of the information you need is found through a QR code). Once you're plugged in, you must download the Hatch Sleep app from the Apple or Google Play store. There's a QR code that takes you to the Hatch website when scanned, where you will be guided through the rest of the set-up process and user guide. Here you'll find all the information you need on the installation and controls. As a returning Hatch app customer, I was able to log into my account and add a new device. For reference, I found setting up my Hatch account when I first started using the Restore 2 an easy process which took just a few minutes while you type in the usual details (name, email etc). There are three routines to customize in the app: Unwind, Sleep and Sunrise Alarm, and you can choose from Hatch's variety of sounds and lights for each one. The Unwind helps you prepare for bed with audio and a sunset simulation. The Sleep programme can either run for a set amount of time or all night long if you like sleeping to a sound machine. And the Sunrise Alarm wakes you up with your audio of choice, be that soothing bird tweets or upbeat house music for any party rockers. There was no problem with my iPhone picking up the Hatch Restore 3 via Bluetooth upon set up and I like how you can sample sleep and wake up programmes when deciding what ones to add to your personalized routine. However, the clock didn't automatically connect to my phone some nights and I had to fiddle with flicking Bluetooth on and off for a minute or two to get it to pick up a connection. This was a slight nuisance, but you only need it to connect if you want to edit your winddown routine. Otherwise, you can simply click the Big Button and away with the relaxing. A sunrise simulation inside your bedroom is a lifesaver in winter, but amplifying the light inside my bedroom with fun colors, I've found the Hatch helps me wake up brighter in summer too. Of course, there's a selection of wake-up programmes from Coachella Sunrise to Nordic Sunrise and Hiking in the Dawn. Each has different light colors including red, warm amber or cool blue and green hues. This light gradually lights up over 30 minutes, gently pulling you from sleep so that you reach the end of a sleep cycle by the time the audio alarm sounds. And science shows that light is the ideal wake-up call. A study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology in 2014 concluded: "Light exposure during the last 30 min of habitual sleep can increase subjective alertness and improve both cognitive and physical performance after waking." Although the goal of a sunrise alarm clock is to wake you up naturally with light, the Hatch Restore 3 is complete with 20 audible alarm settings too to much sure you don't snooze through your morning meeting. Could it even help you become a morning person?! As a deep sleeper, I appreciate the audio alarm too. Although the light helps stir me from slumber, I need the sound to properly wake me up. My alarm noise of choice is tweeting birds as I like a wholesome call to wakefulness. Though I have tested the house music setting too and can confirm it makes for an energising start to the day. Although this is a sunRISE alarm clock, the Hatch Unwind programme actually has the most range in its content. There's podcast episodes, guided meditations and historical story narrations to go with the gradually dimming night light. Once you hit the Big Button around bedtime, the light will come on and gradually get less powerful over the course of 30 minutes to an hour (your choice). I usually set it to an hour an have the warm light illuminate my room while I complete my bedtime routine which involves stretching and reading. I like how you can add your preferred night light colors to your Unwind programme, choosing from cherry blossom, pure red waves or meditative gold (to name a few). I find the red light helps me feel super sleepy, and I often drifting off mid-page with this setting — likely due to the fact the red light helps promote melatonin. From soothing nature soundscapes and soundbaths to Hatch's Pillow Talk podcast, guided body scans and ASMR, there's a sleep track for everyone at Hatch. You can create and save three nighttime routines with different audio so you don't get bored of the same thing night-in, night-out. As for sounds to see you through the night, there's 12 color noises (white noise, pink noise, etc.), 11 ambient home sounds like a bedside fan or humming fridge (if that's your jam), 10 water-inspired sleep sounds and five idyllic nature sounds. Plus there are tracks tuned into your zodiac sign with the Hatch+ subscription. I'm not the only one to sing praises about Hatch. The Restore 3 exhibits a 4.5 out of 5 star rating from customers at Hatch and 4.5 stars at Amazon. One reviewer writes: "This has been the biggest game changer for my sleep. I will always recommend." Others claim they have "the best routine" with Hatch and say it's helped them "get excited about going to bed and waking up." Any drawbacks? The main customer complaints revolve around the subscription fee. As one customer says: "My gripe is that all the good stuff is locked behind a subscription service." Another has some design complaints. They write: "The buttons are very hard to see due to the design and the user will have to read the instructions to fully understand how to work all of the functions." ✅You're a night owl: The Hatch can be a real game changer if you struggle to wake up early in the morning. The gradual light stirs you from sleep so you are more alert by the time you have to get up. ✅You want a chic sunrise alarm clock: Aesthetic is where Hatch excels, providing a functional device that also looks great. You simply won't find a better looking sunrise alarm clock. ✅You're struggling to wind down at night: Hatch's library of sleep sounds and effective sunset simulation is sure to help calm your mind and body when you hit the hay. ❌You're not confident using a mobile app: Yes you can operate it with simple buttons, but you need to connect to Bluetooth and the mobile app to set up your clock and customize your routines. ❌You're on a budget: As a stylish and super smart alarm clock, the Hatch Restore 3 does come with a higher price tag than other, more basic sunrise alarm clocks on the market. Philips SmartSleep Sleep and Wake-Up Light: $179.99 at PhilipsAlthough it doesn't come cheap either, the Philips SmartSleep HF3651 has a strong sunrise simulation which can make dark early morning wake-ups a lot easier all year round. There aren't currently any discounts on this wake-up light, with MSRP sitting at $179.99 with a 2-year warranty. Read our Philips SmartSleep Sleep and Wake-Up Light review for more information. Momcozy sunrise alarm clock: $49.99 at MomcozyThe Momcozy Sunrise Sound Machine is a 4-in-1 device that not only functions as a sunrise-simulating alarm clock, but also a sleep sound machine and seven-colour night light, all for the affordable price of $50. Marketed towards moms and babies, it's a reliable night light and sound machine to get you through bedtime routines, night feds and early mornings. JALL Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock: $45.44 $29.95 at Amazon The JALL sunrise alarm clock is a great budget option suitable for both adults as well as for helping get kids out of bed on school mornings. At $45.44 MSRP, the JALL is affordable (even more so now there's 34% off cutting the price to $29.95) and functional. A selling point is this device's combination of eight solid color lights and seven red, green, and blue mood lights. Plus, it doubles as an FM radio. Read our full JALL Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock review for more information.
Tom's Guide
04-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
I'm a sleep tech tester — these are the gadgets I'd buy if I was heading back to college this summer
While I've spent the best part of the last year reviewing sleep tech, it wasn't long ago that I was heading back to college. If I could go back with the encyclopedic sleep knowledge I have now, I would have spent less money on overpriced flat whites and more on products that would help me get better quality ZZZs at night. Firstly, setting up your dorm with a great value, reliably comfortable top-rated mattress for college students will be key to getting solid rest between classes, assignments and, of course, social events. And while one of the very best mattresses is likely to be beyond a student budget, a couple of the beds we'd buy in the 4th of July sales come in at very low prices. Mattress aside, I recommend a trusty sleep tracker, gentle alarm clock and comfortable sleep mask. I've been tracking 4th of July sleep sales to find you the best deals on the gadgets that will help you fall asleep fast and wake up refreshed at college this year. Here are my top picks... Hatch Restore 3 sunrise alarm clock: $169.99 at HatchGetting up for 9am lectures is no easy feat, but a top-rated sunrise alarm clock can make those mornings more palatable. Simulating a sunrise inside your dorm room and loaded with natural alarm sounds, these alarm clocks rouse you gradually rather than jolting you awake. This helps reduce sleep inertia so you can head to your morning lectures more alert. The Hatch Restore 3 is an upgrade on the Restore 2 with more sleep sounds and phone-free controls for no extra cost. The Hatch is an investment at $169.99, but we predict there will be $30 off in the Prime Day sale next week. Girlies, if you're quick enough, you can catch the limited edition Rosy colorway to complete your cute dorm room aesthetic. User score: ★★★★½ (based on 3,300+ reviews) Oura Ring Generation 3: was from $299 now from $199 at OuraThe Oura Ring 3 is my favorite sleep tracker right now (yes, I've been known to go to sleep with three trackers on me at once to decide which I like best). Oura tells you exactly how long you sleep compared to how long you spend in bed, providing an impetus for turning off Netflix and putting down your phone when you should be sleeping. You can get an Oura Ring 3 for $100 less now with a silver Heritage design at $199 (was $299). It's not the latest model, but after testing both the Ring 3 and Ring 4, in terms of sleep tracking, I don't think the newest generation is worth the extra $150 you pay. Our review: ★★★★½ Jabees Peace Pillow Speaker: from $35.99 at JabeesThere's no getting around the fact dorm rooms can be noisy and while sometimes it'll likely be you up partying, on other nights you'll want to drown out the noise to sleep peacefully — this is when the Jabees Peace Pillow Speaker will be your best friend. You place this bone conduction speaker under your pillow and can chose from a library of natural sleep sounds or connect it to your mobile via Bluetooth. It's $35.99 at Jabees now and you can get 10% off if you sign up to the brand's emails. User score: ★★★★½ (based on 8 reviews) Bob and Brad eye massager: was $99.99 now $59.50 at AmazonLooking at a laptop screen all day while ploughing through college work can strain the eyes. But this Bob and Brad eye massager provides relief. It has a cooling gel mask you put in the freezer before fitting to the mask for it to deliver soothing, cooling compression to alleviate tired or irritated eyes. I recommend using it as part of your nighttime routine. With 40% off at Amazon this 4th July, the mask is down to $59.50 from $99.99. If that's out your budget and you want a simple eye mask for blocking out light, this cushioning, soft MZOO eye mask ($28.99 $19.99 at Amazon) does a grand job. User score: ★★★★½ (based on 153 reviews) BonCharge blue light blocking clip light: was $29.99 now $22.49 at BonChargeAs a nighttime reader, this red light clip is a life saver for my sleep. It means I can get comfortable with my book in bed without having to move (and cancel out the sleep-inducing effect of reading) to turn off any lights when it's time to sleep. Plus the red light promotes melatonin production, helping you feel sleepy and drift off fast. The BonCharge light clip is 25% off now, bringing the cost down to $22.49 (was $29.99), which I think is great value on a device that's going to supercharge your nighttime reading routine. I can only wish I had it during my days as an English Literature student. User score: ★★★★★ (based on 156 reviews)
