Aurora Light Alarm
$150
The Aurora Light Alarm combines light therapy with sound to gently wake you, promoting a mindful start to each day.
Our take
A bright start to mindful mornings.
Alright, so the Aurora Light Alarm is basically a fancy clock that wakes you up with light instead of the jarring beeps we're all used to. I gotta say, the idea of waking up to a "sunrise" in my bedroom sounded kinda neat. It’s supposed to mimic natural sunlight, which is a nice concept, but I was curious if it really makes a difference. Spoiler alert: it does, sort of. It’s way less aggressive than a regular alarm. If you're not a morning person, it’s a gentle nudge, not a shove out of bed.
The setup is pretty straightforward. You just plug it in and set the time you want to wake up. The light gradually gets brighter about 30 minutes before your alarm time. That gradual increase is actually pretty pleasant. I found it nice on days when I wasn't in a rush. The one catch is, if you’re the type who sleeps like you’re in a coma, this might not be enough to wake you up. It’s more like an assist than a full-on wake-up call.
Now, let's talk about the light itself. It's not the most natural-looking sunlight I've ever seen. It’s a bit too artificial for my taste, but it does the job. In a dim room, it’s bright enough to make you feel like it’s morning. But if you have blackout curtains or just a really dark room, it might not penetrate the darkness as much as you'd hope. It’s better than a pitch-black room, though, and that’s a step up.
On the downside, the sound options are a mixed bag. They offer some nature sounds, which are nice in theory, but some of them sound like they were recorded on a potato. If you’re picky about sound quality, you might end up just using the light feature. Also, if you rely on a loud alarm to shake you awake, this won’t cut it. It’s more of a soft wake-up, so if you need something to really jolt you out of bed, you might need a backup.
Overall, the Aurora Light Alarm is a cool gadget if you’re looking to ease into your mornings. It's not perfect, but it’s a decent step towards a less stressful wake-up. Just keep in mind that it might not be the ultimate solution for everyone, especially if you’re a heavy sleeper or really need loud noises to wake up. It’s a nice-to-have rather than a must-have, but it’s worth a try if you’re curious about light-based alarms.
