The Hatch Restore 2 Sunrise Alarm Clock clock is beloved – after trying it, I understand

As much as I'd love to be one of those who automatically wake up at 5 am, I unfortunately am not a morning person. I press my snooze button more times than I'd like to admit. I find that waking up to a loud, obnoxious alarm makes me wake up in a bad mood, setting the tone for more annoyance throughout the day.

Most recently, however, I've seen the solution all over TikTok. It's been out for a few years but the Hatch Sunrise Alarm Clock has been making waves thanks to its sleek design and ease at which it promises to wake you up. 

Essentially, the premise of the Hatch Alarm Clock is this: Instead of scaring you awake with a loud noise, it uses the relaxing sounds of your choice to both lull you asleep and gently wake you up, along with emitting light in the morning to help jumpstart your circadian rhythm. This promises a more restful sleep and a kinder wakeup, so you're ready to take on the day rejuvenated and at peace. It's one of our favorite sunrise alarm clocks, and I'm 100 percent on board.

What's the deal?

The Hatch Sunrise Alarm clock works as a bedside lamp, a sound machine, and a sunrise alarm all in one compact device. Not only can you adjust it so that you fall asleep to the relaxing sound of your choice (21 sleep sounds, to be exact), but you can also choose from 10 sunrise alarms and multiple settings where you can adjust the color, shades, and strength of the light in the morning, making sure you wake up calmly instead of having a ton of light just smack you in the face.

The best part is, it's entirely customizable. You can download the Hatch app to personalize everything from the strength of light to the volume and length of time the alarm rings. The idea is that by using this device, you'll be able to fall asleep faster, sleep better, and wake up much more relaxed.

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♬ original sound - The Creatives

What's the design like?

Say what you want about the Hatch Restore 2, but you can't say that it hasn't been designed with the consumer in mind. It has a flat, circular aesthetic that will fit in even in the smallest spaces, and is available in a multitude of chic neutral colors that can blend with pretty much any aesthetic: Latte, Putty, and Slate.

It helps that the front is covered in a natural linen fabric, which gives it a modern yet minimalist vibe. The fabric also helps diffuse the light like a lampshade would, and I loved how thin and lightweight it was. Hatch really spared no expense in making sure this alarm clock could fit in practically anywhere, and it shows.

Does it actually work?

Honestly, purchasing this clock was one of the best things I could have done when it comes to my sleep hygiene. Not only could I customize one of the most relaxing routines to fall asleep (I used the rain sounds combined with some deep breathing exercises), but I also made sure that the morning wakeup sound was an enjoyable, low hum that slowly got a little louder so I could wake up calmly. I set the brightness to 70%, and I chose a soothing blue color palette for the ultimate relaxing wakeup. 

However, if you like brighter colors and more sound, you can totally go the other way  and use 100% brightness and yellow sunrise-like light. They're not lying, this really is bright – it might wake up your whole house. For me, the calming option worked just fine. The controls were very intuitive on the clock (there's a Rise and Rest option for the mode you want to use and set up), but for more advanced details like the noise volume and color scheme, you need to use the added app that pairs the clock to your phone. 

I thankfully had no tech issues using it at all, but it's not perfect. I was mildly annoyed I had to use my phone in a place where phones are generally not recommended (aka, your bedroom). This also need always-on WiFi connection. You need 24/7 since internet connection when using the clock: It uses it to play music and adjust the time, which is a little ridiculous for an alarm clock. 

Should you buy it?

Okay, I'm going to be completely honest here: Is that Hatch Sunrise Alarm Clock worth $200? Honestly, probably not, as there are so many options on the market these days that are more affordable and do a pretty decent job. There are certainly a few issues with it: First off, you need to pay for the full subscription of sounds if you don't want to simply use the selection that already comes with the clock, and maximalists won't enjoy the very subtle shades this alarm clock comes in. 

The controls, while very intuitive, aren't as easy to use as the app is, and I don't know about you, but I don't particularly want to be checking my phone right as I go to bed. I did find, however, that the Hatch is the best when it comes to the selection of sounds, customization, and choice of brightness levels. The design also pairs perfectly with my neutral color scheme and small side table, and I now don't wake up every morning in blurry-eyed rage. That's a win, if you ask me.