Does a $250 alarm clock actually make you wake up better? My verdict after a week
Source: ZDNet
[](https://www.helloambient.com/dreamie)
### ZDNET's key takeaways
- The Dreamie smart alarm clock retails for **$250**.
- It’s a beautifully designed alarm clock with **no app** (crowd cheers).
- Ambient, the company behind Dreamie, is still developing features to make the clock more useful.
[**$250 at Hello Ambient**](https://www.helloambient.com/dreamie)
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Phones have messed up our sleep in more ways than one. Their addictive functions keep us scrolling past bedtime, and their alarms jolt us awake with loud sounds and harsh haptics. Once the alarm is silenced, we’re often left overwhelmed and struggling to fall back asleep.
**Also:** [I biohacked my sleep with these 5 gadgets (and it worked)](https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-biohacked-my-sleep-with-these-5-gadgets-and-it-worked/)
Smart sunrise alarm clocks have grown in popularity as an alternative to blaring phone alarms. By using gradually increasing light and calming sounds, they wake sleepers more gently. The most popular models come from companies like **Hatch** and **Philips**, but they’re not perfect:
- Many Hatch features sit behind a paywall.
- Philips’s bulbous design isn’t the first thing most people want on their bedside table.
There’s still room for customization and advancement in this product category.Enter Dreamie
Dreamie’s $250 alarm clock steps onto the scene with a touchscreen design, a unique look, and—my favorite part—no app or subscription. After a week of testing, I can confidently say it could shake up the competition—once a few kinks are ironed out.
First impressions
- Aesthetic appeal: The device looks beautiful on any bedside table, pleasing both tech enthusiasts and aesthetes.
- Circular, fully interactive screen: Unlike most competitors, Dreamie offers a circular design with a touch‑enabled display.
- Customizable display: Switch between analog and digital time, view room temperature, and see active alarms—all at a glance.
Also: I’ve tested the Apple Watch, Oura Ring, and other sleep trackers – 5 tips to get the best results
How it compares
A quick look at competing smart alarm clocks shows that few offer a circular, fully interactive screen. Compared to my Hatch:
- Visibility: Dreamie’s time display occupies most of the surface, making it easy to read at a glance.
- Design: Hatch’s time occupies only about one‑fifth of its face, which can be harder to spot from across the room.
Overall, Dreamie brings a fresh, design‑forward approach to the sunrise‑alarm market. With continued software improvements, it could become a strong contender for anyone looking to replace their phone alarm with a more gentle, aesthetically pleasing solution.
Interactive Movements to Remember
The Dreamie smart alarm clock includes:
- 50 mm speaker – delivers 360‑degree sound.
- Ambient light sensor – automatically controls screen brightness.
- Temperature & humidity sensors.
- Bluetooth connectivity – stream soundscapes to your sleep earbuds.
How to Use the Controls
| Action | Gesture |
|---|---|
| Change volume | Turn the circular clock face (the “light lens”). |
| Adjust light brightness | Slide your finger along Dreamie’s touch strip (on the back). |
| Change light direction | After touching the strip, tap the circular light button on the screen and swirl your finger. |
| Open settings | Swipe up on the screen. |
| Start a wind‑down | Swipe down on the screen. |
The design mimics a smartphone’s settings UI, so most users will find the swipe‑up/swipe‑down choreography familiar.
Quick Visual
Photo credit: Nina Raemont / ZDNET
Why No App?
Dreamie’s biggest selling point is that it works without any app setup. Ambient co‑founder Adrian Canoso wants users to get out of bed quickly, not spend time fiddling with a phone. This also supports the common recommendation to keep phones out of the bedroom to reduce screen‑time addiction and improve sleep quality.
Additional Resources
- This sunrise alarm clock helped improve my sleep routine
- Need a sleep study? It could be as easy as downloading an Apple Watch app soon
Sound & Light Features
- Four built‑in alarm sounds: gentle bells, a rising chord progression, a marimba‑like jingle, and morning songbirds.
- Future podcast integration – Ambient plans to add a podcast feature so you can wake up or wind down to your favorite host.
Light Performance
- The current light isn’t bright enough to serve as a true sunrise alarm; you’ll still need the accompanying sound to get out of bed.
- Compared with the Hatch 3 (≈ 600 lux at one foot), Dreamie’s light is weaker. An upcoming firmware update promises a 25 % increase in directed‑light brightness.
- No “disable light” option yet – the light stays on throughout the night, which may disturb light sleepers. Ambient says a light‑disable feature is slated for release within the next month.
Overall, Dreamie offers an intuitive, app‑free experience with solid sound options and a growing set of features, though its light output and night‑time control still have room for improvement.
About That Price
Dreamie’s higher price tag of $250 likely reflects its app‑free business model. In contrast, companies like Hatch add an extra $50 per year on top of the $170 hardware cost.
| Product | Hardware Cost | Ongoing Fees | Total First‑Year Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dreamie | $250 | — | $250 |
| Hatch | $170 | $50 / year | $220 (first year) |
Why Companies Bundle Software Subscriptions with Hardware
- Boost company profits – recurring revenue is more predictable than one‑time sales.
- Provide a steady stream of new features – updates can be delivered continuously.
- Keep users locked into the ecosystem – the subscription creates a long‑term relationship with the customer.
However, many customers dislike paying an additional fee to unlock features that feel like they should be included out‑of‑the‑box.
ZDNET Buying Advice
Product: Dreamie Smart Alarm Clock
Quick Take
-
Pros
- Gorgeous design
- Intuitive smart features
- Minimal‑tech aesthetic
- Quiet operation
-
Cons
- Light output is modest
- Light‑disabling feature pending firmware update
Recommendation
I’d recommend the Dreamie if you rely on both sound and light to wake up.
Consider waiting until the upcoming firmware fixes (light strength and disabling) are released.
Alternative
If you only need light to wake up (as I do), the Hatch 3 Sunrise Alarm Clock is a better choice because it provides a much brighter sunrise simulation.
Note: Both products are available through ZDNET’s affiliate links, which help support our site at no extra cost to you.