Digital Alarm Clock?

[dr_gn]

All, my son wants an alarm clock - must be silent (apart from the alarm!) i.e. no ticking or buzzing. Wants permanent backlight / illumination. Obviously must be reliable. Pref. battery powered, but OK with mains if necessary.

Looked on Amazon at Braun and the no-name rest, but all of them get at around 10% bad reviews mostly saying the same things - stopped working after 7 months, said it was silent but wasn't, alarm too quiet, backlight too bright, alarm soetimes doesn't go off, CET not GMT and most worrying, burning smells and smoke when batteries installed or powered-up.

I'm aware that some will just be duds, but it's 2025...and I just want an alarm clock.

Any recommendations up to about £30?

Thanks.

[Panamax]

Let me know if you find one - I've been looking a long time.

The reality is that for permanent illumination you need mains power and nobody wants to sell mains powered stuff these days.

The closest I got was one of these battery Braun clocks from Amazon, it's pretty good,
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Braun-Temperature-Display...

However, in looking that up I came across this one which runs from mains/USB and appears to be permanent illumination. Looks worryingly cheap but, hey, if it works...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/CHEREEKI-Ringtones-Schedu...

[tog]

Could you go old school? I've had one exactly like this beside my bed for almost 40 years.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/376444031496

Silent running (there's a vv low hum if you are really close, but I'd not put up with anything even close to what you might call a buzz), AM/FM radio, dim or bright LED illumination, buzzer/radio waking. Wonderful super-sensitive touch bar for snoozing. Everything I need in an alarm clock. I semi restored mine about 15 years ago, took it all apart removed all the childhood stickers and cleaned up the case. The sound has never been quite the same since one of my kids spilt water on it, but otherwise still going strong.

[bigpriest]

Those cheap ones powered by USB are OK - they are sold on Amazon under hundreds of different names. The colour display one is quite nice. Make sure it's dimmable as the full display will be on all the time and can be a bit bright. Advice would be to buy a proper, safety rated power adaptor rather than rely on what comes with them.

[jimmyjimjim]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HX6SKXC

.com instead of .co.uk, but I suspect you can find them on .co.uk easily enough. Battery backup, but usb-c powered. Bought 2 for my kids in 2023, still going fine. My wife had bought a succession of clocks that each lasted only a few months before I got involved out of disgust and got these.

Edit - here you go - https://www.amazon.co.uk/REACHER-Colorful-Brightne...

Edited by jimmyjimjim on Sunday 21st December 21:38

[Vsix and Vtec]

Sounds like you guys forgot about Argos. This appears to be the modern equivalent of the off white sleep destroyer that got me up for school and then subsequently work in the 90s

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9173196?clickSR=sl...

Should do the job well.

[bigpriest]

Vsix and Vtec said:

Sounds like you guys forgot about Argos. This appears to be the modern equivalent of the off white sleep destroyer that got me up for school and then subsequently work in the 90s

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9173196?clickSR=sl...

Should do the job well.

Does the job, although I'd wake up each morning thinking I'd travelled back in time In fact I used to have one of those radio / cassette alarm clocks with flippy-flappy number reels.

[mikef]

Not £30, but this mains Sony alarm is good, with adjustable dimming level, two alarms and phone/watch charging socket

Sony XDR-C1DBP DAB/DAB+/FM Clock Radio

[turbomoggie]

Vsix and Vtec said:

Sounds like you guys forgot about Argos. This appears to be the modern equivalent of the off white sleep destroyer that got me up for school and then subsequently work in the 90s

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9173196?clickSR=sl...

Should do the job well.

I'm going to purchase one.
I'm trying to detox from my phone so this will encourage me to leave my phone alone when checking the time which inevitably leads to a quick scroll on something. Like now.

[wibble cb]

Agreed on the old school.....this does me just fine

[MesoForm]

I’ve had this one for about 5 years now

OCUBE Digital Alarm Clock,... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0882WSPL2?ref=ppx_pop...

My brief was a bit different as I wanted something as dim as possible. Mains only.

[littleredrooster]

wibble cb said:

Agreed on the old school.....this does me just fine

Bloody hell! We had exactly that model to wake us up to the Noel Edmonds Breakfast Show!

[EatMyPants]

Slightly more than £30 - Echo Spot Smart alarm clock

https://www.amazon.co.uk/amazon-echo-spot-2024-rel...

[Gren]

Panamax said:

Let me know if you find one - I've been looking a long time.

The reality is that for permanent illumination you need mains power and nobody wants to sell mains powered stuff these days.

The closest I got was one of these battery Braun clocks from Amazon, it's pretty good,
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Braun-Temperature-Display...

Had one of those for the last few years. Works well, bright enough to be of use but not enough to keep you awake - I do remember it did seem a bit bright at first though. Quite like the temperature reading but if you don't need it there are far cheaper/smaller units

Batteries last about a year

[clockworks]

EatMyPants said:

Slightly more than £30 - Echo Spot Smart alarm clock

https://www.amazon.co.uk/amazon-echo-spot-2024-rel...

Amazon Echo devices make great alarm clocks.

I've used radio alarm clocks for 40+ years. Often quite fiddly to set up the alarm.
I'm now using an Echo Show. I've got regular weekday and weekend schedules set to wake me up with Radio4.
If I want to wake up earlier, I can just ask Alexa to set an alarm.
I like a dark bedroom, so I tell Alexa to turn the display off.
I can ask Alexa to tell me the time.
Alexa also turns on my bedside light 5 minutes after the radio alarm (smart bulb)

[NaePasaran]

I've been using a Lexon alarm clock for about 18 months now.

Flip to the on side for alarm on, flip to turn it off. USB-C rechargeable which lasts for about 6 months on full charge. Easy to set and change time and alarms.

Screen doesn't stay on (which is why I bought it). You need to tap the unit to activate the time which will stay on for 10 seconds but there might be a setting to change that.

[Derek Smith]

I bought this one on 19 Jan 2022. Has run faultlessly.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09277XRZ6?ref_=ppx_hz...

£16. Mains but should there be a power cut, there's a battery which will kick in although there's no permanent display while on battery. To get a reading you have to press a button. What I like particularly is that the illumination dulls as 11pm and gets back to bright at 7am. If memory serves, there are three levels of brightness and you can vary the times it dulls.

1* reviews at 4%. 90% 4 and 5 stars. I don't give many 5* reviews, but this one earned it.

[carl_w]

clockworks said:

Amazon Echo devices make great alarm clocks.

I have used a 2nd gen and then a 3rd gen Echo Dot as an alarm clock since they both came out. Like you I get them to trigger the smart lights, and the alarm is loud enough that it's impossible to sleep through.

[alock]

I thought all phones have always-on-displays now? I've certainly had one for 8+ years. A nice wireless charging stand then solves the problem.

[Mr Pointy]

I use an Echo Spot at home & it does what I need but for travel I wanted something battery powered. The Braun models are by far the best in terms of alalrm loudness & build quality BUT the negative display is nowhere near as readable during the day as the photos imply. I had to send mine back as I couldn't read it from across the room but if that's not an issue for you then try one - you can always return it to Amazon.