The Velquies Edit
The Wake-Up Light Edit
Five we’d choose for better mornings
Dark mornings are unpleasant enough without being shouted at by your phone.
A good wake-up light takes a more civilised approach, gradually brightening the bedroom before you need to get up.
The difficult part is deciding how much you actually need to spend.
Some models concentrate on doing one thing well. Others add radios, Bluetooth speakers, extensive sound libraries and increasingly sophisticated sunrise settings.
We’ve narrowed the field to five.
Our selections consider product specifications, functionality, value, independent hands-on testing and suitability for different sleepers.
Where Velquies hasn't physically tested a product, we say so.
At a glance
- 01Best overallLumie Bodyclock Glow 150Reference price £119
- 02Premium choiceLumie Bodyclock Luxe 750DABReference price £229
- 03Best valueLumie Sunrise AlarmReference price £49.98
- 04Best for customisationLumie Bodyclock Shine 300Reference price £149
- 05Best alternativePhilips SmartSleep Wake-up Light HF3531/01Reference price £169.99
Prices checked September 2026 and may change.
Some links on Velquies may be affiliate links. If you buy through one of these links, Velquies may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. This does not determine what we recommend.
Best overall
Lumie Bodyclock Glow 150
Reference price £119 · checked September 2026
The one we’d choose for most bedrooms.
The Glow 150 occupies what we think is the sweet spot in Lumie's Bodyclock range.
It concentrates on the features most people are likely to use rather than turning the bedside table into another piece of technology demanding attention.
Its simulated sunrise can be set to 20, 30 or 45 minutes, with adjustable light intensity and a choice of ten wake sounds. A corresponding sunset function can gradually reduce the light before bed, while the display automatically dims at night.
Lumie provides a three-year warranty.
Independent hands-on testing also supports its credentials. The Guardian's reviewer used the Glow 150 daily for two weeks after testing numerous sunrise alarms and selected it as his preferred model.
Why it made The Edit
- Strong balance of features and price
- Adjustable sunrise duration
- Straightforward bedside proposition
- Auto-dimming display
- Three-year warranty
- Strong independent testing evidence
Consider something else if
You want FM/DAB radio, Bluetooth audio or much greater control over the length of the sunrise simulation.
Velquies view
For someone buying their first serious wake-up light, this is where we’d start.
Retailer link to follow
Full recommendation
Premium choice
Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 750DAB
Reference price £229 · checked September 2026
For when the bedside experience matters too.
The Luxe 750DAB takes the wake-up-light idea considerably further.
Its sunrise and sunset simulations can be adjusted between 15 and 90 minutes, giving substantially more control than the Glow 150.
There are more than 30 sleep and wake sounds alongside DAB/DAB+ radio and Bluetooth audio, making this as much a bedside audio system as an alarm clock.
That additional capability inevitably makes it more complicated and considerably more expensive.
Independent testing has particularly praised its audio performance while also identifying setup complexity as one of its compromises.
Why it made The Edit
- 15–90 minute sunrise and sunset
- 30+ sleep and wake sounds
- DAB/DAB+ radio
- Bluetooth audio
- Premium bedside proposition
- Three-year Lumie warranty
Consider something else if
You simply want a convincing sunrise without paying for audio and additional customisation.
Velquies view
Expensive, certainly. But its extra cost buys meaningful additional functionality rather than decoration alone.
Retailer link to follow
Full recommendation
Best value
Lumie Sunrise Alarm
Reference price £49.98 · checked September 2026
The simpler way to try a brighter morning.
Not everyone needs their alarm clock to double as a radio or Bluetooth speaker.
Lumie's entry-level Sunrise Alarm concentrates on the basic proposition: gradually introducing light before you wake.
It provides a 30-minute sunrise and sunset, ten white-light intensity levels, six wake sounds and six additional colour options.
For considerably less money than the Bodyclock models, it provides an accessible introduction to waking with light.
Why it made The Edit
- Significantly lower entry price
- 30-minute sunrise and sunset
- Ten white-light levels
- Six wake sounds
- Simple proposition
- Three-year Lumie warranty
Consider something else if
You want more control over sunrise duration, radio functionality or a more sophisticated bedside system.
Velquies view
A sensible place to begin if you're curious about sunrise alarms but aren't ready to spend three figures finding out whether you like them.
Retailer link to follow
Full recommendation
Best for customisation
Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300
Reference price £149 · checked September 2026
More control without stepping all the way up to Luxe.
The Shine 300 sits neatly between the Glow and Luxe models.
Its principal advantage is flexibility. Sunrise and sunset duration can be adjusted between 15 and 90 minutes, and there are 15 sleep and wake sounds, FM radio and daily or weekly alarm options.
That makes it particularly appealing to someone who likes the Bodyclock concept but wants considerably more control over how it behaves.
Why it made The Edit
- 15–90 minute sunrise and sunset
- 15 sleep and wake sounds
- FM radio
- Daily and weekly alarms
- Greater customisation than Glow 150
- Three-year Lumie warranty
Consider something else if
You value simplicity more than configurability, or want DAB and Bluetooth audio.
Velquies view
Probably the most interesting middle ground for someone who knows they'll actually use the additional settings.
Retailer link to follow
Full recommendation
Best alternative
Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light HF3531/01
Reference price £169.99 · checked September 2026
The established alternative to Lumie.
Philips takes a slightly different approach with a sunrise that progresses through red, orange and then yellow light over approximately 30 minutes.
The HF3531/01 offers seven wake sounds, 20 brightness settings, FM radio and two alarm settings.
It lacks some of the extensive customisation offered by the more advanced Lumie models, but remains a polished alternative for someone who prefers the Philips approach to simulated sunrise.
Why it made The Edit
- Red-to-orange-to-yellow sunrise
- Seven wake sounds
- 20 brightness settings
- FM radio
- Two alarm settings
- Established alternative to Lumie's range
Consider something else if
You want highly adjustable sunrise duration or the broader audio features available on the Lumie Luxe.
Velquies view
A credible alternative rather than an afterthought — particularly for someone attracted to Philips' gradual colour progression.
Retailer link to follow
Full recommendationSide by side
| Product | Velquies selection | Reference price | Sunrise duration | Sounds | Radio | Bluetooth | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glow 150 | Best overall | £119 | 20/30/45 min | 10 | No | No | Most buyers |
| Luxe 750DAB | Premium choice | £229 | 15–90 min | 30+ | DAB/DAB+ | Yes | Premium bedside setup |
| Sunrise Alarm | Best value | £49.98 | 30 min | 6 | No | No | First-time buyers/value |
| Shine 300 | Best for customisation | £149 | 15–90 min | 15 | FM | No | People wanting more control |
| Philips HF3531/01 | Best alternative | £169.99 | Approx. 30 min | 7 | FM | No | Philips alternative |
Prices checked September 2026 and may change. Scroll sideways on smaller screens.
How we choose
Velquies exists to make choosing easier, not to make every product sound exceptional.
For this Edit we considered manufacturer specifications, functionality, current pricing, warranties, independent hands-on testing and the usefulness of each product for different types of buyer.
Velquies distinguishes between products we have physically tested and recommendations based on research and credible independent testing.
We will never imply that we have personally used or tested a product when we haven't.
Affiliate relationships do not determine which products earn a place in The Edit.