Best Digital Clock 2021 – Buyer’s Guide

Digital clocks are much much easier than analogue ones thanks to their at-a-glance reading and fancy alarms/timers etc. But hey just don’t look as nice if you want a lovely wall clock which adds something to a room.

Step up the Echo Wall Clock. At first look, it is an ordinary clock, with two hands, twelve numbers, and a nice large reading. But then you realise it is from Amazon so just has to be smart in some way.

The Echo Clock can work with Alexa, so not only does this help keep the time down to the correct second, but also helps you set timers with a simple voice command. From changes to Daylight Saving Time which usually require you to manually bring the clock down, to the countdown lights, it is a clever take on a manual option.

It needs four alkaline batteries, which is actually a good think as it means you’re still flexible with placement and don’t need to hook it up to the electricity mains. All you need to do is ask Alexa to set up the wall clock and she will do all the work for you.

This, of course, means you have to own an Echo for the wall clock to work. It is compatible with all available models, even the cheapest Echo Dot, so if this clock really appeals to you then purchasing everything you need to set it up is no trouble.

Smart technology is impacting our lives in all ways. From plugs to lighting, so many ordinary items now have the ability to make our day-to-day tasks easier.

This Lenovo clock includes Google Assistant, which is the browser’s version of a smart assistant. If you have often led in bed and wished you could ask somebody to get the coffee machine going, read you your diary for the day and switch on the heating in Winter while you’re still snoozing, now you can.

Maybe you like to hear music or view motivational quotes instead? The Smart Clock can be set up to wake you however you wish, to ease you into those mornings. You can also ask Google to wake you in ten minutes if you want a lazy morning, or just tap the top of the device for a snooze.

It can be paired with other Chromecast speakers, which can fill your home with music or a voice reading out the news, and the app makes setting it up easier than ever. Unlike a lot of other smart screen speakers about which do pretty much the same thing, you can mute the microphone so it won’t wake to your voice (great if you sleep talk), and there is no onboard camera for peace of mind.

The Lenovo Smart Clock is ideal if you like your tech to be bang up to date, and the four-inch screen ensures the time is displayed clearly and largely at all times. There is also a USB port in case you like to charge your phone but only have one plug.

Tuned to the UK’s MSF transmitter, this radio-controlled clock will always display the correct live time. It will even automatically adjust from Summer into Winter. So if every clock in your home usually has a different time display, you can at least rely on one to help set the rest.

It can show the time in both 12 or 24-hour formats depending on your personal preference. But it isn’t just the clock it can display, though. You will also see the date and indoor temperature (in °C or °F), so you can be properly in control of the day. As a bonus, rather than displaying the seconds of the time, you can display the day (MO, TU, WE etc.)

Backlight control allows you to set your own brightness to adjust it to your eyes sensitivity, or how dark/light it is in the morning. The quality of this display is excellent and so easy to see, and you can even set it to give out no display for complete darkness. Just tap the top for a quick view.

The alarm tone starts off softly, then gets louder, which will help if you tend to snooze a bit too long in the mornings. It is powered by the mains and there is a battery back-up for the time as well. If your chargers and other electronics struggle to reach the power socket from your bedside table, then the two-metre lead on this clock should do the trick.

On top of all of this, the unit is compact and the time, date and temperature are all displayed in different colours so you can tell which is which when bleary-eyed.

Philips are leaders when it comes to smart lighting and SAD lamps, and if you like to be eased into the day with natural light but don’t want several appliances cluttering your bedside table, this could be the answer.

This wake-up light alarm clock recreates a natural sunrise, which is great both if you need to be eased in to the day or if you suffer from seasonal issues and can’t cope with dark mornings and artificial light.

It is clinically proven to work, increasing your energy levels and fight the winter blues. The display also reacts to the light levels in the room, dimming the clock when it is dark in the room to make sure the brightness doesn’t wake you in the middle of the night.

You may also struggle actually nodding off, in which case the natural sunset option will also help you out. It will gradually decrease light and sound, emulating natural daily rhythm sleep patterns. This could also be ideal if you need a light on to get to sleep, but don’t like it waking you up in the middle of the night.

A seven-minute battery backup function will help if there is a power cut, which is ideal as these can usually strike in Winter when you need this light the most. There are five alarm sounds to choose from, as well as a radio option in case you like to listen to your favourite show when waking. There’s also a reading lamp so you can rest before you sleep.

There are quite a few cheaper options out there, which look as though they have been heavily inspired by this design, but we would always recommend going for the bigger well-known names to increase reliability and longevity.

Described as a ‘ballistically loud alarm clock’, this is not a device for those who need to ease into the day gently. So if you struggle to get out of bed, sleep through alarms or never stop snoozing, read on.

It comes with a shaker pad which you pop under your pillow. This is designed to physically wake you as well as audibly. Some people need to place their phone under their pillow or near their bed so they can hear/feel the vibrations, but this clock will help if you’d rather not have the phone in the bedroom.

The sound can reach 113dB, which is much louder than modern-day washing machines, vacuums or hairdryers. Over double in most cases, actually. So if you don’t wake up in response and when paired with the vibrations, as Geemarc say – you are probably beyond help.

There are different alarm variations so you can pick the one which you find the most annoying or clearest. A battery back-up will ensure you can tell the time even when the power has gone in the middle of the night, although there will be no noise so you’ll have to hope your natural circadian rhythm kicks in.

The controls are all red to contrast with the black body, so you can easily tell what you’re doing if you need to change the settings. There is also the option to set two separate alarms, so number one can wake you up in the morning and number two can remind you to take medication, get the bins ready or take the dog for a walk.

One of the best alarm clocks for extra-large display, this clock is ideal if you struggle to see your current model.

You can choose from a red light, white light or blue light for the clock display, so it can be as vivid or as gentle as needed. Furthermore, you can pick the brightness between 0% and 100% using a dimmer wheel on the rear of the unit, getting it to that exact sweet spot.

The large time will help anyone who needs has blurry, unfocused eyes in the morning as well. Just one little glance tells you all you need. If you are also quite a deep sleeper and struggle to hear alarms, then the adjustable alarm volume ranging from 30 to 90 dB should come in handy. Likewise, you may prefer to set it low and get awoken gently.

There are two USB sockets in the back of the clock, one for the power supply and the other to charge your phone or other device. This helps if you’re low on plug space or accessibility. The two AAA battery back-up will save the set time in case of a power cut.

Without any interaction, the alarm will go on for two minutes. It can be set to snooze for eight minutes with a tap on the top of the unit, and a simple button will let you switch it off if you have a day working from home or have hit the weekend.

It is a clear, strong pick if you want something simple and fuss-free, and if the volume and display are two big pointers. Even if you are hard of hearing or sight, you’ll be able to use it, and the affordable price tag doesn’t set you back.

Perfect for all of you science buffs out there, this Oregon clock gives you an awful lot of information.

Sometimes, you want to know more than the time in the mornings. You want to know if it is raining, if it is hot enough for you to leave your coat at home, and if it is uncomfortably humid so you have to wear your short-sleeved shirt.

This clock will give you the indoor and outdoor temperature, indoor and outdoor humidity and the weather forecast (sunny/partly cloudy/cloudy/rainy/snowy). This is all super accurate too, as you get a remote Bluetooth sensor for you to place outside for the outdoor temperature.

The time is radio-controlled so will always be accurate to the millisecond. You won’t even have to adjust it for DST. The best little touch, however, is that the clock display will automatically change pick from one of seven preset colours depending on the outside temperature, from a cool purple and blue when it’s cold to an orange and red when it’s warm.

When the alarm sounds, it gets louder and louder in a crescendo until you finally choose to turn it off. Should you not have to rush out of the door, the eight-minute snooze function will give you a few more precious moments in bed.

The data it gives is interesting, so it would be ideal to use as a weather station in the comfort of your living room or kitchen as opposed to an alarm clock as well.

If you travel a lot, then a small clock could come in handy. This one is small and compact, and also folds shut to protect the screen.

It works as an alarm and a clock, so if you’re on a work trip and want to put extra precautions in place to ensure you’re ready and showered for that taxi at 8.30, it can be set in good time. There is a snooze function if you like a bit of a slower wake up, and a countdown timer can allow you to set the exact time you need (or for any other reason you’d need one).

It will also display the day, room temperature and date underneath the time. You can choose to give the time in 12 or 24-hour format, too. For such a small appliance, we really did not expect there to be so much packed in.

The timekeeping isn’t hugely accurate, and it is battery powered, so we would say it is best as a back-up alarm as opposed to your only option if you’re going to rely on it hugely. If you just want it for going on a relaxing holiday and waking up in time for the breakfast buffet though, we would say it does a fine job.

Because of the size, it is fiddly to set and takes a little while to get used to which buttons do what when. There is no backlight or brightness, but it is good enough.

The best alarm clock for kids, especially those who you have to basically drag out of bed. Clocky is the original annoying alarm, who will run away, hide, roll, wheel, beep, and jump (up to a 3 feet nightstand) while emitting the alarm sound, so you actually have to get out of bed to turn it off.

The sound is quite loud, which should do the job of waking the user up, and then the hunt begins. You can choose a snooze option if you want to be given one chance to get out of bed of your own accord, but should he have to sound again, the movement starts.

Should you usually be in good spirits, the Clocky will cheer you up before you head downstairs. If not, then it will still do the job it is designed to do. It is battery powered, but these last for a lot of time according to other reviews, which is good.

If somebody you know is heading off to uni or going through exam season, this could be the perfect gift. It works best on a hard floor or short pile carpets, struggling with rugs or thicker carpets, so you’ll need to think about this before buying. You’ll also need a relatively clear area for it to do the job – no good if your teen has clothes and shoes littered everywhere.