Best Clock Radio - Buyers Guide For 2022

Modern clock radios offer a variety of features. This is a nice evolution from the ones available decades ago that could display the time and connect to an AM radio station. Eventually, FM radio came into its own, and the functionality became a little more pleasant. Still, functions were limited to time display and being able to listen to music from a tinny speaker. Today, however, anyone searching for the best clock radio has so many options, it is important to find one with the right features.

What’s the best alarm clock Radio?

The answer to this will be entirely unique to everyone based on everything from how good your hearing is, to individual preferences for alarm, equalising settings and portability. However, as a guide, there are common things to look for when selecting the best clock radio for you. Let’s take a look at some of these in our guide.

Best Clock Radio Buyers Guide

Ease of set up

When it comes to ease of setup, not all clock radios are the same. The easiest are the self-setting clocks that set themselves once they are plugged in. Nobody is quite sure how these clocks manage this feat. They, do, however, and it is amazing. Actually, how they manage this is known. Once you plug in a self-setting clock, it receives radio-wave signals from long-wave radio transmitters. Once the signal is received, it is able to determine time and time zone.

Manual clocks, however, are pretty much exactly how they sound. They require you to manually adjust day, hour, and minute. Some also have an LED light, the brightness of which can be adjusted.

Ease of operation

With all the advances in technology, most clock radios offer a lot of features. Some clock radios are very user friendly with buttons and self-evident icons that represent their specific function. Others, however, especially smart clock radios, require in-depth study of the user’s manual. Others have online user’s manuals or tutorials online.

Display

There are several different types of display. They can vary in size, color, and can also be projected. Pick the one that meets your personal preference, knowing, also, for instance, that blue light is a better light for night time sleeping. Dim orange light can also be very unobtrusive.

Sound quality

Next to being able to display the time, speakers are, perhaps, the most important function on a clock radio. Whether you want to wake up to music or simply listen to it during the day, speakers with deep bass will offer the best sound.

Extra Features

There are a few clock radios that go beyond the basic buzzer-and-radio-alarm option. Some clock radios connect to internet. Others allow you to control your smart home. Others have schedule settings that allow you to designate which days will not sound an alarm.

Battery backup

It is important that your alarm goes off even during a power outage. Several clock radios include a battery backup system. However, not all battery backups are the same. Some, for instance, store the preset stations and alarm settings only. They do not sound an alarm. Others, however, will continue to work and be able to sound the alarm at the pre-designated time without even needing the power to be restored.

Even knowing the features can result in you being unable to choose. You are in luck. Following are the top clock radios with all their listed features.

Best Clock Radio Reviews

Echo Spot – Smart Alarm Clock with Alexa

Features

This hands-free, smart alarm clock offers much more than your typical clock radio. The voice-recognition technology allows you to go beyond simply setting your alarm and choosing the type of alarm you will wake to. Instead, just connect the Echo Spot to Alexa, and you have instant access to weather, audiobooks, music, lyrics, and more. To switch between features, all that is required is to ask Alexa.

The Echo Spot will also stream music from your favorite music service as well as allow you to listen to audible books. For sound quality, you can adjust the treble and bass.

Regarding connectivity, you can control your smart home or make video calls via Skype. The features are almost endless. For instance, if you get hungry, you can order a pizza (seriously).

Pros

voice-activated
connect to additional speakers via Bluetooth or 3.5 mm stereo cable
connect to your smart home

Cons

Alexa required

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DreamSky Decent Alarm Clock Radio with FM Radio

Features

Because the DreamSky clock radio is blue and the LCD screen is four inches wide, seeing the display is easy from anywhere in the room. You can choose to awaken to a buzzer or to the radio, and the adjustable volume allows you to wake up to your preferred level of sound. Equally impressive is that the volume options include three optional levels for the buzzer and up to 15 optional levels for the radio.

The speakers offer rich bass and clear treble and allow for comfortable listening to FM stations. The DreamSky clock radio also includes a sleep timer, which allows to you to preset the amount of time you would like to listen to the radio as you drift off to sleep. Drift-off times can range from 10 to 120 minutes. Finally, the USB port allows for convenient charging of your smart devices.

Pros

four-inch LCD display
indoor temperature display
timer option to fall asleep to music
USB port
battery backup for power outages

Cons

no in-depth smart-home options

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Alphasonik CHARM Wireless Bluetooth Portable Speaker with Digital LED Alarm Clock

Features

The user-friendly clock radio by Alphasonik is designed so perfectly that setting it up is a breeze. The buttons are clearly labeled, and the LED screen is large enough for easy viewing from across the room. For audio, three audio drivers and AlphaBass technology result in a listening experience that is unrivaled. In addition to the FM radio, there is an SD card option that allows you to import your own library of recorded music.

Pros

wireless
dimmable display
Bluetooth speakers
micro USB 5V
22 hour battery

Cons

no USB charging port

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Mpow Projection Alarm Clock

Features

This alarm clock by Mpow has a 120-degree adjustable projector, and it offers four brightness levels: off, dim, medium, and bright. Although it is easy to see anywhere in the room, the recommended distance for the ideal projected image is seven to ten feet. You can also press and hold the “Project” button to flip the projection 180 degrees upside down.

The five-inch screen comes with six levels of display brightness, and dual alarms allow you set two different alarms for the day. Finally, the alarm offers three sounds: chord ringtone, chirping birds, or crashing waves. For people who prefer music, it has the capability to wake you up to the FM radio.

Pros

15 preset FM stations
dual alarm
four alarm sound options
fall asleep to music with sleep timer
5V/1.2A USB charge port for smart phone
back-up battery for power outages

Cons

no smart-home options

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Sunrise Alarm Clock

Features

The Sunrise alarm clock offers a feature for people with slight hearing loss. For instance, it offers “sunrise simulation,” which involves the display gradually brightening over a 30-minute span. Once the “sun” has risen, the alarm sounds for two minutes.

The alarm can be set to a favorite FM radio station, or it can be set to a traditional beeping. Additional alarm sounds, however, include nature sounds: birds or waves.

For the night time, there are seven soothing display colors to choose from: green, blue, warm white, indigo, blue, orange, and red. The display colors can also auto-rotate, one-by-one, throughout the night.

To complement the sunrise feature, a sunset simulation slowly turns off the display, signaling that it is time to sleep.

Pros

sunrise simulator
seven display colors can auto-rotate
ten brightness levels
USB allows connection to computer

Cons

No USB port to charge smart phone

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Magnasonic Projection Alarm Clock with AM/FM Radio

Features

The Magnasonic projection alarm clock radio will project the time or temperature onto your wall or ceiling. The 3.6-inch LCD display is a warm blue, and if it is not bright enough, the option exists to adjust the brightness to the level you prefer. The 20-preset-station option allows you to wake to your favorite AM or FM stations. However, if you prefer, you can opt for the buzzer or the projected time to wake you.

Additionally, the 3.5 mm AUX supports Android, iPad, or iPhone connectivity, so you can listen to your favorite music library.

This clock radio is self-setting. Once you set the correct time zone, the correct time and day are set automatically. Finally, following a power outage, the clock will restore the last-known time, day, and alarm settings. For those sensitive to light, there is an auto dimmer that turns off the display for night-time use.

Pros

projects time and temperature
180-degree swivel projection
automatically adjusts to Daylight Savings
dual alarms
option to disable alarms on weekends
AM/FM radio

Cons

no USB charger

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DreamSky Digital Alarm Clock Radio with USB Charging Port and FM Radio

Features

The DreamSky Digital Alarm Clock Radio’s display is 1.8-inch wide with an adjustable brightness function: low or high. Whether you choose to wake from the buzzer or the radio, you can do so gradually using the auto-ascending volume.

The FM radio comes with 16 volume levels as well as a sleep timer to lull you to sleep each night. A headphone jack allows you to listen to music without bothering others. You can also charge your smart devices, such as an iPad or smart phone, via the USB port.

Pros

headphone jack
sleep timer
USB charging port
alarm has ascending volume feature

Cons

small display
two AAA batteries required but not included

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Boctop Digital LED Alarm Clock Radio

Features

The alarm clock radio by Boctop is extremely easy-to-use. All of the buttons are clearly labeled and user friendly. The Boctop uses a 12-hour system. For instance, a PM indicator light emits when you are setting the alarm for night hours. If the PM indicator is not illuminated, the clock schedules the alarm to go off in the morning hours.

You can choose to awake to the radio or the buzzer, and for going to sleep, the FM radio also includes a 10- to 90-minute sleep-timer feature. It also has the option to auto-search stations, or you can manually dial in your favorite station. Although the alarm volume is not adjustable, it does gradually increase in volume until it reaches the loudest level.

Pros

5V / 2A USB charging port
10- to 90-minute sleep timer
auto search FM stations

Cons

Since this clock radio uses a 12-hour system, you could accidently set your alarm for nighttime if you are not paying attention.

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Hondream Digital Alarm Clock Radio

Features

The Hondream digital alarm clock radio has replaced the typical buzzer alarm with peaceful music to bring you gently into your day. You can adjust the alarm volume to suit your personal preferences. However, if you prefer, you can wake to a favorite FM radio station.

There are ten preset stations available, allowing you to easily choose among different stations. The two-inch display shows the time, temperature, alarm-set status, and current FM station. The brightness is adjustable, making the display easily visible no matter the time of day or night.

Pros

two USB charging ports
adjustable alarm volume
10 preset FM stations

Cons

This clock radio does not include the option to listen to your favorite music from your smart devices.

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Electrohome USB Charging Alarm Clock Radio with Time Projection

Features

This no-nonsense alarm clock radio by Electrohome is straight-forward and feature-rich. You can clearly see the time on the 1.2-inch LED display or on the projection displayed on your wall or ceiling. With the self-set technology, all that is required is turn on the clock, and it will automatically set the time and date.

This clock will also adjust the time during Daylight Savings. For couples, it offers a dual-alarm function as well as a weekend-cancellation feature. Finally, there is no need to worry if the power goes out. Even during a power outage, the WakeUP function will sound the alarm.

Pros