Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light, Colored Sunrise and Sunset Simulation, 5 Natural Sounds, FM Radio & Reading Lamp, Tap Snooze, HF3520/60

7 reviews for Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light, Colored Sunrise and Sunset Simulation, 5 Natural Sounds, FM Radio & Reading Lamp, Tap Snooze, HF3520/60

1. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   A.E. Babbs – 7 March, 2023

   I purchased this light in 2015 upon moving to Boston. I’ve never been a morning person and noticed that it was much easier for me to wake up on days when the sun was up early than long winter days in New England. A friend stated she used this light to “become a morning person” so I decided to give it a try.

   HOW IT WORKS
   This unit requires a cord–batteries are not an option. You have custom settings for the duration of the “sunrise” (20-40 minutes), as well as options for no actual alarm noise, a radio station, or five nature sounds (birds, forest sounds, piano, water, and garden noises). You can adjust the volume of the sound you’ve selected, and when it’s time for the alarm, it starts off quieter then builds quickly to that volume.

   If you set that you want the sunrise option to take 20 minutes, the SUNRISE WILL BEGIN 20 minutes PRIOR to when you’ve set your alarm to sound, so you will be up at the time you’ve selected.

   SNOOZE is an option, which if activated, you can initiate by touching the reactive face of the lamp (the light portion). The light stays on after pressing the snooze option, which will sound again after 9 minutes (this time is NOT adjustable) until you turn off the alarm or reset it for the next day. A gentle touch anywhere on the face of the light puts the alarm in snooze mode.

   You have the option of two preset alarm times, and can also adjust the brightness of the clock face (which is red on mine, not the yellow-orange shown in the photos).

   Once set, you can preview what your choices will be like in a much quicker timeline using “demonstrate” mode. This is a nice feature to make sure you’ve set the sounds options to a high enough setting you’ll be able to hear, and that the light is neither too light or too dark.

   When you’ve set up your profile for alarm A and alarm B, all you have to do to initiate all the choices you’ve made is press a single button on either the left or right side of the light to turn them on.

   SETTING THE ALARM FOR THE NEXT DAY
   There seems to be confusion in the comments about having to set the sunrise features above every night before use, but once your personal preferences are entered it’s as easy as any normal alarm: 1) Press the option you’ve set up (A and/or B), 2) Sleep, 3) Turn alarm off and get up. You don’t have to re-set the “sunrise” timing and brightness every night before you use the alarm.

   TURNING OFF THE ALARM
   When you are ready to get up, you can press the alarm button, the FM button, or the Menu button to deactivate the alarm. I personally use the alarm button because it’s the easiest for me to tap quickly. If you chose the alarm button, you’ll need to reset it again that night (or just press it twice so it deactivates then resets). The light stays on when pressing the alarm button as well, so I leave it on while gathering my things during the morning, and then turn it off as I leave the room by pressing the sun symbol on the top of the alarm.

   I’ve read that the other two buttons turn it off without deactivating it, but I’ve gotten into the habit of using the alarm button and don’t see myself changing that.

   ADDITIONAL FEATURES
   The alarm can be used as a normal room lamp, and on the brightest setting is light enough to illuminate the entire room (the brightness is adjustable, if you like it dimmer at night).

   There is a “sleep” option which allows you to select a time you’d like for the light to turn itself off. If you’re prone to reading before bed and falling asleep while doing so, like me, this is a nice option.

   LIGHT COLOR
   The sunrise feature does cycle through the colors mentioned in the description (red, orange, yellow). The lightest color is a little softer than the harsh white they show in the photos and is more a very slightly off-white.

   WAKING SPOUSE
   While my husband was still working in a nearby town the time it takes for the “sunrise’ to happen and the alarm to finally sound wasn’t an issue at all, but he’s an extremely light sleeper and that means he always gets woken up 20 minutes prior to whenever I need to get up because he’s awake the moment the light starts to come on (I have the duration set at 20 minutes). He has used the alarm in the morning too though, and it didn’t wake me up from his side of the bed, but I’m both not a morning person and a heavy sleeper.

   He doesn’t mind it because he’s naturally a morning person and an early riser. If your husband isn’t, or if they get to bed much later than you do, I don’t know how they’d like this. If they aren’t a light sleeper, like I am, they might still be okay, but I’d keep the box that first night just to make sure it works out.

   BECOMING A MORNING PERSON
   I do think this light has made the transition to an earlier morning much easier than when I did so with a normal alarm. I don’t awake as groggy as before, and actually get up MUCH earlier than my earliest wake time prior to getting this alarm. I feel more rested when it finally sounds so I’m less likely to hit snooze a bunch of times, as the light in the room is also already on, which further pushes me into getting out of bed.

   I slowly dialed back the alarm in 15-20 minute intervals every 2-3 days to and managed to go from a 7AM alarm (rolling out of bed at 7:30AM) to a wake time of 4:50AM without any real difficulty and without going to sleep any earlier than before. This was particularly helpful during the dark mornings from November to March.

   This isn’t really a comment on the light, but I like having the extra time in the morning. I do laundry in a busy building without having to wait, I prep for coming home so I don’t have more obligation waiting for me after a long day at work, and I get to spend a little extra time with my husband, who has always been a morning person.

   CONS
   Because this alarm works best when it’s relatively close to the sleeper, and level with the bed, one person is going to get a better experience using the sunrise feature than the other, even with the two alarms set.

   Having the option to set the days of the week, not just two time options would be nice. I still get up pretty early on the weekends, but it would be nice for it to automatically transition from “A” to “B” based on the day of the week. This is pretty minor, considering it’s just a second button, but if that is already set for a spouse’s wake time, it means resetting one of the two preset options.

   A cordless/ battery powered option would also be nice, considering not everyone has convenient plugs right next to their bed. A slightly longer cord would also accomplish the same thing.

   These few things are what dropped it from a five star product, to a four star for me.

   RECOMMEND?
   If you’re looking for something to make getting up a smoother transition, I’d recommend this product, and if given the chance, it’s something I would repurchase.

2. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   A – 19 March, 2023

   I love the shades of dusk it creates when I’m winding down for the evening… I was tempted to get a different brand that would only stay soft white while it dims, but I’m glad I went with this light option. It’s wonderful and I wake up feeling much better then I used to!!! highly recommend

3. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   ElasticBandLover – 19 March, 2023

   Nice on the night table, 20 degrees of light to keep some light in the room if wanted, plenty of adjustments possible to your taste, keeps the time after electricity shutdown. A bit tricky at first, but the instruction booklet is complete and well done: kept it near, scarcely needed it since 1 month after I bought it , maybe 2 years ago.

4. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Amanda Wilson – 23 March, 2023

   Love everything about this product so far. Still new to playing around with it. Love how easy it is to use for music with the radio and as a lamp on your bedside table. Makes it much easier to wake up with natural light. Soothing alarm options is enough to wake me up but not my husband or toddler. Very cute and stylish. Love that you can use a sunset setting to fall asleep to.

5. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Derek M. – 30 March, 2023

   Got this for my father who has multiple sleep issues. It is a little difficult/complicated to setup (especially for older people) but it works.

   The light is insanely bright and the sounds/light combo helps with going to sleep/waking up.

   It is not replacement for medical equipment but a great combination for people who have trouble going to and waking up from sleep.

6. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   Suda Nimh – 3 May, 2023

   I’ve been using this alarm clock for about a month and it works great. I deal with SAD and thought this might make winter a bit brighter. So far I have found it easier to get up on super dark mornings but first and foremost this is an alarm clock not a happy lamp so if you need that level of support this is not a replacement.
   Pros:
   -The light does gently wake me up
   -The alarm settings are easy to use
   -The alarm sounds are actually pleasant
   -Having the light gently decrease at night is very relaxing before bed
   – The colour of the light is a good visual cue to know how much time I have before my alarm will go off
   Cons:
   -The alarm sound is not adjustable ie. you can’t set your weekday alarm as the radio and the weekend alarm as bird song
   -The buttons are pretty small and may be difficult for someone with dexterity issues

7. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Caasi – 3 June, 2023

   I purchased this sunrise simulator alarm clock almost 5 and a half years ago (September 2016). I am happy to see it is still available on Amazon. The price doesn’t appear to have changed much, but perhaps that’s just because this thing is so great!!

   I use this every day. This gives you the option for two alarm settings, so I have one set for weekdays and another set for weekends. My wake-up sound of choice? Birds chirping. There are a few other serene sounds you can choose as well.

   About a half hour before your alarm is set to go off, the sunrise simulator starts up. It starts with a dull, deep red and gradually gets brighter, then goes orange and gradually gets brighter and more golden, then it starts going white the brighter it gets until your alarm goes off. When the alarm goes off, it starts off quiet and gradually gets louder. You can choose how loud you want the alarm to get.

   You have three options at this point. You can either press the alarm button to reset it for the next day, press the alarm button twice to shut off the alarm completely until you press it again to turn it back on, or you can tap the clock (or the table it’s sitting on, which is what I do) for it to snooze for 9 minutes. It will snooze for up to an hour before resetting itself for the next day. You will have to turn the light off yourself regardless of which option you choose. I do wish the alarm didn’t auto shut off after an hour though, but I think the reason behind it is in case you forget to hit the alarm button to reset it or shut it off. I’ve done this on occasion and came back into my room after a shower with the alarm going off, but it will shut itself off eventually.

   This is not a smart device, in that it doesn’t connect to wifi or bluetooth. You will have to change the clock twice a year for daylight saving time.

   I don’t usually use the radio, but I have bumped the button a few times to know it works. It does come with an attached antenna as well, which is just a thin rubber coated wire.

   I don’t typically use the sunset/sleep setting to really have anything to say about it other than it works.

   One thing I like about the clock display is it auto brightens and auto dims according to the room’s light setting. The clock is dull enough when the lights are out that it won’t bother you if you’re trying to sleep and the clock will brighten in sunlight or when the lights are on so you can see it better. Also, you’re able to choose the clock to display a 24 hour clock or 12 hour clock (00:01 to 23:59 or 12:00-11:59am to 12:00-11:59pm).

   I also use this as a bedside lamp as well, if I’ve got the TV on or if I’m reading a book. I like that there are 20 brightness settings. It can also be used as a night light.

   One con is trying to navigate the buttons. It’s tougher when the light is at full brightness because you can’t see the buttons very well. There are three buttons together at the top left for brightness down, light on/off, and brightness up. There is a small brail-type dot on the on/off button but it’s not noticeable enough not to accidently change the brightness when you’re trying to turn it off. You more or less need to close your eyes and let your sense of touch figure it out for you. It’s really not that big of a deal though, just a little annoying.

   The only time I’ve bumped the radio button or the sunset button is because I don’t always use the second alarm and I’m trying to figure out which button is which.

   Overall, I love this thing! It really works, though nothing will ever be as good as actually waking up to the sun coming in. This is a particularly important tool to have if you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or have blackout curtains because you work midnight shifts, or maybe you’re just not a morning person. Waking up to a nature sound is a nice touch too.

   I want to make note that some reviews have mentioned not being able to replace the light bulb or the light stops working in 2-3 years… again, I have had this for 5 years and 4 months now and I have never had the light stop working. It’s still going strong. And I use this 5-7 days per week and have since I purchased it.

   The only things about it I wish were different are making the buttons easier to navigate when the light is bright (best way I can do this now is turning the brightness down before trying to discover the on/off button) and I wish the clock changed automatically in accordance to Daylight Saving Time. If anything does happen to this one, though, I will most definitely be purchasing another.