I tried Amazon’s bestselling alarm clock — as a heavy sleeper, I’m impressed
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My cellphone has long been the ultimate multipurpose tool in my life — it's replaced my TV, calculators and for a long time, my alarm clock. However, when you can slide your alarm clock under your pillow and press snooze without even opening your eyes, it's easy to sleep in later than you intended to.
So while I long believed that I surpassed the need for a physical alarm clock, I proved myself wrong by missing a few important events this summer. I finally decided it was time to invest in something a little more "old school," especially ahead of the school year.
Since I've always found alarm clocks to look a little outdated, I was pleasantly surprised when I came across this modern-looking version on Amazon. Not only does it look ultra-sleek, but it's functional in all the right ways. Throw in the fact that it's currently the bestselling alarm clock on Amazon, and there was next to nothing standing in my way of trying out this alarm clock for myself.
Jall Digital Alarm Clock
Jall Digital Alarm Clock
Jall Digital Alarm Clock $25.00 at Amazon
It's practical
Though it's available in four different styles that all resemble polished wood, the white style looked neutral enough to complement any space.
Out of the box, it took less than five minutes to set up. After reading through the instructions, I found that there is more to the clock than what meets the eye. Not only does it display the time, temperature and humidity levels in the room, but it also keeps track of the date and allows you to choose the brightness levels of the display. It even features a sound- and touch-activated display in case you wake up in the middle of the night and need to check the time.
I wasn't looking for an alarm clock that can connect to my phone and perform a thousand other tricks — I just wanted something simple that gets the job done, so these unique and useful features checked off all of the boxes for me.
It actually wakes me up
The most important factor for a heavy sleeper like me is the volume of the actual alarm. When I use my phone as an alarm, I put the volume on the highest setting and place my phone just inches away from my head to make sure that I won't miss it.
Though I was initially worried that this alarm only functions at one volume setting, it is just loud enough to wake me up without being overly obnoxious. It's important for me to be conscious of early-morning noise levels, especially with roommates, and I found this clock to be just the right amount of loud.
You can save up to three alarms at once, so if you happen to miss the first, the other three will certainly make sure you are up on time.
It looks great
I can't stop raving over the look of this sleek design, which seems odd to say for someone who has been against the look of alarm clocks for years now. When I video chat with friends and family, it's one of the first things I show them on camera. In my own home, however, my mom likes it so much that she wants one for herself (she'll have to wait until Christmas).
Much like the clock's more than 8,000 verified reviewers, I'm impressed by how the numbers appear on the wooden surface (or don't appear when I have it set to sound mode) and even by how it functions as a night light on the lowest brightness setting. Space on my desk and nightstand is crucial, so it also helps that the alarm clock doesn't take up too much room. It looks great whether it stands on its own or on top of a pile of used textbooks for space-saving purposes.
So while it took years to cave into adulthood and take a chance on a real alarm clock, it was worth using the money that would have gone toward purchasing my next five lattes into a gadget that wakes me up just as easily as a cup of coffee.
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