For natural born night owls, waking up is an ordeal.
While early birds can spring out of bed before the second rendition of their alarm goes off, us late risers languish under the warm duvet, thinking of excuses to stay where we are until the risk of a P45 persuades us into the shower.
You can set all the phone alarms (spaced two minutes apart, natch) you like but if you’ve fallen into the habit of switching them off when you’re half asleep it’s time to look for something you can’t ignore.
A traditional alarm clock placed out of reach - not your bedside table - is your first friend, but the second is a device that’ll switch on the radio too.
Unlike your phone’s alarm settings or your usual playlist, morning radio shows offer a winning mix of friendly chat, news and weather updates, and music to help rouse you from your slumber. A radio alarm clock proves that sometimes, the old ways really are the best.
If you’re on your final warning for lateness, you can’t afford to miss this list of the best radio alarm clocks to spend your money on. We’ve found high spec digital machines with pin-sharp audio so you can wake up to crystal clear sound every morning.
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Emma Bridgewater Retro Mini DAB Radio with Bluetooth in Wallflower
This portable radio and alarm clock is unmistakably Emma Bridgewater; we’d know the brand’s pretty patterns a mile off. Offering a splash of colour to your window sills and bedside tables, it packs a punch in terms of functionality with 60 radio presents across DAB and FM, a Bluetooth speaker, USB charging ports, a headphone port and a dual alarm clock with week and weekend settings packed into the compact device. Plug it into the mains socket or operate it with batteries if you’d like the option to move it around.
Buy now £69.99, Amazon
Groov-e Atlas FM Alarm Clock Radio with Wireless Charging
If you’re short on mains plug sockets by your bed, this alarm clock offers a streamlining solution thanks to the wireless charging platform on the top. Simply place your phone on the unit and as long as your mobile supports wireless charging, it will be ready to go in the morning. There’s also a USB port so you can charge two devices if needed.
Aside from its powering-up capabilities, the alarm clock comes with 20 presets so you can favourite all your top stations, it auto-tunes for crystal clear audio every time and features a dual alarm which is useful if your partner wakes at a different time to you.
Buy now £27.99, Argos
ROXEL RETRO D1 Vintage DAB/FM Radio
Fans of vintage style will adore this old-look radio, loaded with modern tech. Wrapped in a reddish walnut wood effect exterior, the DAB radio and speaker is wireless running on batteries, so you can move it around the home with you without fear of tripping. There are 20 presets for DAB and FM stations with an auto-tuner to eliminate crackle and static. The alarm can be set to ring or start the radio on a daily, weekday or weekend basis while a snooze button will give you five extra minutes of semi-snooze.
Buy now £44.99, Amazon
JVC RA-D38-H DAB/FM Clock Radio - Grey
DAB radio offers seamless sound from your favourite stations, whether that’s Radio 4’s Today morning show or the Dave Berry Breakfast Show on Absolute. In fact you can preset up to 20 of your favourite radio stations on this solid gadget, which also displays the time on the front LCD screen and comes with a 30-min alarm snooze option for the WFH mornings when you don’t have to battle the commute to start work. Mains powered and comes with a one year manufacturer’s guarantee.
Buy now £34.99, Currys
iBox Store Bedside Wireless Charging Radio Alarm Clock with Dimmable LED Display
There’s nothing like the slow tick of an analogue clock to stop you drifting to sleep at night. No such issues with this high-tech design, which not only features a dual alarm clock but also acts as a Bluetooth-enabled speaker and offers USB and Qi wireless charging for your devices too. The LED clock display is dimmable so you can get good quality sleep without light disturbance getting in the way, while the 6W speakers and passive subwoofer will fill the room with sound from your favourite stations, ensuring you wake up with a smile on your face and a tune humming from your lips.
Purchases come with a 12 month warranty from the UK-based company.
Buy now £39.99, Amazon
Roberts Ortus DAB Charge DAB+/FM Bluetooth Clock Radio - White
With a large clear digital display and the ability to tune into your favourite radio stations, you’ll wonder how you ever started the day without this gadget by your side. Roberts’ clock radio can even charge devices through a USB port and supports wireless charging though the Qi wireless charging pad. You can also use it as a speaker, channelling your playlist through the device through the modern miracle that is Bluetooth.
Buy now £69.99, Currys
Sony ICF-C1B Cube FM/AM Clock Radio with LED Alarm - Black
Sleep experts recommend keeping your phone in another room when you’re kipping to cut out disruptive blue light emittance that could affect your circadian rhythm. Keep your device by your keys and make space on your bedside table for this cube-shaped alarm clock instead.
From tech expert Sony, it automatically adjusts to BST and back again, so no fiddling about when the clocks change, and your wake-up alarm can be set to radio instead of a repetitive noise, offering a much nicer way to start the day. There’s both FM and AM stations.
Buy now £29.99, Argos
Karlsson Alarm Clock Retro Radio Bamboo
Don’t like the look of chunky silver radios in your zen-like bedroom? All is not lost: Karlsson’s option comes in a nice bamboo wood with the time and temperature displayed on the front LED screen. The practical look runs on four AAA batteries and will appeal to fans of timeless elegance.
Buy now £59.76, The Little Green Bag
