Do You Really Need a Hatch Alarm Clock? A Sleep Schedule Skeptic’s Verdict

As a night owl who seriously struggles to get out of bed some days, I love the idea of waking up early…but making it happen is easier said than done. In order to get up and at ’em, I need a new episode from one of my favorite podcasts, an ice cold glass of water on my nightstand, and my Hatch Restore 3 ($170, hatch.co).

The brand launched the latest version of its TikTok-viral alarm clock earlier this year, and if you’ve seen it on social media, you might be a little skeptical. The half-moon-shaped device is designed to help you unwind in the evenings and wake up gently using a combination of soothing lights and sounds.

It’s cute, and it looks nice on an influencer’s nightstand—but is it worth it? I felt the same way, so I tracked down a sample of the new Restore 3 and tried it myself. One month later, here’s my take (including who should—and shouldn’t—buy one).

Setting it up

Unboxing the Restore 3 is super straightforward: It comes with a cord and a short, simple instruction manual (that’s it).

To start the setup process, you’ll need to download the Hatch Sleep app onto your phone and follow the prompts. Even though the app walks you through the motions, getting the Restore 3 hooked up to Wi-Fi and my phone’s Bluetooth was time-consuming. It took me about an hour from start to finish, although most of that time was spent waiting for the clock to connect while I puttered around my apartment.

The design

One major pro: It’s sleek and subtle. The Restore 3 comes in three neutral colors (Putty, an ivory; Greige, a light beige; and Cocoa, a brown shade) and doesn’t stick out on my nightstand.

It’s also pretty minimalist, as far as gadgets go. There’s a knob on top of the clock that you can use to turn it on, change the volume, and snooze your alarm phone-free. It’s large and easy to find in the dark, even when you’re half-awake. Another button offers a shortcut to the Restore 3’s night light function, which comes in handy for 2 a.m. trips to the bathroom or water runs. And although it has to be plugged in, the cord matches the clock, so it blends into my bedroom better (a nice touch).

Hatch in action

Once my Restore 3 was ready to go, I opened the Hatch Sleep app to start creating my personalized morning and evening routines. The brand’s content library is divided into five sections.

• Cue: sound and light combos that’ll remind you when it’s time to start relaxing every evening
• Unwind: podcasts, meditations, and music to listen to as you climb into bed
• Sleep: soothing background noise to help you drift off (the singing bowls are my favorite!)
• Alarms: energizing sounds and light that gradually gets brighter to wake you up in the morning
• Wake: motivational mantras, meditations, and music to help you start your day

The Hatch works best when you fully commit to its Unwind, Sleep, and Wake system, so I recommend spending some time finding your favorite content in each category. It’s a little overwhelming at first, but the Restore 3 lets you preview every sound, light, and custom combo, so you can test it all out at your own pace.

If you really want to get specific, you can create different routines to switch between on certain days using the clock’s swap button. I made a few tweaks on the weekends to make those mornings feel a little more special (and help combat Sunday scaries), like giving myself an extra hour to sleep in and swapping alarm sounds.

One drawback: The app isn’t the most user-friendly and did crash twice for about a day during my month of testing. When that happens, you’ll need a backup alarm, as the clock doesn’t work unless it’s connected to your phone. Obviously, this isn’t ideal, so I reached out to Hatch to see if they're aware of the bug (and to find out if a potential fix is coming)—they’re looking into it.

But the Restore 3 is supposed to help you put your phone down—so, after you’ve adjusted all of the settings to your liking, you can use the clock without the app, until you want to make some more changes.

The good news: It really works to cut down on screen time. I’m first to admit that, before Hatch, my nighttime routine involved doomscrolling social media and falling asleep with my phone in my hand (oops). But now that the Restore 3 has replaced my iPhone alarm, I find that it’s easier to crawl into bed tech-free. And mornings are much more pleasant when I’m woken up by some gentle light and relaxing nature noises, instead of loud chimes à la Apple.

To subscribe, or not to subscribe?

Hatch offers two ways to use its Sleep app: You get access to a couple lights and sounds for free, or you can purchase a membership for $5 a month that unlocks the brand’s entire library. While you may not love the idea of signing up for yet another subscription, hear me out: You’re getting a ton of bang for your buck.

There’s so much to listen to—I love that, unlike other alarm clocks I’ve tried, the Hatch offers more than just white noise and guided meditations. You can listen to true crime, pop culture news, sports, fun historical facts, and more (there’s even ASMR, if that’s your thing). And Hatch adds new content regularly: You’ll find seasonal offerings around holidays and collabs with celebrities like RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jaida Essence Hall. It really is worth the extra few dollars; otherwise, you might be better off picking up a less expensive sunrise alarm clock and a white noise machine for a smaller upfront investment.

Restore 2 vs. Restore 3 (and competitors)

The Restore 3 is currently the only Hatch model you can buy directly from the brand. But you can still get your hands on the Restore 2 ($170, amazon.com)—and, if you already have the Restore 2, you might be wondering whether it’s worth trading yours in for the newer version. They cost the same…so what’s the difference?

I’ve also tested Loftie, a similar alarm clock at a similar price point, in case you’re curious how the Hatch stacks up against its competitors. Here are the details:

Read my full Loftie review.

Bottom line

Using your phone in bed less and waking up at the same time every day are both great goals to have, especially if your sleep schedule hasn’t been consistent since middle school (guilty). While the Restore 3 isn’t a magic fix that’ll have you springing out of bed overnight, it’s a great tool to help you make small tweaks to your current routine for the long haul. In one month, it worked so well that I actually started waking up five minutes before my alarm went off a few days each week.

If you already have the Restore 2, I don’t think you need to rush to buy the Restore 3. They’re pretty similar—but when your old one stops working, there’s a delightful upgrade for you to look forward to.

Related:

• 19 Little Things That Make Our Mornings So Much Better
• 11 Super-Soft Bathrobes for More Luxurious Mornings
• Your Daily Habits Are Making You Achy—These PT-Approved Tools Can Help

Get more of SELF’s stellar product recommendations delivered right to your inbox (for free!).