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Hatch Sleep Clock
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Snooz Smart White Noise Sound Machine
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Hatch Baby Sound Machine
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Best White Noise Machine With Sunrise Clock
-Reviewer-Photo-SOURCE-Nena-Farrell.jpg)
WIRED
- Has sunrise and sunset options
- Has 58 sounds (!!) and additional sleep content
- Can build multi-step sleep routines
TIRED
- Light isn’t as bright as I’d like as a heavy sleeper
- Needs a subscription to access all content and options
We’re always on the lookout for new products to add to our Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks guide, and the Hatch Restore 3 definitely earned its place. It builds on earlier Hatch models—which we also tested and really enjoyed—with two additional buttons, bringing the total to four. That might not sound like a major change, but when you’re sleepy and want to make a quick adjustment without reaching for the app, those extra buttons come in handy. During her testing, WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell found that this model’s light wasn’t as bright as in previous iterations and didn’t quite deliver on the sound machine’s “Sunlight” function. Still, it offers an extensive sound collection when you sign up for the subscription.
Best White Noise Machine With Sleep Tracking
Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane
WIRED
- Sunrise alarm, bedside light, sound machine, and contactless sleep tracking in one device
- Sleep data is accessible without a Hatch+ subscription
- Clean, easy-to-read reports
- No camera or microphone is recording your nights
TIRED
- Rigid placement requirements that affect accuracy.
- No physiological data, unlike wearable trackers
- No snoring detection or audio-based insights
- The audio library requires a Hatch+ subscription
- Controlling your bedtime routine through an app requires screen time
WIRED’s resident wearable tester, Boutayna Chokrane, tested this clock for her sleep trackers guide. (Read her full review here.) This brand-new white noise machine also doubles as a sunrise alarm clock and a passive sleep tracker. It uses motion-based tracking to monitor your sleep from your nightstand. The data focuses on the essentials—sleep duration and stages—and appears in interactive visuals. There are no cameras or microphones monitoring you as you sleep, and best of all, your data isn’t locked behind a Hatch+ membership. The machine also features adjustable volume, fade-out timers, customizable full-color light scenes, a gradual sunrise light to wake you gently, and a sunset wind-down light to help you prepare for bed. For sleep-inducing sounds, it offers white noise, nature sounds, sleep stories, and guided meditations. With a Hatch+ subscription, you’ll also get access to more than 2,500 sounds, stories, and meditations to help lull you to sleep. Although it’s the priciest option in this guide, it’s a triple threat: a sunrise clock, a dimmable bedside light, and a sound machine.
Best Analog White Noise Machine
Snooz
Smart White Noise Sound Machine
WIRED
- Simple and straightforward to use—for sleep-deprived new parents, this may be super helpful
- Fan generates smooth noise; nothing overly choppy
TIRED
- Only one sound offered with this device
- Higher price tag, one singular feature
The Snooz white noise machine focuses on one thing and one thing only: white noise. Its sound is generated by a real fan, not just fan sounds. There’s no need to push extra buttons or fidget when you’d rather be falling asleep. Its design is simple, and there’s no overthinking this device—it’s insanely easy to use. Simply plug it in, press the power button, then twist the mesh sleeve to increase or decrease the volume. Note that it’s also meant to be placed away from the bed in a more central position in the bedroom, rather than on a nightstand. This helps project the sound more evenly. —Julia Forbes
Best White Noise Machine for Kids
WIRED
- Easy for kids to use
- You get a six-month Hatch+ subscription with purchase
TIRED
- No gradual sunrise lighting option
As Hatch phases out the older Hatch Rest, this kids’ sound machine takes its place with a fresh look and an updated app interface, making it easier than ever to create routines for your kids. Reviewer Nena Farrell uses it with her son, who loves it—especially the easy-to-use nightlight button he can press himself. Unlike other Hatch sunrise clock models, this one doesn’t offer gradual sunrises, but it does glow in fun colors and play music. You’ll also get a three-month subscription to Hatch+ content.
Best White Noise Machine for Infants
Momcozy
Portable White Noise Machine With Night-light
WIRED
- Tiny machine with triple function as a white noise machine, night-light, and Bluetooth speaker
- Strong audio quality and sound variance
TIRED
- The included clip for portability isn’t the most flexible
This compact, portable sound machine is specifically designed for parents to take on the go. One side is the speaker, and the other is a night light. The night light isn’t super bright, but it will help you navigate around a sleeping baby rather than using your phone’s flashlight. During testing, former WIRED reviewer Julia Forbes found that the included clip isn’t the most flexible, but it allows for attachment to a stroller strap, diaper bag, purse, or backpack. You can choose from several options beyond white noise, and the sound is surprisingly strong and crisp for such a small machine. With Bluetooth connectivity, you can also stream your child’s preferred sounds.
A Super Portable White Noise Machine
Photograph: Medea Giordano
Restnature
Mini Sound Machine
WIRED
- Tiny stature makes it easily portable
- Very affordable with decent performance
TIRED
- The louder you go with the volume, the more the quality of the sound is compromised
The Restnature sound machine is tiny—it would easily fit in a pocket. When a former WIRED reviewer tested it, she was impressed by its 16 diverse sound options, including birds, fire and other nature sounds, lullabies, and different-color noises. There are convenient 30-, 60-, and 90-minute timer options, and it gets very loud—but the sound quality starts to suffer at the highest volume. The other portable players on this list offer more features, but this is still a solid choice if you need a machine that’s as small as possible to take on the go. (Rechargeable with USB-C.)
A Tried-and-True White Noise Machine
Photograph: Molly Higgins
HoMedics
SoundSleep White Noise Sound Machine
WIRED
- Has worked well for over a decade
- Six noise options and three timer options
TIRED
- Battery operation has become unreliable after years of use.
- Sound has gotten quieter over prolonged testing
I’ve had this basic white noise machine for over a decade, and it still works well. It has a DC power jack, but it can also be used cord-free with four AA batteries for portability. It’s pretty basic, but it has everything most people are looking for in a sound machine. There’s a knob to control volume and a button for 15-, 30-, or 60-minute timers (after which the machine will turn off). You can also choose between thunder, ocean waves, brook (which sounds like a bubbling river and running water), summer night (which sounds like wind, owl hoots, and chirping), rain, and classic white noise. The volume knob has worn a bit over a decade of use and needs to be set high to sound loud. It can also be finicky when used only on batteries and may suddenly die. However, since this thing is only $25 and has worked well for over a decade, I’m not too mad that it’s showing some signs of age.