Loftie Clock review: I swapped my phone for this smart alarm clock

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I recently read Dave Cicirelli’s “The Anxious Generation,” and it completely changed how I approach my relationship with social media and my smartphone. I’m a little older than the Gen Zs who have borne the brunt of the issues discussed in the eye-opening book, but I’m no stranger to occasionally feeling overly dependent on my phone. 

Whether it’s too much scrolling before bed or checking my phone for phantom messages throughout the day, there are a few tech habits I’ve been trying to break now that I’m well aware of the damage excessive smartphone use causes. From improving your mood and attention span to boosting your mental health and sleep, there are a plethora of reasons why it’s worth ditching your phone – at least before bed. 

Studies have shown that late-night smartphone use leads to poor sleep quality, which in turn can cause a laundry list of other issues, ranging from decreased metabolism and hormonal issues to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. 

The first step in reclaiming my sleep routine? Banishing my iPhone from my bedside table and replacing it with a Loftie Clock. 

$245 at Loftie

Loftie Clock

From wind-downs to gentle wake-ups, Loftie combines light, sound and science to help you sleep.

What: Loftie Clock
Price: $245
Where to buy: Loftie

Loftie Clock quick facts

• Customizable, two-phase alarm that wakes you gently without harsh sounds
• Bedsignal bedtime reminders
• Equipped with 100+ science-backed sleep sounds, meditations and wellness tracks
• Bluetooth speaker compatibility
• Adjustable nightlight
• Red mode
• Sleep timer and blackout mode
• Backup battery in case of power outages, lasts five to seven hours
• No wifi mode

My experience with the Loftie Clock

Part alarm clock, part wellness routine upgrade, the Loftie Clock eliminates the need for keeping your smartphone bedside at night. It’s equipped with several features to help you fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. It’s been extremely helpful in distancing myself from my phone before bed, since it has a simple alarm clock and plenty of sleep sounds to help me drift off. 

Setup and app

The Loftie Clock arrived and was fairly simple to set up. Just plug it in, download the Loftie App on your phone and connect the clock to your account. Upon first setup, the clock did need to do a short update, which took about 15 minutes before I could begin exploring its settings. 

The Loftie Clock has a range of features that can be customized to your preferences, and the first change I made was to switch the clock to red mode. This setting lets the display glow with red rather than white light for a more restful nighttime environment. I turn on the clock’s blackout mode when I get into bed so the display isn’t visible, but the red light is less disruptive if I ever wake up in the middle of the night and check the time. 

Next, I set about listening to all of the sound options for the two-phase alarm. There are dozens of sounds to choose from – no harsh buzzing or beeping to wake you. Instead, the first phase of the alarm uses a gentle melody that lulls you out of sleep with soft sounds, automatically fading after 30 seconds. 

The second phase fully wakes you after three, six or nine minutes with a calm, continuous chime. Many of the sounds have elements of nature or sound bath-esque gongs and echoes, which are a far cry from traditional shrill alarms. You can find a few sound examples on the Loftie site, including one of my personal favourites, “Fountain.” All of these features can be customized on the clock itself or through the Loftie app. 

Using the alarm clock

I’ve been using the Loftie Clock for a few weeks and have been pleasantly surprised by how well it’s replaced my iPhone. I no longer need to use my phone to set up an end-of-day meditation or adjust my morning alarm, getting distracted by emails, texts or social media in the process. Instead, I banished my iPhone to my living room at night and only check it again once I’m up for the day. 

It’s been so nice waking up to calming sounds rather than a blaring buzzer. The “Jungle” wakeup I’ve been using begins with rushing water and birdsong that gently crescendoes over a 30-second span. After my snooze window of six minutes, I’m pushed to wake up for real by a slightly more urgent alarm. “Blossom” is my get-up alarm of choice, and it’s still fairly gentle compared to most other alarms out there. 

I also set up a bedtime routine for myself, one of the features of the Loftie Rest subscription (currently free for a one-month trial period). The routine reminds me with a gentle tone and by turning on the clock’s nightlight that it’s time to start winding down. I’m usually in bed reading when it turns on, so I use the prompt as my sign to start my evening skincare and oral care routine before going to sleep.

Favourite features: Night mode, soundscapes

Blackout mode: One of my favourite features of the Loftie Clock is that its screen goes completely dark. If you’re sensitive to light like I am, this is a game-changer because it keeps your room as dark as possible – no blinking lights or glowing numbers on screen. If you choose to check the time at night, just tap the alarm clock’s snooze button to wake up the screen and double-tap it to return to blackout mode.

Built-in nightlight: This alarm clock has the added bonus of a built-in nightlight, saving valuable space on my night table. It has a soft, warm glow that isn’t too harsh for nighttime use, and the brightness level can be adjusted on the clock or through the Loftie app. 

Sleepscapes and white noise: If you enjoy falling asleep to nature sounds, classical music, white noise or even bedtime stories, the Loftie Clock has them all. There are dozens of soundtracks to choose from that come free with the clock, and for even more options, you can get a Loftie Rest subscription – a nice bonus, but not a must-have in my opinion. 

I’m partial to the daily guided meditations, which I find helpful for winding down and calming racing thoughts before bed. Once it’s complete, I usually listen to one of the many rain soundtracks as background noise while I fall asleep. With the clock’s sleep timer, I have it set to play sounds for 15 minutes (you can customize your timer preference) before turning off automatically. 

Least favourite features: Price and subscription model

At $245, a Loftie Clock doesn’t come cheap. However, I haven’t found any alternatives that as effectively combine a sound machine, night light, speaker (because, yes, you can also connect your phone to use the Loftie Clock as a regular Bluetooth speaker) and alarm clock in one device. It saves me a ton of space on my bedside table and looks good doing it, so I’m willing to forgive the steep price tag. 

It’s a little frustrating that certain features like the nighttime routine and app blocking aren’t accessible without a Loftie Rest subscription, which normally starts at $8/month. These features are a nice add-on, but not something I’d spend the recurring fees on. Most phones can already set a timed restriction on app usage, so you’re better off setting those up yourself than paying for the Loftie app to do it for you. 

Who should consider a Loftie Clock? 

Whether you’re looking to cut down on your phone use before bed or you struggle to create a calming nighttime routine, it might feel strange to think that an alarm clock can have such an impact. However, I feel like I’ve been waking up more rested since I started using the Loftie Clock, and my evening routine is much more enjoyable. 

If it’s within your budget, I highly recommend the Loftie Clock. It’s a worthwhile investment into your sleep hygiene – something I believe we could all work to improve. 

What: Loftie Clock
Price: $245
Where to buy: Loftie

Loftie Clock tech specs

• Dimensions: 6.5” W x 2.75” D x 2.75” H
• Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Materials: Polycarbonate shell, steel top grill
• Battery: Lithium-ion battery
• Wireless: No
• Includes: USB-C cable and power adapter
• Connectivity: 2.4 GHz WiFi connection required

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kmendonca@postmedia.com

instagram.com/kate.mendonca

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