I Tried the Internet's Favorite Stylish Smart Sleep Clock to Break My Bad Sleep Habits

Tested by Alison Baretta

I write about sleep for a living, but I'll admit I'm not always great about maintaining a phone-free bedtime routine or staying away from the snooze button. When I spotted a Black Friday deal on the Hatch Restore 3, I picked one up, hoping it would help me kick my bad habits. This is a product that's received a lot of buzz, and I wanted to see if it was deserved.

After three months of using it, I can confidently say the hype is justified. The Hatch Restore 3 supports restful evenings and productive mornings, and it's easy to use while boasting a high level of personalization. It's not perfect — you'll need a monthly subscription to get the most out of the device — but as I explain in my full Hatch Restore 3 review below, there’s still plenty of value in it, even if you choose not to pay for premium features.

What Is the Hatch Restore 3?

The Hatch Restore is an all-in-one sound machine, sunrise alarm clock, and reading light that you can customize through a companion app. The first-gen Hatch Restore was released in 2020; the Hatch Restore 3 came out in January 2025 and features several new and upgraded features.

The most notable addition is a set of physical controls designed to encourage a phone-free sleep environment. The centerpiece is the “Big Button,” through which you can control the volume, turn off or snooze your alarm, and start your evening wind-down routine. Flanking that are the Swap Button, which lets you toggle between up to three wind-down routines, and a pause button to halt your routine without reaching for your phone. Additional controls on the side let you turn the light and alarm on or off.

Other upgrades include improved sound quality and an expanded library of premium sound and lighting options through a Hatch+ subscription. (It costs $4.99/month or $49.99/year, with a 7-day free trial.) You can still use the Hatch Restore 3 without a subscription, but it’ll limit functionality — particularly when it comes to personalizing and cueing up your evening wind-down routine.

The Hatch Restore 3 comes in three colors (Putty, Greige, Cocoa) and has a sleek half-moon form factor that’ll fit neatly on a nightstand or shelf. The front LED has a fabric overlay, and you can hide the clock display and tap the device whenever you need to check the time. (This is a useful feature if you deal with sleep anxiety.)

This smart sleep device typically costs $169.99 and is available directly from Hatch and other major retailers, including Amazon, Target, and Best Buy. You can apply HSA/FSA funds toward the purchase of the device, but not a Hatch+ subscription.

How I Tested the Hatch Restore 3

I bought a Hatch Restore 3 in Putty during a Black Friday sale last November. It sits on a corner shelf at the foot of my bed.

For the past three months, I've been using it as a sunrise alarm, a sound machine and a reading and mood light. I’ve set up a series of custom alarms and sleep routines through the companion app. I don't subscribe to Hatch+, although I explored the free trial to sample the premium features.

What I Like About the Hatch Restore 3

Before I bought the Hatch Restore 3, I used my smartphone as an alarm, keeping it right next to my bed — and sometimes bringing it into bed to doomscroll myself to sleep. Whenever my alarm went off before sunrise (or if it was a particularly dreary morning), I'd linger in the dark and sometimes fall back asleep.

The Hatch Restore 3 has helped me kick a lot of those bad sleep habits. Every morning, I now wake up to the chime of church bells or a backyard garden party as the warm glow of a simulated sunrise pulls me out of sleep inertia — a marked improvement from lying exhausted in the dark while enduring the blare of my smartphone.

In the Hatch app, I can easily set up and manage my nightly routines and alarms, with a lot of flexibility in scheduling and choosing the right light and sound for sleep and waking. It may take some time to find your perfect settings; I tried several before landing on the pairings that reliably lull me to sleep and get me out of bed in the morning.

The Hatch’s design makes it much easier to ditch the phone at bedtime, although I'll admit I still struggle to fully break that habit. (That's on me, though. Not the Hatch.) Still, I can control everything I need from the device itself. Whether it's before bed or after waking up, I just hit the Big Button to start my sleep sounds, turn on the light, or silence the alarm.

The light is remarkably bright for such a small device, and I'll sometimes turn it on to set the mood before I go to sleep. When I'm ready to drift off, I'll play a half hour of sleep sounds to calm my nerves and settle into a restful state of mind. (As soon as that soundtrack starts, my brain automatically shifts into sleep mode.)

In the morning, I rarely hit snooze the way I used to, although I've had to remind myself to hold the Big Button for three seconds to turn the alarm off. (A quick press snoozes it for nine minutes; you can't adjust the snooze length.) I often find myself stirring naturally as the gradual sunrise light kicks in 15 minutes before the alarm; by the time it sounds, I'm usually ready to get up and start my day.

For years, I didn't have a clock in my bedroom, and I was wary of reintroducing one because I like being in a "timeless" space, especially if I have trouble falling or staying asleep. The Hatch Restore 3 helps me keep it that way, as I can hide the display. (A small tap on the device is all it takes to check the time.)

What the Hatch Restore 3 Could Do Better

The Hatch Restore 3 requires a 2.4GHz wireless internet connection and a Bluetooth-enabled device to function. You’ll have to download the Hatch App to your iPhone or Android device (it’s free). Unfortunately, the setup was a mild hassle. I had to bring the device downstairs so it could be next to my router, and even then, I ran into several connectivity errors before finally getting it to work. This may not be everyone's experience, but it was frustrating to have such a simple task become anything but.

Without a Hatch+ subscription, you still get a decent library of light and audio options, but you'll miss out on wind-down podcasts, bedtime stories, lighting options and special-edition content like celebrity alarms featuring the Backstreet Boys (billed as the Hatchstreet Boys) and themed collections tied to events like the Winter Olympics.

While I had fun dabbling in the 7-day free trial of Hatch+, I'm fine with the stock options. (I have subscription fatigue and am trying to be more intentional in that area.) That said, I wish there were a way to filter between what's free and what requires Hatch+ in the companion app. Without it, I’m scrolling through my options for a while.

Bottom Line: Is the Hatch Restore 3 Worth Buying?

The Hatch Restore 3 is worth buying if you want a smart sleep clock that does it all — from playing sounds that calm the nervous system at night to beaming a gentle morning sunrise light that promotes a healthy circadian rhythm. There’s a high level of customization, even without a Hatch+ subscription, although there are some noticeable restrictions if you choose to go without a subscription, particularly when it comes to the selection of wind-down routines available.

The Restore 3 is not only a convenient, multi-functional sleep device, but it also looks great. Even with the Big Button on top, it maintains its sleek form factor. Plus, it comes in three neutral tones that’ll allow it to blend into any space. The sound quality is excellent for a speaker of its size, too.

I've made improvements to my morning routine since I started using the Hatch Restore 3. Getting that boost from the sunrise light sets the tone for the rest of my day; I have more energy and don't feel the need to nap or reach for an afternoon cup of coffee. While I’m still refining my bedtime routine, I do like falling asleep to the Hatch’s peaceful music and soothing light while keeping my phone out of arm’s reach.

Compared to other smart sleep clocks, the Hatch Restore 3 is a bit of a splurge — moreso if you add a Hatch+ subscription for premium content. (Fortunately, HSA and FSA funds can be applied to offset the out-of-pocket cost.) It doesn't go on sale often, but if you want one of the best alarm clocks on the market, I think it's worth paying full price.

Why You Should Trust Our Tester

Alison Barretta is a freelance writer and editor who tests and reviews bedroom essentials — mattresses, pillows, bed sheets and sleep tech, including the Oura Ring. She's been offering buying advice for nearly two decades and welcomes the privilege of helping consumers make good decisions with their money, especially when it comes to their sleep. Her work has also been featured in Tom's Guide, Forbes, The Strategist, and U.S. News.

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