Sleep is basically my love language. When I don’t get enough, I’m not just cranky, I’m a full-on zombie with a caffeine addiction. So when the wellness world kept shouting that keeping your phone on your nightstand is ruining your sleep, I finally decided to ditch the digital leash in 2025.
Waking up to my phone’s alarm felt less like morning and more like an emergency drill, and honestly, I’d had enough. It was time for a softer, more civilized wake-up call. Enter: the Hatch Restore. It showed up in my life as a Christmas gift (bless you, Santa), and I had high hopes this sleek little gadget would help me reset my mornings.
Spoiler: It delivered. Well, mostly.
So, What Exactly Is the Hatch Restore 2?
Before I get into my experience, you might be wondering what the Hatch Restore 2 actually is. Simply put, it’s a sunrise alarm clock, sound machine, and mood light all rolled into one sleek little device. It’s built to help you wind down at night and wake up in the morning without reaching for your phone—aka the sleep saboteur.
Hatch Restore 2
But this little device is designed to do more than just make your mornings less painful. Circulation Research, published by AHA Journals, points out that our internal clock — called the circadian rhythm — helps regulate not only when we sleep and wake, but also how our body handles oxygen throughout the day. When that rhythm gets thrown off (think inconsistent sleep or jarring alarms), it can interfere with how your body functions and may even increase health risks.
So sunrise alarms like this one aren’t just trendy — they may actually help support your body’s natural rhythm, which is what made me curious to try it in the first place.
My First Take
After unwrapping this little gift under the tree, I was eager to see if it was really worth the hype. When I opened the Hatch Restore 2, I was immediately into the vibe: neutral packaging and a minimalist, natural design that looked right at home on my nightstand.
Inside the box was the device and a 30-day free trial of the Hatch+ app. Once the free trial expires, it’s $4.99/month or $49.99/year if you stick with it. I didn’t realize the app was required to get started, and while you can use the clock without a subscription, many of the best features—like custom routines and extra sounds—are locked behind the paywall. As someone who likes variety, that was a little disappointing at first.
That said, since I canceled my $14.99/month Calm app, the cost pretty much balanced out.
Setup and Daily Use
Setting up the Hatch Restore 2 was simple and intuitive. While there were no instructions in the box, the app walks you through everything from connecting to Wi-Fi and naming your device to customizing your wind-down and wake-up routines. Since I stick to a regular sleep schedule, I liked being able to set different alarms for weekdays and weekends. Once it was set, I didn’t have to think about it again: No more nightly alarm-check panic.
Here’s how I set mine up:
My Nighttime Routine: Winding Down
I started with the “Unwind” section. I tested a few meditations and sleep stories but eventually landed on soft music with the Cape Starlight light setting, which gives off a soft pink glow. Since I normally read before bed, I thought it was a nice way to add some ambience and help me relax without pulling focus from the page. After 20 minutes, the sound fades into my chosen sleep sound: the classic “Fan,” which plays through the night and shuts off when my alarm starts.
This was a big improvement for me. Before the Hatch, I was using two separate apps — one for meditation, one for white noise — and my white noise app would cut off after 8 hours. That might work for most people, but I typically sleep 9 to 10 hours. (I know, it’s a lot. Call it excessive, I call it elite-level rest.) Waking up halfway just to restart the sound wasn’t exactly the definition of restorative sleep.
Now, I just set it and don’t have to think about it. The Hatch Restore 2 remembers my ideal volume and routine, so I don’t have to adjust anything night after night. All I have to do is tap the Rest button (the one with the closed-eye symbol) to start my sleep routine.
In the Morning: No More Jarring Wake-Ups
For my alarm, I chose the Malibu Sunrise light setting: Soft pinks and oranges that gradually brighten the room paired with gentle flute music that fades in slowly. I’ll admit, it was hard to pick a favorite combo since there were so many options to choose from. I expected it to be nice, but I wasn’t prepared for just how calming it actually felt. It’s the complete opposite of my old phone alarm, which sounded more like an emergency drill than a wake-up call. The first night I used it, the whole setup gave me full “Snow White waking up in a spa” energy, and I was fully on board.
I also added a Morning Moment called Cozy Acoustic that plays right after the alarm, paired with the Deep Ocean light setting because I’m a sucker for anything aquatic. It’s a soft, unplugged melody that gives me a few extra minutes to stretch and ease into the day. To start it, I just press and hold the “Rise” button (the one with the open-eye symbol) to turn off the alarm, then tap it again to begin my Morning Moment routine.
Key Features
A few things I really liked:
- Wide range of calming sleep sounds to help you fall—and stay—asleep
- Soft bedside light that’s perfect for winding down at night
- Dimmable clock display, so your room stays dark and sleep-friendly
- Gradual sunrise alarm that eases you awake with light that mimics a real sunrise
- Simple “Rest” and “Rise” buttons that let you start your routines without using your phone—one of my favorite things about it
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Simple to set up, especially if you’re comfortable with apps.
- Natural, modern design that looks aesthetically pleasing on your nightstand.
- You can turn the clock display off at night—which is great if you’re sensitive to light.
- Just two buttons make it easy to use without any confusion.
- You can build custom sleep routines using any mix of 18 light colors and 24 sounds—even without paying for Hatch+ subscription.
Cons
- No Bluetooth.
- Has to stay connected to Wi-Fi to work.
- Must be plugged into the wall, which takes away from the sleek aesthetic, in my opinion.
- Some features are locked behind a Hatch+ subscription ($4.99/month or $49.99/year).
- More expensive than some other alarm clocks with similar or extra features.
How It Stacks Up Against the Competition
There are plenty of sunrise alarm clocks out there, and the best one really depends on your sleep needs and budget.
If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, the Jall Sunrise Clock (around $30 on Amazon) is a solid no-frills option. It doesn’t require an app, Wi-Fi, or a subscription, but the light and sound features are fairly limited.
Another affordable pick is the Winshine Wake-Up Light (also around $30). It offers 360-degree lighting and comes in fun cat and rabbit designs, which could be perfect for a kid’s room. Customization is limited, but it gets the job done.
If you’re after more features, the Philips SmartSleep Sleep and Wake-Up Light is a step up at around $119. It comes with 25 light settings, 8 wake-up sounds, and an FM radio. It’s battery-operated, which is great if you’d rather avoid cords. It does use an app, but you don’t need Wi-Fi to access the basic functions.
And if you already have a Google Nest Hub, you can turn the display into a sunrise alarm with customizable routines. It requires both an app and Wi-Fi, but it’s a great choice if you’re already in the smart-home ecosystem and want sleep tracking built in.
As for me, I was looking to build more consistent, calming sleep habits—and I care about how things look on my nightstand. Between the lighting options and the overall aesthetic, the Hatch Restore 2 is hard to beat.
Hatch Restore 2
So, Is the Hatch Restore 2 Worth It?
If you love a good routine (hi, same), appreciate sleek design, and don’t mind using an app to get the most out of your gadgets, the Hatch Restore 2 is a solid pick. It’s ideal for tech-friendly folks, design lovers, and anyone trying to break up with their phone before bed.
I genuinely love mine. I’ve noticed a real difference in how I wind down and how I wake up — and not just because I feel slightly more like a functioning adult. It’s not the cheapest option out there, but for me, the calm mornings and better sleep have been well worth the price.
