This sleek alarm clock uses lights and sounds to help you sleep, focus, and wake up | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.This sleek alarm clock uses lights and sounds to help you sleep, focus, and wake upComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechDesignCloseDesignPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All DesignGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsThis sleek alarm clock uses lights and sounds to help you sleep, focus, and wake upBalmuda’s The Clock pairs custom sounds with a sleek minimalist design to make waking up more pleasant.Balmuda’s The Clock pairs custom sounds with a sleek minimalist design to make waking up more pleasant.by Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiMar 20, 2026, 2:32 PM UTCLinkShareGiftThe clock uses animated lights instead of moving hands to display the time. Image: BalmudaAndrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew Liszewski is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.Dieter Rams already showed the world that something as mundane as an alarm clock can be beautiful. Balmuda, a Japanese company best known for its steam-infused toasters, has released a travel-friendly alarm clock simply called The Clock. Its minimalist dial is reminiscent of Braun’s iconic alarm clocks but goes one step further by replacing traditional moving hands with subtle illuminated accents.Machined from a single block of aluminum, the Clock stands about four inches tall including a carrying loop and control dial and weighs around 260 grams. Its illumination system, which the company calls Light Hour, features glowing numbers representing 12 hours with minutes and seconds displayed as a concentric ring of tick marks. Animations are used to show the passage of time. The Clock is currently available in Japan for ¥59,400, or around $375, but the company hasn’t announced plans to make it available internationally yet.Animated numbers and markers on the Clock’s dial show the passage of time and indicate other functions. Image: BalmudaThe alarm clock was designed by Balmuda founder Gen Terao, who wanted help falling asleep at night. He needed an alternative to playing rain sounds on a bright, distracting tablet. That desire resulted in three primary functions for the Clock. There’s a Relax Time mode that plays one of several original recordings that include sounds like falling rain, a fireplace, and a babbling river. Those sounds are also used for the Clock’s alarms, which quietly start playing three minutes before your preset wake-up time, and gradually get louder to ensure they’re not missed.There’s a focus mode, which can be set from one to 60 minutes, that plays white noise through the Clock’s stereo speakers to help reduce distractions. There’s also Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for connecting to a mobile app that makes it easier to program and customize the Clock. However, its battery life is estimated to max out at just 24 hours of continuous usage. 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Balmuda’s The Clock represents a thoughtful design intervention aimed at improving the user’s experience of both sleep and wakefulness, spearheaded by the company’s founder, Gen Terao. The device, initially conceived to address Terao’s personal struggle with falling asleep while distracted by tablet displays, has evolved into a multi-functional alarm clock leveraging carefully curated soundscapes and subtle illumination. The core design philosophy centers around minimizing distraction and promoting a natural transition between states, a concept deeply rooted in Dieter Rams’ approach to industrial design, exemplified by Braun’s classic alarm clocks.

The Clock’s physical construction is minimalist and meticulously crafted, featuring a single block of aluminum that stands approximately four inches tall and weighs 260 grams. The standout feature is its display, meticulously replacing traditional rotating hands with animated numbers and markers that effectively communicate the passage of time, offering a visually engaging rather than a purely functional representation. This approach, combined with the subtle, glowing accents, contributes to a premium feel and a deliberate rejection of overtly technological aesthetics.

Functionally, The Clock caters to three primary user needs. The first, and most prominent, is a “Relax Time” mode. This mode utilizes a selection of original recordings—including the sounds of rain, a fireplace, and a babbling river—designed to induce relaxation and facilitate sleep. Crucially, these sounds are also integrated into the alarm function, initiating a gentle waking process through a gradual increase in volume, minimizing the jarring effects commonly associated with traditional alarms. The second function is a “Focus Mode,” designed to mitigate distractions. This mode employs white noise output through the Clock’s integrated stereo speakers, offering a passive solution for reducing auditory distractions and promoting concentration. Finally, the Clock incorporates Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing for control and customization through a companion mobile application. This application simplifies the programming of alarm times, sounds, and the duration of the “Focus Mode,” further enhancing the device's adaptability.

However, the Clock’s design also presents a practical consideration: battery life. The estimated usage duration of 24 hours represents a constraint that could be a significant drawback for users who rely on their bedside alarms as their primary source of power. This limitation necessitates a daily charging routine, a potentially disruptive element that contrasts sharply with the Clock’s overall emphasis on seamless integration into the user’s daily life. Currently available in Japan for ¥59,400 (approximately $375), the Clock’s international availability remains unconfirmed, limiting its immediate accessibility. Despite this, Balmuda’s The Clock demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of user needs, harmonizing aesthetic design with functional utility to deliver a uniquely tranquil and refined sleep and wake-up experience.