Review: Why the Loftie Alarm Clock Might Become Your Nightstand Essential

Between my general night-owl tendencies and my quarantine-driven addiction to TikTok, my sleep schedule has been anything but stellar. So, after the tumultuous year that was 2020, I decided I was going to start 2021 off with a positive change: improving my sleep habits.

With research showing a direct correlation between technology and poor sleep, my first step was to make my bedroom a “screen-free zone,” but since my phone doubles as my morning alarm, I needed to invest in a good old-fashioned alarm clock. What was naively intended to be a return to my teenage analog ways actually led me in the complete opposite direction. Allow me to introduce the Loftie Alarm Clock.

As I found myself scouring the web for an alarm clock, scrolling through what felt like an endless array of large, bulky, and frankly unsightly versions, I came across this small, sleek option and its catchy tagline: “The world is a stressful place. Your bedroom doesn’t have to be.” Naturally, that sentiment piqued my interest. Now, you’re probably asking yourself, “Why all the fuss over an alarm clock?” Well, dear reader, the Loftie is anything but your run-of-the-mill timepiece.

Designed as an alarm clock fit for the 21st century, the Loftie is an all-in-one nightstand essential meant to help you both unwind before bed and wake refreshed. With features including a clock, sound machine, breath work exercises, and a nightlight, this stylish wellness device incorporates the essential tech you may need at night while keeping all the distracting parts (emails, texts, and late-night doomscrolling) in another room — where they belong.

While all these features are nice (I’m admittedly pretty fond of falling asleep to the Storm sleep sound), where the Loftie really shines is in its two-stage alarm system. Using alarms curated especially for the device, the Loftie works in two parts: the initial waking sound (which rings for 30 seconds) gently lulls you out of sleep, while the second, louder (yet still tranquil) sound rings nine minutes later to get you up and going. As a heavy sleeper, I was initially worried that the tones might not be “alarming” enough to wake me, but what I found was that instead of jolting out of bed in an adrenaline rush each morning, I awoke calmly and, some might even say, correctly. After using the Loftie for a few weeks, to say that I revel in the joy of starting off my day without immediately grabbing my phone and scrolling through the latest news bulletins and must-see memes would be the understatement of the century.

Founder and CEO Matthew Hassett put it best, explaining that, unlike other alarm clocks and smart home assistants, the Loftie is a purpose-built device designed to help you achieve a better tech-life balance. “We’re not trying to order you more soap or serve you up the latest viral video,” he says. “We’re here to help you use less tech to get a better night’s sleep.”

Hassett also shared that there are even more features to come over the next few months (much like a smartphone, the Loftie releases consistent software updates that improve the offerings without the need for a new device), including Spotify playlist and podcast integration, alongside its recently released sleep timer and Bluetooth functionality that lets you use the clock as a speaker, too. Loftie is also microphone and camera-free — something that should help you sleep even more soundly at night.

If you’re like me and are putting better rest on your radar for 2021, consider investing in a Loftie. While the $149 price tag might seem a little steep, this device will keep evolving over time with each update, meaning it’s a sleep must-have in the making. And let’s be real, whose habits couldn’t use a reset after last year?