I didn’t require a $170 alarm clock to cease scrolling on my phone at night and finally achieve better sleep. Let’s be real—willpower is free, and the majority of alarm clocks are priced much lower. However, after coming across glowing reviews of the Loftie Clock, I became intrigued. Numerous users extolled its gentle wake-up tones and elegant design, and as someone working East Coast hours from Los Angeles, I was yearning for a more effective morning routine. Yet, I found the price tag hard to digest.

That shifted when I stumbled upon Loftie’s refurbished section. With a discount code from the Shop app, I snagged a refurbished Loftie in “Great” condition for only $96. While still a bit of a splurge, it felt more justifiable—and after nearly a year of usage, I can assert that it was worth every cent.

The Loftie Clock is technically a smart device, but once you finish the initial setup through its app, you can access all its features straight from the clock itself. This was a significant advantage for me—I wanted to leave my phone outside the bedroom at night, and Loftie facilitated that.

One of my favorite attributes is the integrated night light. It’s subtle and gentle on the eyes, particularly for those who aren’t fond of harsh overhead lighting. But the true game-changer? The alarm system. Unlike conventional alarms that shock you awake or tunes that eventually grow tiresome, Loftie employs a two-phase system: a soft “wakeup tone” followed by a “getup tone” a few minutes later. Think of it as a sound bath succeeded by birds chirping outside your window. It’s the only alarm I’ve encountered that doesn’t fill me with dread about mornings.

The display is compact and minimalist, which I value. It’s not excessively bright, and I can still read it from a foot away—even with my -6.5 vision. When I moved in with my partner, we found that he was more sensitive to light, but switching to the red display mode resolved the problem. There’s also an option to turn the display off completely if you desire total darkness.

Beyond the fundamentals, Loftie includes a variety of considerate features:

– A “bed signal” reminder to assist you in winding down at night
– Bluetooth speaker capabilities for streaming audio
– An easy-to-toggle built-in night light
– Preloaded sleep sounds, sound baths, and guided meditations
– Exceptional customer support (they replied to my email in under four minutes!)
– Optional Loftie+ membership for $5.99/month or $49.99/year, providing extra content

I’ve experimented with other premium sleep gadgets, but this is the one I continue to use. It’s not essential, but it’s a luxury that truly enhanced my sleep routine. Considering how extensively I’ve utilized it—and how much screen time it has saved me—I’d willingly pay $96 for it again. Just perhaps not the full $170.

If you’re interested, Loftie also provides refurbished clocks and even a Loftie Lamp. However, if you’re simply aiming to reclaim your mornings and leave your phone behind at night, the clock by itself is a worthwhile investment.