Expert review of the Philips Somneo HF3650
In short
- Thanks to the simulation of a sunset, you gradually fall asleep.
- The wake-up function with light and sound makes you wake up more energetically.
- The breathing exercises with sounds are soothing.
- You can adjust the settings quickly and easily via the touchscreen.
- The breathing exercise with light pulses is not useful if you want to lie with your eyes closed.
First impression
The first thing I noticed was the futuristic design. The design resembles a sun and has a hole in the center. This makes it seem as if the alarm clock has run out of a science fiction film. Traditional push buttons are missing. As soon as you connect the alarm clock to the socket, various LED lamps reveal the built-in touchscreen. I had to give up the power of my phone charger to connect the alarm clock. It's convenient that the device has a built-in phone charger.
Specifications explained
Controls
Before I could use the alarm clock, I had to set the digital clock. This way I could immediately start with the touch screen. The screen responded quickly and accurately to all touches, resulting in a pleasant user experience. After entering the time I easily navigated through all settings. It is nice that you can personalize all options. Think of the light intensity, the wake-up sounds and the noise level.
Breathing exercises
I often go to bed with a head full of thoughts. That is why the breathing exercises were a godsend. I put in 8 breaths per minute and concentrated on the sound of the sea. By tuning my breathing to the sound, I slowly came to rest. You can also adjsut your breathing to light pulses. I found it less useful, because during such exercises I prefer to close my eyes.
Sunset
After I finished the exercises, I activated the sunset simulation. With this function the light goes out slowly until it is completely dark in the room. The idea is that your body is slowly being prepared for the night's sleep. This worked remarkably well. As the light dimmed, I gradually fell asleep. I found this way of falling asleep much more pleasant than when I was directly in the pitch darkness.
Sunrise
Half an hour before the set alarm time, the alarm clock emitted a red glow. This light became brighter and yellower, just like a real sunrise. When the alarm went off, I did not feel the urge to snooze and I came out of bed more energetically than usual. If you want to snooze, put your hand briefly on the top of the alarm clock. Here is a motion sensor that automatically activates the snooze function, so you do not have to search for a button.
