Philips HF3520/60 Light Therapy Wake Up Light LUXEON – Mood Lamp (Wake-up Light, 300 lx, LUXEON, Orange, Red, Yellow, 40 min, Bedroom)

First off, many of these reviews sound a bit fishy, as if they are `fake' reviews made by the manufacturer or whatever to sell the product. This is not, this is an actual user of the actual product and I have actually rated it 5 stars. I'll start by going over the features then list the pros and end with the cons and wrap up with a final impression. Features: All the advertised features above are present so I won't bother going over those. This is more for the `ins and outs' of it. The device itself has a `touch screen' like front bottom portion. All of the controls are there and don't show themselves unless your finger is about ¼ of an inch from the surface of the light. Once there they light up. There is a -, menu, select and + button listed horizontally across the bottom in that order. When you get near the device they light up with an intensity to match the clock face. The clock face has an intensity setting from 1-4, which will automatically adjust UP as the room becomes brighter. For example a contrast setting of 1 helps you get to sleep but doesn't help you see the clock face at, say, 2 in the afternoon, so the auto adjusting feature I consider that a bonus. The light itself has an intensity setting from 1-20. On the lower settings it is a very dim red glow similar to the red of a sunrise (or set) and as it increases it steadily goes to bright white. Not the white you'd expect from a light but the kind of white of a sunny day. Picture a piece of paper outside on a cloudless August day. You can also adjust the `wakeup time' which is the time between program start and the alarm. The default is 30 minutes so if you wake up at 6AM at 5:30 it will start at intensity 1 and `step up' in intensity until it hits your intensity setting and it spaces this `step up' out over the `wakeup time' that you select. It ranges from 20 minutes to 40. It also includes an audible alarm of 6 different types. 1 is the radio, the other 5 are various combinations ranging from light woods birds/forest sounds to nature sounds with light music overlaid. You can also adjust the volume. These sounds do not play until the alarm time is reached. In other words, it doesn't play during the `wakeup time' period. It also has a snooze function. Simply touching the face of the clock turns the sounds off for 9 minutes but leaves the light on and after the 9 minutes, the sounds start again. The light/clock includes 2 different alarms you can set as well as an FM radio (as alluded to previously). A final note is that it also includes a "dusk" function. By activating the dusk function by pressing the button on the side the exact opposite happens than what happens with the wakeup time. It starts bright and eventually fades to 1 then turns off. This very much simulates the evening. Pros: I noticed a huge change the very first morning I used it. Instead of the harsh bleating of an alarm clock your body first starts to notice the increased light then your consciousness notices the sounds and eventually you're awake. This is VERY similar to waking up while you're rustic camping, if you've ever done so. So much so that at first I thought I was back in my tent at Yellowstone. That is really the only way I can describe it. I also liked how the light changed from dim red to bright white as it got brighter. Lights I've had in the past do not do that, you just get a more intense version of the same color light. Cons: This light is NOT meant to treat SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) being that it only puts out 300 lux at 20 in. and light therapy requires at least 10,000 lux. That aside, it can be used in conjunction with a medical grade light box (such as the SAD Light Therapy Box - Alaska Northern Lights- North Star 10,000 ) as a comprehensive approach. That is what I have done and it seems to work well. You also may have problems using it if you're married and you each wake up at different times as it has a tendency to light up the entire room. As brought up by others, you can't completely turn off the clock face but the lowest setting is pretty darn dim anyway. Finally when you click the alarm off you have to immediately turn it back on again, just like with the old-school alarm clocks. Final thoughts: Overall I believe, considering the price and its effects, the purchase was a very good value. I have always struggled with the `up and at-em' routine and even went to the point of drinking energy drinks as soon as I woke up to no avail. Like I said, the very first day I used it I noticed a difference. Within 10 minutes of waking up I was wrestling with the dog. No joke. I have combined it with the use of a light box (see above for which type) and it has done wonders for my mood and energy level. The minor inconveniences I noted above are just that, minor, and I enjoy the features and ability to have a sunrise and sunset `on demand' as I work very long days and during the winter months I am usually up before the sun and down after the sun as the saying goes. The first week I set a `regular' alarm clock as a backup to click off 15 minutes after this one in case it didn't work and not once did I have to rely on it, nor have I had to use the snooze feature. Like I said, entirely different waking experience and if I had the $$ I would buy one for each of my family as a present this Christmas. Hopefully this review helped you sort things out with this model as to what exactly it does, it's pros and cons.

I'm really happy with this product. I found setting the clock and alarm quite intuitive. I like the feature of a 30-minute sunset, as it gives me time to get into bed and sort myself while still having light but I don't have to get up to switch my bedroom light off and turn my room into instant blackness. Love the peaceful descent into slumber. The light can get as bright as you want it - to me it simulates the sun. They say there are 3 colours to choose from but you can't choose. The light is more red and orange at low light and slowly becomes yellow as the light gets brighter. At first I was disappointed that there wen't any colour options but now I'm not sure I would use multiple options, as I would want to simulate natural light as much as possible. Some have commented there is no battery in case the power goes out. While this is true in a sense, I can say that when the power returns, the clock doesn't need to be reset - it keeps the time and alarms that were stored before it lost power. I'm not sure how long it keeps the settings before it needs to be reset. I unplugged it for an hour and everything was as before when I plugged it back in. So I'm happy with that. The radio is a decent quality. Not powerful but also not like listening to something in a tin can. Can also deliver a little bit of bass, so no complaints there. Very happy with this purchase.

Muy buen producto, si ayuda a despertar, pero es necesario tenerlo cerca de la cama. Buenos sonidos, buen nivel de luminosidad, y buena calidad. Tiene dos alarmas, yo una la uso para días laborales y la segunda para fines de semana. Las rayas en el video no se ven en persona.

Horribly expensive here in India. But cheaper than an air fare. I bought my original, glass, model (this one is plastic) in UK, but, after some years its buttons are failing. It is part of my wake-up life. Don't know how I could live without it. And, as I said, cheaper than an air fare. Is it worth it to YOU? At this price, probably not.

This is the second Philips SmartSleep Light i've owned. My first lasted me a LONG time; and waking up to light is a game changer in regard to overall sleep quality. No loud noises; you can choose a birdsong or your favorite radio station to ease you awake; and this is an option under the Menu; in case the emerging 'Dawn' doesn't do the trick. I've never had to use anything more than the light source. Many of my friends don't believe that a light can wake you! But I say they don't know what they are missing. Once you understand the science behind Dawn Simulation you will understand why this is best for your sleep - wake cycles. Especially in the dark winter months; you can train your body to still believe it's spring! Magically. I like all the Menu options available; you choose when and how you want to wake but one of the really amazing features of using a Dawn Simulator is that you are also able to use it as a Sunset at night when you may want to read in bed to relax you into sleep. This is a unique and amazing feature; you set the timer for Sunset; and tuck yourself into bed - the light is brighter and very very gradually begins to fade into 'sunset' and dark. Your brain is easily and happily relaxing into sleep! I love this feature. The clock comes with a very easy to understand User Manual - and there are several Timers options you can use as well. The color quality of the Philips is excellent; soothing and bright IF you want it to be - you make the choices as to the amount of brightness you need or want. I'd HIGHLY recommend this product.