Hatch Restore 2 Review: Gentle Wake-Ups and Wind-Downs

The Hatch Restore 2 is built for people who want to wake up gently, fall asleep more easily, and avoid staring at a bright phone screen in bed. It combines a sunrise alarm clock, soft bedside light, and sound machine into one minimalist device that tries to guide you into better sleep habits, not just wake you up on time.

This review walks through how the Restore 2 really feels to use, where it shines, and where it may disappoint, so you can decide if it is worth a precious spot on your nightstand.

Overview

The Hatch Restore 2 is the second generation of Hatch’s bedside sleep device. At its core, it is a smart sunrise alarm and sound machine, but the experience is built around routines. You can create custom wind-down and wake-up flows with warm light, nature sounds, meditations, and gentle alarms, all controlled through the Hatch app.

The design is soft and neutral, with a fabric-covered front and a domed light that glows instead of glaring. There is a simple digital clock across the lower front and a few physical buttons on top and the back, but most of the fine tuning happens inside the app. Wi-Fi is required for setup, and Bluetooth helps with pairing.

Out of the box, you get a solid selection of light colors and sound options for free. To unlock the full library of guided meditations, sleep stories, and additional soundscapes, Hatch sells a separate Hatch Sleep Membership subscription. The membership is optional, but it is a big part of how Hatch markets the Restore 2, so it is important to understand how much you actually get without paying extra.

Who it is for

The Hatch Restore 2 is best for adults and older teens who want their bedroom to feel calmer and more intentional. If you hate blaring phone alarms, struggle to wind down at night, or are trying to create a more screen-free bedtime, this device lines up well with your goals.

It is especially helpful if:

• You are sensitive to harsh alarms and bright overhead lights in the morning.
• You already use white noise or a sound machine, but want more control and cleaner sound.
• You find it hard to put your phone down before bed and want another way to cue your brain that it is time to rest.
• You share a room and want something that is soothing and relatively discreet instead of jarring for your partner.

On the other hand, the Restore 2 may not be ideal if you want a totally offline alarm clock, if your Wi-Fi is unreliable, or if you strongly dislike app-based controls. Very deep or hard of hearing sleepers who rely on very loud, jarring alarms or vibrating alarm pads may also find the audio-focused wake-up here too gentle unless they pair it with another alarm.

How it feels and performs

Design and build quality

The Restore 2 looks more like a small decor object than a gadget. Its curved light surface and fabric front panel help it blend in on a nightstand, and the three color options lean soft and neutral. It feels solid and well made, with a grippy base that stays put when you fumble for the snooze button at 6 a.m.

The display is a simple, dimmable digital clock that shows the time and a few basic icons. You can adjust or fully turn off the clock brightness in the app, which light-sensitive sleepers will appreciate. The power adapter is a small wall plug with a thin cord that is easy to route behind furniture.

Light performance: sunrise and reading

The Restore 2’s light is where it really distinguishes itself from a basic alarm clock. The LEDs are bright enough for a sunrise simulation that fills a typical bedroom with a warm, gradually increasing glow. You can choose from different sunrise styles and color temperatures, from very golden sunrise tones to cooler daylight hues.

For reading, the light is pleasantly diffuse. It is bright enough for a paperback at arm’s length but not as intense as a strong task lamp. If you like very bright, focused reading light, you may still want a dedicated lamp. If you prefer soft light that does not blast your eyes at night, the Restore 2 is a good fit.

At night, you can run extremely low, amber-toned night light levels that are gentle on sleepy eyes. This is especially useful if you wake in the middle of the night and do not want to fully rouse yourself with a harsh ceiling light.

Sound and sleep content

The sound quality is stronger than many basic white noise machines. The speaker has enough clarity for subtle nature sounds and spoken meditations, with a warmer tone that avoids the thin, tinny feel of cheaper devices. White noise, rain, and fan sounds are full and continuous, without obvious loops that pull your attention.

On the free tier, you get a reasonable variety of white noise, simple nature sounds, and a few basic routines. The Hatch Sleep Membership expands this with a deeper library of meditations, breathing exercises, sleep stories, and more curated soundscapes. If you enjoy guided audio when you are anxious or restless, the subscription can be very compelling; if you usually just want rain or fan noise, the free content is enough.

Volume goes from whisper-quiet to room filling. In practice, medium settings are plenty for most bedrooms. If you share a small space with someone who hates sound machines, you might need to compromise, but the lower volume levels are subtle enough that they are unlikely to travel far past the bedroom door.

App and controls

The Hatch app is where you build and customize routines. You can stack steps like: dim amber light, add soft wind-down music, play a 10-minute meditation, then gently fade into white noise for the night. For mornings, you pick a sunrise style, start time, duration, and a final alarm sound.

Once routines are saved, the Restore 2 can run them on its own schedule, so you do not need your phone in bed each night. You can tap the device to start a routine, adjust brightness with dedicated buttons, or snooze in the morning with a quick press on top. That said, any detailed changes to sounds, colors, or timing still require opening the app.

There is no built-in battery backup. If the power goes out and stays out through your alarm time, the device will not wake you. If you live somewhere with frequent outages, it is smart to set a backup alarm on your phone or a simple battery-powered clock for important mornings.

How to use it for best results

The Restore 2 is most effective when you treat it as a habit-building tool instead of just a fancy alarm. Here are some practical ways to get the most from it.

Build a gentle wind-down routine

• Set a consistent bedtime window, even on weekends, then create a wind-down routine that starts 20 to 45 minutes before that time.
• Choose a very low, warm light and pair it with a calming sound such as soft rain, crackling fire, or mellow music.
• Add a short, guided breathing or relaxation track from the free selection or the subscription if you tend to ruminate at night.
• Try to make the Restore 2 the last light source you see before sleep, not your phone screen.

Dial in the sunrise alarm

• Start with a 20 to 30 minute sunrise window and a medium light intensity. If you still feel jolted awake, lengthen the sunrise; if you sleep through it, bump up the brightness.
• Pick a gentle alarm sound like chimes or soft birds, then increase the volume one step at a time until you reliably wake up without feeling startled.
• Place the Restore 2 where the light can shine toward your face, not hidden behind a tall lamp or stack of books.
• If you are a heavy sleeper, set a backup phone alarm a few minutes after the Hatch alarm until you know the sunrise routine is doing its job.

Use it to reduce nighttime phone use

• Charge your phone outside the bedroom or across the room and rely on the Restore 2 as your bedside clock.
• Assign a specific light color to mean no more scrolling, such as a warm pink or amber, and let that cue your brain to switch to non-screen activities.
• Start your wind-down routine at the same time your phone goes on Do Not Disturb, so you anchor both habits together.

Adjust for couples or roommates

• Use lower brightness and sound levels if you and your partner wake at slightly different times so the earlier alarm is less intrusive.
• If your schedules are very different, consider setting the Restore 2 for the earlier riser and letting the later sleeper rely on a separate, personal alarm to avoid multiple wake-ups.
• Experiment with neutral sounds like fan noise or soft rain, which many people find less distracting than music or spoken content while they sleep.

Pros and cons

To help you decide whether the Hatch Restore 2 makes sense for you, here are the most meaningful strengths and drawbacks after living with it.

Pros

• Excellent sunrise experience: Gradual, customizable light that feels noticeably more natural than a phone alarm or abrupt lamp switch.
• All-in-one bedside device: Combines alarm clock, sound machine, and soft lamp so you can declutter your nightstand.
• Thoughtful design: Neutral, fabric-wrapped look that suits most decor and a dimmable clock that will not light up the whole room.
• Quality sound: Richer, less tinny audio than many dedicated white noise machines, with a good free selection of core sounds.
• Habit-friendly routines: Wind-down and wake-up flows encourage consistent sleep habits instead of last-minute scrambling.

Cons

• Relies heavily on the app: Most setup and fine tuning require your phone, which may frustrate those who want a simpler, button-only clock.
• Subscription upsell: The optional Hatch Sleep Membership adds valuable content, but it is another recurring cost on top of a premium device price.
• No battery backup: A power outage overnight means your alarm will not go off, so you may need a backup for critical mornings.
• Light is cozy, not ultra bright: Great for soft ambiance and gentle reading, but not a replacement for a strong task lamp if you want very bright light.
• Not ideal for extremely heavy sleepers: The whole experience is designed to be gentle, so those who need an aggressive alarm may have to pair it with something louder.

Final verdict

The Hatch Restore 2 delivers on its promise of gentler wake-ups and calmer wind-downs, especially if you are willing to lean into the routines and keep your phone at arm’s length. The sunrise light feels natural, the soundscapes are genuinely soothing, and the minimalist design makes it easy to live with day after day.

It is not the cheapest way to get an alarm clock and white noise, and the dependence on an app and optional subscription will not suit everyone. If you want a completely offline, set-and-forget alarm, there are simpler devices that cost less and never connect to Wi-Fi. But if your real goal is to reshape your sleep environment and bedtime habits, the Restore 2 is one of the few bedside devices that thoughtfully supports both ends of your day.

For many light to moderate sleepers who value comfort, aesthetics, and routine, the Hatch Restore 2 is a worthy upgrade from a blaring phone alarm and a clutter of mismatched gadgets.

See also

If you are debating which smart sunrise clock to choose, start with our detailed Hatch Restore 3 review and pair it with our broader guide to bedroom alarm clocks to see how Hatch compares with other options.

• Explore the best bedroom lamps for cozy, dimmable lighting to complement a Hatch bedside setup.
• Create a spa-like feel with our picks for the best bedroom diffusers and oils that will not trigger headaches.
• Keep your room comfortable year round with the best bedroom fans for quiet, all-night airflow.

FAQ

Is the Hatch Restore 2 worth it if I do not plan to pay for the Hatch Sleep Membership?

Yes, many people will be satisfied without the subscription. The free tier gives you customizable sunrise alarms, core white noise and nature sounds, basic routines, and full control of the light and clock. The paid membership is most valuable if you love guided meditations, sleep stories, and a larger content library. If you usually fall asleep to simple sounds like rain or fan noise, you can skip the subscription and still get strong value from the device.

How bright is the Hatch Restore 2 compared to a regular bedside lamp?

The Restore 2 is bright enough to comfortably read in bed at close range, but it is designed for soft, diffused light rather than high-intensity task lighting. At its maximum brightness, it can fill a typical bedroom with a warm glow for the sunrise alarm. If you like very bright, directional light for crafts or detailed work, you will still want a separate lamp, but for relaxing and reading before sleep, most people find the Restore 2 more than sufficient.

Can the Hatch Restore 2 handle different wake-up times for two people sharing a bed?

The Restore 2 works best when there is one primary wake-up time. You can set multiple alarms within the app, but each routine uses the same light and speaker, so both people will notice it. If your wake times are slightly different, you may be able to keep the light and sound levels low enough that the earlier alarm only lightly stirs the other person. For very different schedules, the earlier riser should use the Restore 2 and the later riser may want a separate personal alarm to avoid multiple disruptions.

Will the Hatch Restore 2 still work if my Wi-Fi or phone goes out?

Once you have set up and saved routines, the Restore 2 can run them on its own internal schedule without your phone connected every night. However, you do need Wi-Fi and the app for initial setup and for any changes to routines, sounds, or light settings. If your Wi-Fi goes down temporarily but power stays on, your existing alarms and routines should still run. If the power goes out entirely, the Restore 2 turns off and will not sound an alarm until power returns.

Is the Hatch Restore 2 a good choice for kids or teens bedrooms?

The Restore 2 can work very well in kids and teens rooms if you are comfortable managing it from your phone. The gentle sunrise helps early school mornings feel less abrupt, and the soft night light and white noise can be reassuring at bedtime. For younger kids, you may want to keep control in the app to prevent them from changing alarm times or blasting volume; for teens, sharing access can help them build their own sleep routines. Just remember there is no battery backup, so you may want a simple backup alarm on important school days.

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