CES 2022: Budget smart alarm clock goes live in Vegas
In 2019, Lenovo released the first Smart Clock powered by Google Assistant, combining a smart speaker with an alarm clock for an impressive update on the traditional radio alarm.
Several iterations later though, and Lenovo has just announced the Smart Clock Essential with Alexa Built-in, described by the company as the “ultimate smart clock”.
That’s not quite true though as it’s not a fully-fledged smart display like the 1st and 2nd-gen Lenovo Smart Clock, rather an Alexa-flavored sibling for the Lenovo Clock Essential with Google Assistant that went on sale last year.
The headline features are those true of any Alexa device – timers, music on demand, shopping and smart home control – albeit just with your voice, there’s no touch smart home controls here.
The swish-looking Smart Clock Essential also offers a bright and bold LED display that should break through the foggiest of newly-awake hazes, plus the ability to tap to dismiss an alarm and an auto-dim capability for night-time.
It comes in a choice of Misty Blue and Clay Red to best suit your décor.
One persistent worry when it comes to putting a smart speaker in the bedroom is of course privacy, and Lenovo has worked to reassure on that front by including a mute switch for the microphone. There’s also no camera to worry about.

The Smart Clock Essential includes a USB socket for easy phone charging overnight, and if you fancy turning your clock into a nightlight, Lenovo also offers a Lenovo Ambient Light Dock with a range of lighting modes. It does rather change the look from smart and swish to quirky sci-fi, though.
The Lenovo Smart Clock Essential with Alexa Built-in is available this month, starting at $59.99, and the Lenovo Ambient Light Dock will be out this quarter, starting at $29.99.