Nintendo’s Alarmo, officially called the Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo, is a bedside gadget that aims to combine functionality with the nostalgia of beloved Nintendo characters. With its charming design and unique features, it’s undoubtedly a fun addition for fans of the brand. However, beneath the delightful façade lie usability challenges that make this $100 clock feel more like a collector’s item than a practical bedside essential.
But, is the device worth it, if you are in the mood to make a whimsical purchase? Let’s find out –
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A First Look at Alarmo
Alarmo’s aesthetic is unmistakably Nintendo. With its bright red, rounded design, glowing control knob, and squat little feet, it wouldn’t look out of place in a Mario Odyssey setting. The device is compact yet playful, featuring a 2.8-inch screen that delivers vibrant visuals. However, the screen is surprisingly small and square—not the round display many might have expected from promotional materials.
What sets Alarmo apart is its ability to integrate Nintendo’s charm into your daily routine. From morning alarms featuring Koroks to bedtime sounds from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the device is packed with themed content. It even celebrates your wake-up moments with quirky animations, such as Hestu’s dance, which adds a touch of whimsy to your mornings.
Setting Up Alarmo
The device arrives with just three items in the box: the clock, a USB Type-A to USB-C cable, and a small instruction manual. Conspicuously absent is a USB power adapter, a common omission these days but still inconvenient for anyone without a spare lying around.
Setup is straightforward, though not without its quirks. After plugging in the device, you’re guided through a quick tutorial on its controls. You’ll learn to twist and press the top knob to navigate, adjust the volume, and test the motion sensor by waving your hand in front of it. Placing Alarmo correctly—at the edge of a nightstand with an unobstructed view of the bed—is crucial for optimal performance.
While the initial setup doesn’t require a Wi-Fi connection, you’ll need one if you want to download additional themes or updates. Unfortunately, entering a Wi-Fi password is a tedious process. The lack of a modern input method means you’ll need to painstakingly rotate the knob to select each character in your password. If your password includes symbols, uppercase letters, or long strings, expect some frustration.
Features and Functionality
At its core, Alarmo is designed to wake you up—and it does so with flair. Whether it’s gentle sounds of a campfire from Breath of the Wild or the mischievous calls of Koroks, the device offers a refreshing alternative to jarring alarm tones.
There are two alarm modes:
- Steady Mode: Gradually increases in volume over time, potentially involving appearances from characters like Bowser if you linger in bed.
- Gentle Mode: Maintains a consistent, softer tone to ease you into the day.
The motion sensor allows for hands-free snooze and wake-up interactions. However, its single-sleeper design can be problematic for households with pets or partners. False triggers—caused by anything from a cat jumping on the bed to a restless co-sleeper—can lead to skewed sleep data or unnecessary noise.
Alarmo also offers basic sleep tracking, but the results are underwhelming. Data remains confined to the device, with no app support for further analysis. For families with pets or kids, the motion sensor often misinterprets movement, leading to inaccurate readings.
The Downsides
Despite its charm, Alarmo has its shortcomings:
- Limited Themes: While Zelda and Mario Odyssey are fantastic inclusions, notable franchises like Kirby and Mario Kart are glaring omissions.
- Cumbersome Controls: The reliance on the control knob for inputs like Wi-Fi passwords feels outdated, especially given the prevalence of QR code-based systems in modern gadgets.
- No App Integration: Without a companion app, features like sleep tracking feel underdeveloped. Alarmo’s inability to connect with platforms like Pokémon Sleep further limits its potential.
- Price Tag: At $100, it’s hard to justify Alarmo’s cost, especially considering its limited functionality compared to other smart devices in the same price range.
Is Alarmo Worth It?
For die-hard Nintendo fans, Alarmo is a nostalgic treasure. It brings beloved characters and iconic sounds into the bedroom, making mornings a bit more magical. However, for those less enchanted by Nintendo’s universe, the hefty price tag and outdated design choices may be deal-breakers.
For households with young Nintendo enthusiasts, though, Alarmo could be a whimsical tool to encourage kids to wake up on their own. My daughter, for example, adored the Zelda theme and found the celebratory wake-up dances endlessly entertaining.
Alarmo embodies Nintendo’s willingness to take creative risks outside its usual realm of games and consoles. While it’s not without flaws—cumbersome controls, limited themes, and questionable value—it’s a fun, nostalgic device that will appeal to a niche audience.
If you’re already a devoted Nintendo fan, Alarmo is likely to delight you. For everyone else, it’s an amusing but imperfect reminder of Nintendo’s ability to innovate in unexpected ways.
