Lenovo Smart Clock 2 review

Our Verdict

The Lenovo Smart Time 2 is a corking pocket-size device for your nightstand, serving every bit a earphone charger, alarm clock, nightlight and smart speaker. It has Google Helper built in, allowing you to control your smart home devices without even getting out of bed, and it give notice watercourse songs from Spotify or YouTube Music either for general use, or as alarm sounds. Unfortunately for Lenovo, the Google Nest Hub 2 does just about all of that (except radiocommunication charging) and more, with the plus of a kind wake-up faint, video streaming, and a large screen. On that point's very little difference in terms of price too, so although the Smart Clock 2 is a likeable little device, the Cuddle Hub is a more tempting proposition.

For

Compact, attractive design
Excellent microphone
Google Assistant built in

Against

Touchscreen sometimes lags
Atomic number 102 wake-up light option
Google Nest Hub does more

TechRadar Finding of fact

The Lenovo Smart Time 2 is a neat shrimpy device for your nightstand, serving as a phone charger, horrify clock, nightlight and smart speaker. It has Google Assistant built in, allowing you to control your voguish home devices without even getting out of bed, and it can stream songs from Spotify Oregon YouTube Euphony either for general use, or as alarm sounds. Unfortunately for Lenovo, the Google Nest Hub 2 does almost entirely of that (except wireless charging) and more, with the addition of a gentle awaken-up unchaste, video streaming, and a larger screen out. There's very little difference in terms of Price too, and then although the Sharp Clock 2 is a likeable little device, the Nest Hub is a Sir Thomas More tantalizing suggestion.

Pros

+ Compact, attractive design
+ Excellent mike
+ Google Helper built in

Cons

- Touchscreen sometimes lags
- No wake-up light option
- Google Nest Hub does Sir Thomas More

30-second critique

The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is an interesting intercrossed device, sitting 'tween an alarm clock and impudent speaker. If you currently habituate an Android call up to rouse you in the morning it feels like a natural upgrade, with full Google Assistant integration and euphony streaming.

For a little additive hard cash, you can also get a wireless charging dock for the Voguish Clock 2 that allows you to charge any Ki-compatible devices without the need for a drag of cables beside your be, and doubles as a Nox light.

It's a liked little device, and plant well. The main problem is that the Google Nest Hub 2 does complete of the aforesaid things and more, for around the same Price. The Nest Hub tin dish out as a time and music musician, but also offers features like sleep tracking, a sunrise alarm, and the ability to stream content from services including Netflix and Disney+.

The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 serves its aim well, but unless the charging dock is a game-modifier for you, or you really need something particularly compact, it's tough to recommend over the Nest Hub.

Lenovo Smart Clock 2 with charging base, charging iPhone — The wireless charging infrastructure is an facultative superfluous for the Lenovo Smart Clock 2 (Icon mention: Rising)

Price and handiness

The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 was released in September 2021, and costs $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$129 by itself, or $89.99/ £85.99 / AU$208.85 with the radiocommunication charging base. For comparison, the Google Nest Hub 2 costs $99 / £89 / AU$149, and although it lacks the charging capability, the device itself has a lot more functionality.

Design

The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is a small device (measuring just 9.3cm x 11.3cm x 71cm), which dismiss constitute utilized alone, or attached to a wireless charging al-Qaida that around doubles its footprint. The base too has a USB-A port on the back of the dock for devices that preceptor't support Qi charging (like your Fitbit, for object lesson), and is super handy if you don't have multiple power outlets getable for plugging in an array of different chargers.

There's a light in the base, which illuminates when you settle the time on its connector or place a earpiece connected the charging lodgings. This also serves Eastern Samoa the clock's night light, which can be activated by pull refine on the clock's homescreen and selecting the appropriate choice.

Lenovo Smart Clock 2 beside wireless charging base — The wireless charging lowborn also contains a lighting that illuminates when the time or a phone is placed on top, and serves arsenic a nightlight (Simulacrum credit: Future)

The clock is covered in soft-touch fabric, like most Bodoni font smart speakers, and comes in three colours: Abyss Blue (reviewed here), Heather Gray, and Shadow Black). There are few physical controls: just a pair of volume buttons along the top, and a switch on the back that toggles the microphone along and off.

This is basal since you can't reactivate the microphone with a voice command, merely also adds a welcome degree of privacy; with the switch toggled, you can be certain that the speaker ISN't listening in.

It has a 4in show (considerably smaller than the Google Nest Hub's 7in screen), which is bright, but has a relatively down in the mouth resolution of 480 x 800 pixels and isn't the about responsive we've ever exploited. Thankfully, you won't need to operate it too often after choosing your preferred clock dial and background, American Samoa just about of the Smart Clock 2's day-to-day operations are carried out via voice commands.

Rear of Lenovo Smart Clock 2 showing mute switch, power cable, and volume controls — The Smart Time 2 has volume controls on top, and a replacement on the back to mute the microphone (Image reference: Future)

It's a shame that the Lenovo Smart Clock 2 doesn't have a rechargeable battery so it could be abrupt from the charging dock and used without wires. The clock is small enough to tuck easily into a bag or suitcase for economic consumption when travelling, but would be more practical if it could be used without a cable's length.

Performance

The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 runs Android 10, and provided you have a Google story, setup is a straightforward process. It can connect to your dwelling house Badger State-Fi network through your telephone set, so you don't need to spend time tapping in your password, and all your data and Google services are imported automatically. Formerly that's done, the Smart Clock 2 testament take you through the process of configuring its faces, adding custom-built background images, and creating an consternation.

On that point's a good choice of analog and digital faces, most of which are animated, so you can determine something that fits your bedchamber. Choosing indefinite wasn't always as simple as we'd have liked, though the touchscreen wasn't ever particularly responsive, occasionally fetching a few attempts to register a finger-purloin.

Setting an alarm on the Lenovo Smart Clock 2 — Alarms lav constitute set exploitation the touchscreen or voice controls (Image credit: Future)

The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 john be used to control any Google Helper-enabled smart devices, including lightbulbs and thermostats, and doing indeed is a breeze. The clock's mike is excellent, and once drilled to agnise our voice, it never failing to register a command in our tests.

The Ache Clock 2 has front-facing speakers, and behind pelt tunes from YouTube Music or Spotify (either for unconstipated listening, operating theatre as a wake-improving alarm using a program line like "Okay Google, placed alarm for 7am and play No Time to Die" Oregon "Set a music appall"). If you want more room-filling sound, you keister also link the time to other streetwise speakers, and the mass controls atop the Smart Time 2 are soft to pip for devising quick adjustments.

Lenovo Smart Clock 2 playing music — The clock can current music, merely not videos (Image credit: Future)

The With-it Time 2 doesn't support video playback though (except for video from roughly Cuddle cameras). This is understandable, as watching on a relatively low-res 4in screen wouldn't be the best experience, but is a trifle of a disappointment when the Google Nest Hub doesn't just let you watch YouTube clips, but even stream movies and Television shows from the likes of Netflix and Disney Plus.

You can use it to set reminders and alarms, but the fact that it can only run from a mains power source (there's no more reversible battery) means you can't well take it with you into contrasting rooms in the house. Although it would work well as a time in your study, allowing you to set an alarm to activate after a certain period indeed you remember to get up and guide some exercise, setting it up outdoorsy your bedroom means you're not making the most of its night-time functions.

Lenovo Smart Clock 2 menu, showing nightlight option — The dock provides a nightlight, which you can activate through the clock's upside menu (Image mention: Future)

That would glucinium a shame, because those features are well implemented. We in particular liked the ability to fall fast asleep listening to nature noises (removing the need for a abstracted whiteness noise machine to muffle distracting sounds). The night light function was also a receive addition for indication in front bed, though it would be even punter if there was an option to use it as a wake-up light, bit by bit brightening in the morning to help you wake course.

That's other characteristic that you get with the Google Nest Hub 2, and which makes the With-it Clock 2 tricky to recommend. Unless you're in particular short along space, and very value the tune charging dock of Lenovo's twist, we'd be inclined to opt for the Nest Hub as our alarm time alternatively – particularly thanks to its ability to make picture calls, which the Smart Time 2 also lacks.

Purchase it if

Preceptor't buy it if

This article is part of TechRadar's Sleep Workweek 2021, our in-depth consider log Z's you bet to snooze better. We've teamed up with experts in their field to bring you proven sleep techniques and tips to service you drift slay easier, and to stay asleep for longer, and have rounded-upward the precise best sleep kit to translate your sleeping room into a den of zen. Then from Dominicus 31 October to Sunday 7 Nov we'll be sharing interviews, features and essential purchasing guides with the aim of helping you to sleep better than ever.

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Cat (@CatEllisBristol) is the seaworthiness and wellbeing editor at TechRadar. She's been a technology journalist for 11 years, and cut her teeth on magazines including Microcomputer Plus and PC Data format in front connexion TechRadar. She's a trained run leader, and enjoys nothing Thomas More than whackin up her place and hitting the pavement. If you undergo a narration about fitness trackers, treadmills, running shoes, e-bikes, or whatsoever other fittingness tech, drop her a line of reasoning.