This week, Nintendo shocked the world with its latest hardware announcement. No, it wasn’t the Switch 2; it was an alarm clock.
Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo is perhaps the wackiest product Nintendo has put out in years. It’s a $100 motion-sensing clock that wakes fans up with scenes from different Nintendo games, from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to Ring Fit Adventure. We here at Digital Trends were curious to see more as soon as it was announced, and we didn’t have to wait long. Nintendo quickly sent over an Alarmo to Digital Trends for testing purposes, which has given us a much closer look at the device.
Recommended VideosBefore even taking it out of the box, the packaging highlights several key features of the Alarmo. It comes preinstalled with five game-themed alarm packs, which feature multiple scenes, but there are 35 alarms in total. Players can only get the rest by linking a Nintendo account. It also notes that the alarm will get louder the longer you stay in bed, but you can move your arms to quiet it down or get out of bed to stop it entirely. It’s compatible with twin to king size beds, but can’t be placed more than 8 inches higher than the bed if you’re planning to use its motion features.
The device itself is classically Nintendo in its design. It features a bright-red, plastic shell that matches Mario’s aesthetic. There are a few slits on the sides that presumably act as speakers, and Nintendo’s logo is plastered on its butt. Black nubs on its underside, as well as a thin rubber strip, help balance it out, but also serve an extra purpose. There’s a USB-C cable on the underside of the device. The legs elevate the clock just enough to make sure a cable can get there and neatly feed out the backside. That’s key, because there doesn’t seem to be an internal battery in the Alarmo. It shuts off the moment I unplug it. The package does come with a USB-C to USB-A cable, but it doesn’t include a power brick.
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