If you are like me, you might still wake up with an alarm clock even if your smartphone is charging by the bed. Although the Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is not as iconic as the old Sony Dream Machine of the late 80s, it is equally effective in getting me up in the morning. It also provides access to the Google Assistant, so it is the last gadget I talk to before going to bed.

Since its debut in 2019, I have been sleeping next to the original Lenovo smart clock. I like it more and more instead of waking up with a smart phone, I like it has a smaller footprint than traditional smart displays. The $70 Lenovo Smart Clock 2 improves the experience with a smaller spherical design and optional wireless charging function, although it removes the charging port from the base price. You must pay an additional $20 to restore the charging port, as it is part of the wireless charging dock, and the total cost is $90.

Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is not too expensive, but its price is high enough, when you realize that the entire package (including wireless charging) costs almost as much as the 7-inch Nest Hub, you might reconsider it. If you just want to start your day with Google Assistant, then the $50 Lenovo Smart Clock Essentials may be more suitable for you.

Smart clock with Google Assistant

US$70, or US$90 (optional wireless charging dock)

The narrow body takes up less space, the display has been adjusted for viewing in the dark, and the wireless charging base includes a night light and an additional USB port

Lenovo moved the first-generation USB port to the optional charging dock, it's not exactly a speaker, Nest cam feeds are the only videos you can cast to the monitor

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On its own, Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is a stylish little accessory that fits your bedside table. This version of the clock is more suitable for my small table than the previous generation. Lenovo trimmed the sides to make it taller, rather than as wide as the previous one, so it takes up less space. There is also a 5 foot long power cord, which is sufficient for wiring behind the bed, but the adapter still requires considerable space on the power board.

Unfortunately, Lenovo removed the USB-A charging port on the back to reduce the size of the clock. Lenovo integrated the USB port into the charging dock accessory.

Lenovo Smart Clock 2 comes in three colors, including Shadow Black, Heather Grey and Abyss Blue. Lenovo sent me to review. However, I hope that smart home manufacturers can take a breather from non-removable fabric covers, because even if they look good, it is difficult to keep clean.

The main reason you want Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is its 4-inch display, which is large enough to see the time from across the room. This time the touch screen feels more sensitive, because it is easier for me to click on the small alarm clock icon in the upper right corner than to use the predecessor. However, the screen is small, and even if you want, you can't use it for video other than checking the source of the Nest security camera on your home network. There is a digital photo frame function that can display Google Photos, but I mainly use the clock function of Smart Clock 2. I like the home screen, which contains the weather report for the day and upcoming calendar events.

You can cast audio to Smart Clock 2 from a mobile device or Chrome browser. There are a pair of 1.5-inch, 3 watt pre-drivers inside, and while they sound great for podcasts and Google Assistant, they are best for light music, not for loud bass pre-tunes.

As mentioned earlier, although Lenovo Smart Clock 2 has a screen that can touch and play back the photo scroll, it is not a smart display. Smart Clock 2 does not support video calls, but you can make voice calls through Google Duo.

The clock has Google Assistant built in, and you can command it using the same phrases as any Google smart speaker. If you set it up through the Google Home app in advance, Smart Clock 2 can also project video content to other screens in the room, and it can run routines when you wake you up in the morning. I use Smart Clock 2 to turn off the lights manually every night. It is also a timer when I am about to leave home. Combined with a family group, this is the way that Google Assistant wirelessly connects different devices. Smart Clock 2 can enhance the atmosphere of your room.

The user interface of Smart Clock 2 is as simple as the previous version. The home screen displays the time, and swiping down will display shortcuts to the alarm, snooze timer, and night light functions, which will light up the screen. Swiping up on the home screen will bring up a quick settings menu, which has a button for brightness and do not disturb, etc. If you set the default music service through the Google Home application, you can play music directly on the smart clock without operating it on your smartphone. You can organize and adjust different alarm clocks through the Google Home application instead of scrolling through the small screen.

Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is equipped with an optional wireless charging dock, but the price is as high as $90. The base adds about 5 inches to the footprint of the device, so if you have a small bedside table, it will become crowded. There is an additional night light on the base, although I rarely use it because there is already an adjustable light next to my bed. Lenovo also moved the USB port to the back of the dock so you can plug in a smart watch charger or anything else you need to charge overnight.

I like the practicality of the Smart Clock 2 wireless charging base. It helps to charge Qi-compatible devices, whether it's a smartphone or a pair of earplugs. But it's very picky to use. If your phone is slippery, you might wake up and find a device that is not charging. You must place the accessory exactly on the contact point and wait for the indicator light to flash before it can be successfully charged.

In my specific use case, the charging base of Smart Clock 2 is also redundant. Technically speaking, it cannot provide the full charging speed of a phone like OnePlus 9. I already have OnePlus’ 50-watt vertical charging dock, which can charge the phone as fast as possible, but when I use both at the same time, it takes up so much space on my bedside table that I’m more and more The more I hate it. Lenovo may know that people want to use their own fast charging bricks, so they chose this option.

Overall, Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is not much different from its predecessor. If anything, it feels like a remake of the first generation, except this time it cancels the USB charging port. This decision saves some space in the overall design of the device, but makes it difficult to accept the niche alarm clock price tag of $70.

At least, if you especially want to find a Google Assistant alarm clock, Smart Clock 2 is a unique device. In terms of Alexa, Amazon cancelled the Echo Spot and replaced it with a $60 integrated Echo Dot with a clock, even though it only displays numbers and has no screen. Amazon’s larger product is the $85 5-inch Echo Show 5—although I saw it cost as low as $55—it comes with a camera.

I still like to have a dedicated alarm clock. It is bundled in my smart home control, and I rely on it very much to achieve the sleeping environment I want and let it take up space on my small bedside table. However, if you cannot handle the price tag, you can consider waiting for Smart Clock 2 to receive a discount. Or you can always check out the cheaper Lenovo Smart Clock Essential (or, you know, use your phone).