How To Set Up Lenovo Smart Clock Essential

Waking up to a classic loud twin bell alert is something every 90s kid will resonate with. Although now my iPhone wakes me upward every morning, I still miss the charm of an erstwhile-fashioned analog warning clock. For those like me, who miss the conventional alarm clock, Lenovo has a solution: Smart Clock Essential. The device takes reference from an old school alarm clock, but gives information technology a modernistic twist with a built-in smart speaker and Google Banana. Nostalgia, unsurprisingly, is high with the Essential though it is very modern in everything it does.

I spent a few weeks with the Lenovo Smart Clock Essential. Hither'south what I think virtually a Google-powered alarm clock.

Lenovo Smart Clock Essential price in India (as reviewed): Rs 4499

Lenovo Smart Clock Essential review: Inspired past old school alert clocks

The Lenovo Smart Clock Essential looks similar i of those digital clock radios that can be found online. Of course, this is a smart alert clock that doubles as a smart speaker with Google Assistant — but with an LED brandish. There is no colour display and instead, the device uses a white alphanumeric 4-inch LED display which I found to be bright both day and nighttime. By the fashion, it has an Ambient Sensor, which automatically dims the brandish when it gets darker in the bedroom. Sure, it'south not a bear upon screen only I liked the display, which shows the time, day of the week, and outside temperature. In one case you set upwardly an warning, a small-scale icon will testify upwardly on the screen.

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The top surface has four concrete buttons (volume down, volume up, play/intermission, and alarm) on the forepart. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

The Smart Clock measures two.5×4.8×3.three inches and weighs 328 grams. The side of the device is covered with a grey fabric, reminiscent of expensive smart displays from Google. The top surface has 4 physical buttons (book down, book upwardly, play/suspension, and alarm) on the front. The back of the clock has a white LED lite ring which acts equally a nightlight, a physical slider to turn off the microphone of the Google Banana, a USB connexion to charge smartphones or tablets, and a ability connection.

The presence of a nightstand is an interesting feature in my stance. You can turn on the nightstand past pressing and holding the volume-down button or through your vocalization. It is also possible to adapt the brightness of the nightstand through your vocalisation.

Lenovo Smart Clock Essential review: Setup and Google Assistant

Setting upwards the Smart Clock Essential is easy. On unboxing the device, find a location where yous want to continue the alert clock. Plug the device into the outlet, download the Google Home app on your Android or iPhone. Now, log in to your Google business relationship or create a new account. After logging into the account in the Google Home app, tap the plus sign at the acme left corner, and select 'Setup device.' When the clock is found, you have to go for a voice friction match so that Google Banana tin recognise y'all. Once the setup process is consummate, the Lenovo Smart Clock Essential is gear up to use.

The presence of a nightstand is an interesting feature in my opinion. (Epitome credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

Plain, being a Google-powered alarm clock, information technology gives access to Google Banana. But like Nest Mini, Lenovo's Smart Clock Essential gives you full access to Google Assistant, the vocalisation-based digital assistant similar to Amazon Alexa and Apple Siri. Non only tin you control the clock through your voice but yous tin also ask the assistant for the latest news stories, get an update on the weather, play music from various music streaming services, listen to podcasts, and control the dwelling. "Hey Google, play Billie Eilish on Spotify", for instance. Don't worry, y'all tin can also stream music over Bluetooth or through Google Cast.

Lenovo Smart Clock Essential review: Setting the warning

The real reason why anyone would be interested in buying this matter is to set an alarm before they go to bed. To gear up an alarm you can either utilise your voice using Google Assistant or use the concrete buttons on top of the clock. While I never had a problem using my voice to ready an warning, I did find it a fleck hard to apply the concrete alarm button. Information technology's not intuitive at all, though the saving grace is the vocalism commands. I can set an warning using my vox, customise it, and fifty-fifty set up a specific fourth dimension to snooze it. I actually liked the option to play a specific music playlist equally your alert. When the alarm sounds, tap the elevation part of the clock or simply say "Stop" (there is no need to utilise wake words similar "Hey, Google" or "Ok, Google") to shut the alert.

The brandish shows the fourth dimension, day of the week, and outside temperature. (Prototype credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

Lenovo Smart Clock Essential review: Audio quality

The Smart Clock Essential doubles every bit a smart speaker. The device has a 1.5-inch, iii-watt speaker. Vocals are clear, and the Google Banana voice comes articulate. That said, this is a tiny speaker and thus cannot offer the aforementioned quality every bit a proper-sounding speaker. The speaker lacks bass, but the sound coming from it isn't terrible. In fact, it'due south loud enough to heed to music in the morning or any function of the twenty-four hours.

Lenovo Smart Clock Essential review: Should y'all purchase it?

The Lenovo Smart Clock Essential aims to modernise an alert clock nosotros know for ages, and it works. But don't expect also much from this device, as it lacks a proper smart display. In my opinion, Lenovo is trying to make a traditional alarm clock "smart" by integrating Google Banana with a smart speaker and a nice LED screen. It's substantially an alarm clock that can be operated using your voice. For Rs 4,499, this "smart" alarm clock isn't a bad option, given it boasts an okay-ish footling speaker, Google Assistant smarts, and the dark light on the dorsum

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-reviews/lenovo-smart-clock-essential-review-7300007/

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