Sunrise Alarm Clocks · Head-to-head
LittleHippo Mella Ready to Rise vs Novo123 Ooly Owl
The short answer
LittleHippo Mella Ready to Rise comes out ahead overall with 7.2/10 against 6.0/10 for the Novo123 Ooly Owl. LittleHippo Mella Ready to Rise is stronger on alarm & sound, features & versatility, reliability & build and value. Novo123 Ooly Owl is stronger on health & materials. At current verified prices, the LittleHippo Mella Ready to Rise costs about $39.01 less.
- Choose the LittleHippo Mella Ready to Rise if: Parents who want a proven, phone-free OK-to-wake clock that a toddler understands right away.
- Choose the Novo123 Ooly Owl if: Families whose toddler fiddles with buttons, or who want no cord at the bedside.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | LittleHippo Mella Ready to Rise | Novo123 Ooly Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise light quality | 7.9Face expressions plus a yellow pre-wake stage and green wake light give the clearest toddler cue, but the night light has no dimmer and testers found it bright (The Everyday Mom Life). | 7.8Configurable stay-in-bed stage, no blue light at night by default, and dims fully to off. |
| Alarm & sound | 6.5Optional alarm and about 3 sleep sounds; BabyGearLab found the ocean and white-noise sounds loud or jarring. | 2.0No sounds and no alarm. |
| Ease of use | 6.3No app needed, but the instructions are convoluted, there is one schedule, and settings can be lost when unplugged. | 6.3App setup takes 7–10 minutes; after that, schedules run on their own. |
| Features & versatility | 7.5Night light, sound machine, nap timer and an alarm, so it stays useful past toddlerhood. | 5.8Cordless and portable, but no clock face or sound machine. |
| Reliability & build | 7.0ABS and silicone shell with a long track record; the slide lock can be bypassed. | 6.5Soft body with no buttons to break; battery life varies and some owners report sync problems. |
| Health & materials | 6.5Lists CPSIA, RoHS and REACH compliance; the CR2032 coin cell needs a secure battery door. | 8.0No cord or coin cell; has a lithium-ion battery. |
| Value | 7.8$54.99 with no subscription for the best-evidenced standalone trainer. | 5.2$94 is steep for a light-only trainer. |
Specifications
| Spec | LittleHippo Mella Ready to Rise | Novo123 Ooly Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise duration options | No timed sunrise; optional yellow glow up to 30 min before green wake light (green stays 1 hr) | No sunrise; app-configured color stages |
| Sunset / wind-down light | No | — |
| Built-in sounds | 3 sounds | 0 sounds |
| FM radio | No | No |
| Bluetooth audio | No | No |
| App required for setup/core use | No | Yes |
| Subscription | None | None |
| Power source | AC adapter (5V USB); CR2032 coin cell keeps settings only | Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (cordless) |
| Warranty | 1 years | 1 years |
| Pre-wake 'almost time' cue | Yellow, up to 30 min | Configurable stay-in-bed stage |
| Child lock / hidden controls | Yes | Yes |
| Nap timer | Yes | — |
LittleHippo Mella Ready to Rise
Pros
- Face plus color cue that toddlers read quickly
- Yellow pre-wake glow up to 30 minutes
- No app, Wi-Fi or subscription
- Sound machine, nap timer and alarm included
- Child lock
Cons
- Night light has no dimmer and some owners find it bright
- Only one wake schedule
- Setup is convoluted; slide lock is easy for older toddlers to bypass
- Settings can be lost when unplugged
The best all-around choice for parents who want a proven, phone-free clock that a toddler understands right away. Its flaws are real but manageable.
Full LittleHippo Mella Ready to Rise review →Novo123 Ooly Owl
Pros
- No buttons for toddlers to press
- Cordless and rechargeable
- Schedules run without the phone
- Avoids blue light by default; dims to off
- Soft, kid-friendly design
Cons
- Premium price
- Setup takes 7 to 10 minutes and needs the app
- Owners report battery life from 2 nights to over a week
- No sound or clock display
A good fit for button-happy kids and cord-averse parents, provided you can live with the price and charging routine.
Full Novo123 Ooly Owl review →Both products are part of our guide The Best OK-to-Wake Clocks for Toddlers of 2026, where you can see every pick, how we score and current prices from each retailer.