The best tech you can gift mom year-round

Make mum happy with presents that are affordable. See what is the best tech you can gift mom year-round.

What do you get your mother as a present? That’s a difficult question to answer, especially because moms, being the lovely, selfless people they are, are unlikely to reveal anything when asked.

Fortunately, we’ve already done the legwork for you. We’ve compiled a list of some of the greatest tech presents you can give your mom — or any mother figure, for that matter — all year long with the aid of The Verge writers. Whether it’s for her birthday, Mother’s Day, or Christmas, there’s something for everyone here, from smartwatches & Kindles to massage guns, robot vacuums, and more. You may be confident that we can personally vouch for these things as well, having tested and evaluated them.

Look through the list below to see if there’s anything you can buy or get an idea for that will make your mother happy.

CHEAP GIFT IDEAS UNDER $50

GOOGLE TV AND CHROMECAST

The finest streaming gadget currently available

If you’re going to get your mother a streaming device; make it the greatest one on the market: the Chromecast with Google TV. Google’s newest Chromecast has software that combines suggestions from all of your streaming services and even delivers a wealth of relevant data; such as Rotten Tomatoes scores. The gadget not only supports all of the main streaming providers; but it also supports 4K content, Dolby Atmos, & Dolby Vision. Best Buy, Target, Walmart, & Google all have it for $49.99. Take a look at our review.

Chromecast with Google TV

Price: $50
The Chromecast with Google TV has new software that combines suggestions from all of your streaming sources into one place. Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos are also supported.

MATE FOR TILE (2022)
An item tracker that works on both iOS and Android devices.

Giving your mother a Bluetooth tracker like the Tile Mate 2022 can save her time the next time she loses her vehicle keys. The Tile app will allow you to keep track on her personal goods from up to 250 feet away, and the tracker is compatible with both iOS and Android. Unlike Apple’s AirTags, each Tile Mate comes with a built-in hole, allowing her to securely connect the gadget to her keys, pocketbook, or just about anything else without the use of extra attachments. Waterproofing and user-replaceable batteries are included in the trackers. At Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, you can grab one for $24.99 in either white or black for full price.

Tile Mate (2022)

Price: $25
The Tile Mate has received a minor upgrade that offers it a softer; more rounded appearance to make it more durable.

ECHO DOT (THIRD-GEN) – A smart speaker that looks like a puck

Even though it’s an older model, Amazon’s third-generation Echo Dot is still a high-quality, Alexa-enabled smart speaker that costs less than $50. Once set up, your mother may use Alexa to operate her smart home devices hands-free, as well as check the weather, set alarms, listen to music, and do a variety of other chores. It may not sound as good as the fourth-generation Echo Dot, but it still has good acoustics for its size and is a cheap way to upgrade any area. Currently, Amazon, Best Buy, and Bed Bath & Beyond are selling the last-generation gadget for $29.99 instead of $39.99.

Echo Dot (third-gen)

Price: $30 ($40 ) – 26% off

The third iteration of Amazon’s smart speaker, the Echo Dot, looks like a puck. It has better sound than its predecessor, a more compact design, and all of the Alexa smarts.

SMART GARAGE CONTROL MYQ CHAMBERLAIN

Compatible with Amazon Key, a smart garage door opener

Your mom can open and close her garage door from almost anywhere with MyQ Chamberlain’s Bluetooth-enabled smart garage door controller. This means that if she forgets to close it before leaving the house, she may do it even if she is out and about. Even better, it’s compatible with Amazon Key, which means that if your mother opts in, Amazon drivers may safely drop things off in her garage. The Smart Garage Control costs $29.99 and can be purchased at Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowe’s.

MyQ Chamberlain Smart Garage Control

Price: $30

You can use your smartphone to open and close your garage door with the MyQ Chamberlain Smart Garage Control.

NETFLIX GIFT CARD

A doorway to never-ending enjoyment

Your mother may watch hundreds of movies and TV series from the comfort of her own home with a Netflix gift card. More current bestsellers like Inventing Anna, Bridgerton, The Adam Project, and Red Notice, as well as older classics like Stranger Things, The Graduate, Top Gun, and more, are available on the popular streaming service. In addition, if she already has a subscription to the popular streaming service, she may put the gift card toward her monthly payments, which range from $9.99 to $19.99 per month depending on the plan. Target, Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart all sell digital Netflix gift cards right now. You may get a real gift card from Best to wrap if you like.

Netflix gift card

Price: $30
Individual memberships to the well-known streaming service start at $10 per month; with higher premium levels allowing for 4K quality and more users.

The ANKER POWERPORT III NANO is a compact, quick charger

Anker’s 20W PowerPort III Nano, a USB-C charger tiny enough to fit in your mum’s purse yet capable of charging any gadget she could have, is perfect for the always-on-the-go mom. Anker’s charger can swiftly charge iPhone 13 and previous generations, as well as Samsung Galaxy phones, Google Pixel phones, tablets, and a variety of other devices. The charger is also available in a number of appealing hues, such as black, white, light purple, & light green. The charger is now available for $18.99 from Amazon and Anker.

Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (32GB)

Price: $90
Amazon’s Fire HD 8 tablet is an 8-inch Fire HD tablet. This device comes with 32GB of storage with access to Netflix, Facebook, Hulu, Instagram, TikTok, and other apps.

GIFT IDEAS FROM $150 TO $399

AIRPODS are a type of aircraft (THIRD-GEN)

The most recent AirPods

If you have a music-loving mother, the new AirPods are a fantastic present. The third-generation wireless earbuds are sweat and water resistant to IPX4; which your mother will appreciate during a light workout, and they have features such as spatial audio; which makes listening to specific material more immersive. The new buds have shorter stems than the previous generation and a wireless charging case that works with Apple’s MagSafe technology. The third-generation AirPods are on sale for $149.99 at Amazon and Walmart, down from $179.99.

AirPods (third-generation)

$150 ($179) – 17% discount

The newer entry-level AirPods include a redesigned charging case and shorter stems, similar to its sleeker sister, the AirPods Pro. Unlike the 2019 model, they’re also water resistant and have a longer battery life.

JABRA ELITE ACTIVE 75T

For workout enthusiasts, these earbuds are ideal

Apple’s AirPods are a nice present, but if your mother is a fitness buff or considers herself an athlete, a pair of Jabra’s Elite Active 75t would be a better choice. The Active 75t is similar to the conventional 75t in that it has a long battery life and excellent sound quality, but it has a better fit and is waterproof to IP57. They can endure more rigorous exercises than the third-generation AirPods, which only have an IPX4 resistance certification. Plus, unlike the AirPods, they include active noise cancellation, allowing your mother to block out the outside world and focus on the work at hand.

These earphones are usually $179.99.

Jabra Elite Active 75t

Price: $180
The Jabra Active 75t earbuds are very comparable to the original model; except they have a better fit and are more waterproof.

THERAGUN MINI MASSAGER

A portable, strong massager

Whether your mother is in need of some R&R, suffers from the aches and pains of aging, or just leads an active lifestyle, the Theragun Mini is a present she will adore. The wonderful massage pistol is strong, silent, and remarkably tiny — allowing her to carry it about with her whenever she wants muscular relief — and it comes in three different colors (black, white, and red). It’s currently available for $199 at Amazon and Target, which is the usual selling price.

Theragun Mini

Price: $199
The Theragun Mini massager is a compact; ultra-portable massage device that is both silent and efficient at relieving muscular pain and releasing stress.

ROBOROCK E4

Our favorite robot vacuum for an affordable price

The Roborock E4 is one of our favorite robot vacuums because, unlike other budget-friendly versions, it’s reasonably priced and capable of precisely traveling about your home. Mom will also love the robovac’s large 640-milliliter bin and three-hour runtime, as well as its Google Home and Amazon Alexa connectivity, which allows her to start, stop, and pause the vacuum with her voice. However, keep in mind that it doesn’t come with a mopping pad and doesn’t have the complex mapping functions seen on higher-end robot vacuums. If that’s not a concern for you, the Roborock E4 is a terrific present that normally costs $299.99 but is now on sale at Walmart for $179.99.

Roborock E4

$180($300 ) – 41% off

The E4 is a workhorse, with the same battery as its more costly S7 brother, which can operate for 200 minutes and a large 640ml bin. It’s also quick to clean, interacts with Google Home and Alexa voice assistants, and is highly agile.

RING ALARM PRO

A smart home security system that makes setting up a smart home simple

Giving your mother a smart home security system is like giving her piece of mind. The Ring Alarm Pro is well-designed, simple to use. And it will make it easy for your mother to fill up her smart home if she doesn’t already have a lot of smart home gadgets. It has a built-in Eero mesh Wi-Fi router and a Ring Lighting bridge that she may use to connect her smart lighting. While it works very well with Amazon’s Alexa, it is not compatible with other platforms. On Amazon, Target, & Best Buy, the Ring Alarm Pro Base Station costs $249.99, while the beginning set costs $299.99. (Amazon, Best Buy)

Ring Alarm Pro (2021)

Price: $250
The Ring Alarm Pro is a fantastic security system. It comes with everything you’ll need to get your smart home up and running quickly. It isn’t compatible with Google Home, Apple’s HomeKit, or IFTTT, and it doesn’t allow 24/7 video recording.

OURA RING (THIRD-GEN)

A stylish ring that celebrities like

The third-generation Oura Ring is a sleep and recovery tracker that also doubles as jewelry. And it’s loved by celebrities like Prince Harry and Kim Kardashian. The comfy health tracker, as we said in our review, has a number of features; including quantified meditation sessions and the ability to measure your everyday heart rate and track other sleep metrics. If your mother is a fan of rings or just prefers a beautiful smartwatch that doesn’t wrap around her wrists, this is a great present.

For $299, you can have the ring straight from Oura in gold, silver, or black. Note, however, that some of the ring’s more enlightening features, such as the guided mindfulness sessions, need a premium subscription. You — or your mother — will have to pay $5.99 each month after the first six months are free.

Oura Ring (third-gen)

Price: $299
The Oura smart ring is a lightweight sleep and recovery tracker with features; like quantified meditation sessions, daytime heart rate monitoring, and more.

FELLOW STAGG KETTLE

A beautiful and functional pour-over kettle

A good pour-over kettle, whether your mother prefers tea or coffee, is always a welcome gift that will cheer up her mornings. Your mother will be able to enjoy the ideal drink every day thanks to Fellow’s electric Stagg Kettle, which allows her to set her preferred temperature and even timing her tea or coffee extraction with the kettle’s built-in stopwatch. The stainless steel kettle is available in a range of colors and handle types, making it both a stylish piece of kitchen decor and a useful utility. The kettle is available through Amazon, Williams Sonoma, and Fellow for approximately $159.

Fellow Stagg Kettle

Price: $159
Thanks to a built-in stopwatch, you can quickly set your ideal water temperature and timing tea or coffee extraction with Fellow’s attractive electric kettle.

GIFTS VALUABLE MORE THAN $400

2021 IPAD MINI

The iPad Mini has never been more powerful

Why not give your mother Apple’s newest iPad Mini if you have some extra cash? The Mini 2021 tablet is the most powerful ever, including a fast A15 Bionic CPU, USB-C compatibility, and a beautiful 8.3-inch display that your mother will love. Furthermore, the new tablet has features such as Apple’s Center Stage, which allows the front-facing camera to dynamically pan and zoom in on your mother when she’s on video calls. The base model with Wi-Fi and 64GB of storage is regularly $499.99, but Amazon and Walmart both have it for $409. B&H Photo, Target, & Best Buy all had it for approximately the full amount.

2021 iPad Mini (64GB, Wi-Fi)

$409 ($500 ) – 19% off

The new iPad Mini from Apple does away with the home button in favor of a bigger, edge-to-edge display. It also has a speedier processor, USB-C connectivity, and a top-mounted power button that doubles serves as a Touch ID sensor.

APPLE WATCH SERIES 7

For iPhone users, the best smartwatch 

You may assist your mother in keeping track of her health by giving her the greatest smartwatch available. The Apple Watch Series 7 features a bigger display than the previous model, as well as a new small keyboard and the ability to set multiple timers. It also has quicker charging than the Series 6 and is dust resistant to IP6X, which is a first for the Apple Watch, as well as a slew of health and fitness monitoring functions. The smartwatch is available in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm, and comes in a choice of colors. The 41mm GPS model is now available for $329 in certain designs from Amazon and Walmart. You can also get it from Best Buy for full price.

Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm, GPS)

Price: $329 ($399) – 18% off

The Apple Watch Series 7 is a smaller model with GPS or GPS plus LTE. It comes in a variety of colors.