Mother’s Day is the best time of the year to show Mom just how much you love and appreciate her. But finding a perfect gift can be challenging. Fortunately, we’ve selected a few gifts that can both speak to her own unique personality and offer some practicality when it comes to enjoying her life.
Roku Streaming Stick($50)
Perfect for the: Netflix-Fanatic Mom
The Roku Streaming Stick is the latest iteration of the popular Roku series, and it doesn’t disappoint. The compact, Wi-Fi supported HDMI dongle plugs right into any HDTV and lets you gain access to over 500 channels and 1,200 apps Mom will undoubtedly love. These apps include Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Instant, HBO Go, and Showtime Anytime, among many others.
The Roku Stick’s best feature is that it provides Mom with an easy-to-transition, Netflix-like onscreen interface. So there’s no need for her to learn a brand new system. And unlike Chromecast, the Roku Stick comes with its own remote control, so you can comb through all your favorite shows with a device tailored to your on-screen navigation.
Some other features include a compatible iOS and Android app and its own cross-platform search option that lets you browse several major TV and movie services.
Olloclip Lens System for iPhone 5/5S ($69)
Perfect for the: Instagrammer Mom
The Olloclip 4-in-1 lens is becoming one of the hottest upgrades to your iPhone. The device, which clips right onto the iPhone lens, turns your ordinary camera into a first-rate Instagramming machine. Just point, set the lens, and click. It’s so easy your Mom can use it. Literally.
Mom can choose from four interchangeable lenses: a wide-angle, a fisheye, and two macros (10x and 15x), all in one compact $69 accessory. Our favorite is the wide-angle lens, simply due to the fact that it can add double the width of any shot. But any of the options are good enough to give Mom a different glimpse into professional photography. So there’s really no need to fork over the extra dough on an expensive digital camera for this holiday or future ones to come.
Mophie Juice Pack Helium for iPhone 5 ($80)
Perfect for the: Chatty-Kathy Mom
I swear, every time my iPhone alerts me that it’s at 10% power, I have a mini panic attack. And if that’s happened to you, chances are it runs in the family. The Juice Pack battery case is one of the most popular accessories to the iPhone brand. Not only will Mom like the protective casing, but she’ll love the fact that it boosts her battery with an extra 80% of power (1500mAh). For those keeping count, that’s a hefty 6+ hours of additional talk time.
The added benefit to the Mophie Juice Pack Helium is in its design. It does add some heft, but not uncomfortably so. The iPhone should still fit nice and snug into most pockets and small purses. And it's made of a sturdy plastic coating with a seamless grippy feel, so it shouldn't slip out of Mom's hand.
Nyne Cruiser Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker and Charger ($80)
Perfect for the: Outdoorsy Mom
The Cruiser is just one in a series of Nyne portable speakers, but for our count, it’s the best bet for a Mom on-the-go. It features a 10-hour rechargeable battery, a built-in microphone for hands free calling, and even a USB port to charge your phone or most other portable devices like it. But what really makes it special for Mother’s Day is that she can take it anywhere. And we really mean anywhere. The device comes with adjustable handlebar mounting clips so Mom can mount it to a bike, an exercise machine, a backpack and even a stroller.
Nexus 7 - 16 GB ($229)
Perfect for the: Out-of-the-Loop Mom
The Nexus 7 is arguably the best affordable tablet on the market. The latest iteration of Google’s small 7” tablet packs a solid punch with a terrific 1,920 x 1,200-pixel IPS LCD display (which bests any Apple iPad), 2 GB of RAM, a quad-core processor, and the latest version of Android, Jelly Bean 4.3. That might be too much of a mouthful for Mom to comprehend at first, but what she will enjoy is its simple lightweight design (10.23 ounces), it’s portability (small enough to fit into any sized purse), it’s rear camera, and its respectable 7 hours of battery life.
So if you want to switch out Mom’s old, outdated tablet with something fresh, the Nexus 7 is best in class when it comes to the price.
Cuisinart Brewing System SS-700 ($170-$200)
Perfect for the: Caffeine-Deprived Mom
Upgrade your Mom’s morning coffee routine with is a Cuisinart Brewing System SS-700. This single-serve home-brewing coffee maker offers up a K-Cup brewer design licensed from the Keurig manufacturing family, and it’s one of the best we’ve ever tasted.
For other appealing additions, the Cuisinart SS-700 features an automatic rinse control system, which instantly cleans the inside of the brew chamber to make every cup just as fresh as the one before it. It also offers up its own, innovative one-touch technology to make it easier for consumers to enjoy a wide array of hot beverages in under a minute. And finally, the Cuisinart comes with a generous three-year limited warranty, so it adds more than enough peace of mind for the avid coffee drinker.
So there you have it, six great gift ideas to tell your Mother you love and appreciate her. Don't forget to check back with us in June for our Father's Day Tech Gift Guide.
Follow @nicktrenchard for all things Bay Area tech
