The best gift you can give a mom this holiday season is some time to herself. A day with no responsibilities where everyone else handles the cooking, cleaning and household chores. She can sit back and relax, go for brunch with friends, maybe treat herself to some shopping. But that doesn’t mean you should forget to wrap something under the tree for her, too.
As a tech reviewer for more than a decade and a mom myself, I’m particularly fond of unwrapping gadgets, but you don’t have to be a techie to appreciate the utility, convenience and luxury of a thoughtful gizmo. I spoke to several moms to get their thoughts on what they want this holiday season when it comes to tech, with ideas in every price range.
All prices current at the time of publication.
Tech gifts for mom under $50
Apple AirTag
Parents can feel frazzled, stressed and scatterbrained at times. I love Apple AirTags because I can clip them to my car keys or slot one in my wallet for peace of mind. When the car keys end up wedged between the couch cushions, or I leave my wallet in that other purse, the iPhone’s Precision Finding feature leads me to them like a homing beacon. Outside of Bluetooth range, AirTags relay their location through nearby iPhone owners to help you locate misplaced items such as luggage. I’ve used AirTags more than I’d like to admit, including keeping one on my 13-year-old’s house keys so he can find them when he inevitably misplaces them for the umpteenth time.
Scosche MagStack USB-C Cables
I find I never have enough cables. Despite every device on earth now being powered by USB-C, and most coming with yet another cable in the box, someone in the family inevitably grabs mine and I’m left without it.
I love these cables because they’re durable, and the magnetic jacket means they neatly stack into a coil for travel. As a plus, you get rapid data transfer and fast charging when connected to supported devices and power adapters. A practical cable in a stylish color with a design that screams keep things tidy? There’s no mom on Earth who wouldn’t say: “Sign me up, stat.”
Coffee Warming Tray
Every mom, especially those like me who work from home, knows the annoyance of making a fresh cup of coffee, sitting it by your side to start working, then realizing an hour has gone by and you’ve barely taken a sip. Now, it’s cold.
Not with this mug warmer. Place the mug atop the heating plate and it’ll keep coffee, tea, and other hot beverages warm for hours. No more waste, which moms will love, and she can actually enjoy her morning jolt at her leisure. “I am particular about my coffee mug,” Marta told me, which is why she’d prefer a mug warmer like this to a heated mug like the Ember, which has to be charged and hand washed.
Breathing Pal Kyle Mindfulness Breathing Light
This adorable light serves both as a night light and a calming meditation device for relieving anxiety. Choose from one of three breathing exercises, including simple box breathing to calm down from an especially stressful day. The light cues help guide mom along, and she can even adjust the color to match her mood.
Plus, the adorable design (along with the koala, it comes in a bunny and ball shape as well) will instantly make her smile. “I have been reading about the benefits of guided breathing, but it’s not something that excites me,” says Carla, age 46. “I think this cute koala would encourage me to be more consistent.”
Eucos Phone Tripod
Moms are always behind the camera, but rarely in front of it. Get her in the shot with a portable phone tripod. This model has extendable legs that can collapse to handheld selfie stick size, and a remote, so she can push a button and snap the photo once everyone is all smiles.
Sports moms will love being able to position the phone and tripod to record the action while enjoying the game live, never missing an epic goal or home run. “I really want to get one of those small tripods so I can just put it beside me when they are performing,” says Blair, 40. “I hate holding my phone, and I can’t clap and cheer during the performance. It’s why I never record.”
Tech gifts for mom under $100
Kensington MagPro Elite Magnetic Privacy Screen
While I predominantly work from home, sometimes I’ll work from a local coffee shop, and I travel quite often and work in communal areas. That’s why I love this privacy screen, which ensures that nosy passersby don’t see what’s on my screen.
Designed for MacBooks (there are ones for other brands of computers as well), it magnetically attaches to the screen without adhesives. Looking straight on, it doesn’t impede my view at all, and when I step aside to test it, I can’t see a single thing. Plus, you get blue light reduction to ease eye strain, perfect for those who work long hours in front of the computer.
Hyper HyperPack Backpack
I have been using this backpack for the last several months when working remotely, and as a carry-on for travel. At first glance, I thought it wouldn’t be spacious enough for everything I need, but it fits a lot more than it looks like it does. On a recent long-haul flight to Spain, I packed essentials including my laptop, headphones, pocket camera case, smartphones, battery packs, a notebook, sunglasses, small toiletry kit, house keys, wet wipes, cables, chargers and more with room to spare.
Having been caught in the rain a few times with it, I can vouch for the water-resistant exterior and zippers, which keep your items inside dry. I also appreciate that it’s made from recycled water bottles.
Monster AC601 Earbuds
My best friend loves these earbuds she got for a steal a few years ago, and still uses them daily, mostly while working out and for walks. They’re ultra-affordable, boast Bluetooth 6.0 for a stable connection to source devices, and even have integrated real-time translation. With 32-hour battery life leveraging the included charging case, they’re one less device mom has to worry about charging daily to enjoy. “I do love my purple Monster earbuds,” Marta, 46, told me. “I find that my ears are shaped strangely or just having earbuds in bothers me. These are over-the-ear and fit perfectly. I never fidget with them.”
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Anker MagGo Power Bank
I never leave my home without one of these chargers in tow. The slim form factor slides into any purse or backpack, and delivers extra juice when Mom needs it, like when she needs to order an Uber home or capture that epic goal at the kids’ soccer game. Since it uses Apple’s MagSafe technology, it snaps to the back of an iPhone and begins charging wirelessly, with no tangle of cables to snag. Though wireless charging is slower than wiring charging, the latest 15-watt Qi2 charging standard used here is plenty quick.
Tech gifts for mom over $100
Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 Wireless Earbuds
These are hands-down my favorite earbuds: the ones I wear for walks, while commuting, working in the local coffee shop, even while traveling. Yes, the noise-cancelling is surprisingly good enough even for a flight. I have been wearing these for a year and absolutely adore the fit, clean sound, and noise reduction.
Bluetooth multipoint means I can connect to both my phone and laptop, and when I move from one to the other, it intelligently switches audio to the right device. I have them in traditional black, but I’d also recommend getting the newer champagne gold finish so she’ll feel like a million bucks when she’s wearing them.
JBL Flip 7 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
At just over $100, the JBL Flip 7 sounds better than portable Bluetooth speakers that cost twice as much. I used this speaker both at home and on vacation in Mexico to listen to tunes on the beach, and it was a hit with the teenagers especially. You get incredible battery life at up to 16 hours per charge, fantastic sound, and Auracast, which lets you pair two speakers together for more immersive audio.
An IP68 rating means it’ll be fine after an accidental dunk in the pool. Moms will love the PushLock system that can be used with interchangeable accessories, including a wrist strap and a carabiner clip, both of which come in the box. At this price, grab at least two.
Oura Ring 4 Smart Ring
The Oura Ring 4 is perfect for moms to track all the core metrics such as sleep, heart rate, exercise and blood oxygen. But it also has pregnancy, menopause and perimenopause symptom tracking and logging features. I personally love the feedback on daytime stress levels, readiness, and the logically organized app to get a snapshot of my day.
It’s comfortable to wear, attractive (especially in the new ceramic edition) and the battery lasts up to a week per charge. There’s just one caveat: it requires a $5.99 monthly subscription to get the most out of it. But she won’t mind sacrificing a large latte with oat milk and three pumps of caramel once a month for all the features the Oura brings into her life.
Apple Watch Series 11 Smartwatch
I sport an Apple Watch Series 11 and a lot of moms I know want one, too. It includes upgrades from the last version such as a sleeker and more durable screen, longer battery life (a common pain point for the Apple Watch), live translations and more.
Busy moms will love the new wrist-flick gesture for easily silencing a notification or answering a call while your hands are full. “For a splurge mom gift, I would love a new Apple Watch Series 11 to upgrade from my Series 7 model,” says Marta. “I love it for tracking my daily workouts, but I also appreciate the Find my Phone feature as my brain no longer functions like it used to.”
Customized SCUF Valor Pro Wireless Gaming Controller
Moms are gamers, too. But chances are they’re sharing gear with their mini gamers. It’s nice to have something of their own, and a custom gaming controller is a thoughtful, personalized gift. Choose the faceplate, colors for the thumbsticks, rings, D-Pad, even bumpers and triggers, and voila! Mom has a controller that’s uniquely hers.
It’s something she can use with pride, and that the kids won’t swipe. But most of all, she’ll appreciate knowing it was made with love. “I’m a gamer. Something I would love is a customized SCUF Valor Pro Wireless controller,” says Dayna, age 35. “I share my system and controllers with my kids, and it would be nice to have one that is special, just for me.”
TheraGun Prime Massage Gun
Moms love a good morning run, afternoon walk, workout at home or the gym, or yoga class. But as we get older, muscle ache sets in. High-end massage guns are expensive, but mom can test the waters with an entry-level one to help with pain relief. “I really want a massage gun, but it’s not something I’d buy for myself,” says Melissa, age 30. “I do a cycle class in the mornings a few times a week and my legs are pretty shot by the end of the day, especially with a little one at home. I’d love to be able to use one at night to provide a soothing massage and stress-relief.”
