29 useful gift ideas for moms who love tech

A fun grip for her phone

Shop all PopSockets grips for $8 and up

We spend a lot of time watching video on our smartphone or using it as a GPS while driving, and PopSocket grips have proven out to be the absolute best solution for both. PopSockets has hundreds of fun phone grips in all kinds of materials, colors, and patterns.

In addition to style points, PopSocket grips make it easier to hold a large phone comfortably, giving a better grip while walking and commuting on public transit. These grips remain among the best iPhone accessories we’ve tried. The newest PopSockets also support Apple’s MagSafe lineup of magnetic accessories for iPhone 12 and up.

Apple’s new tracking accessory to help mom from losing her things

Apple AirTag, available at Apple, $29 (additional case required for keyrings)

If you’re a mom yourself (or are partnered with one), then you know the phrase “mom brain” all too well. With so many things to keep track of, it’s only natural for mom to lose sight of at least one of those things — like their keys or purse. Apple’s answer to that, AirTags, is a surprisingly affordable solution for how effective it is, offering not only direct navigation to lost items (with an iPhone 11 or newer) within range but also tracking worldwide using Apple’s existing FindMy network.

A portable noise machine to keep the little one fast asleep

Yogasleep Hushh Portable White Noise Machine, available at Amazon, $26.99

During a recent test, our own senior reporter (and newly-minted father) Antonio Villas-Boas found this portable noise machine to be particularly useful in several applications. This affordable little gadget has kept his little one sleeping in their stroller while on walks, and it even came in handy during a nighttime power outage to keep bedtime going uninterrupted. For a new mom, or even for a new grandmother, this little peacekeeper will be a welcome gift.

The most affordable home security solution around to give her peace of mind

Wyze home security cameras, available at Home Depot, starting at $25

For the mom that’s trying to keep their family safe without spending a fortune, a Wyze home security camera is a fine way to get her started. Wyze offers both indoor and outdoor security cameras at an incredible price: starting at just $39 for indoor cameras. Sure, these don’t have the bells and whistles of premium cameras, but if all they need is some peace of mind, this is a fine way to get any mom started.

One of the best sous vide machines around for expertly cooked meats

Breville Joule Sous Vide (Stainless Steel), available at Amazon, $249.00

Moms love a perfectly cooked steak just as much as the next person, so a sous vide machine may well be in order for the mother in your life. Sous vide is a style of cooking that uses heated water to evenly cook meat that’s inside of a vacuum sealed bag, practically guaranteeing you won’t overcook it. That’s rather convenient for mothers out there that — contrary to the stereotype — aren’t amazing cooks.

Insider Reviews’ Brandt Ranj reviewed the ChefSteps (also known as Breville) Joule portable sous vide machine and had much praise for it. Ranj says that it “lets me cook steaks as perfectly as a professional chef” and has dubbed it “one of my favorite kitchen tools.” When you put it that way, $200 to cook steaks like Gordon Ramsey isn’t a bad deal at all.

A Tile Bluetooth tracker for Android users

Tile Pro 2-Pack Bundle with one year of Tile Premium, available at Tile, $59.99

Moms have lots of things to keep track of in their lives, and it can be easy to, you know, lose track. This is when Tile Bluetooth trackers are handy, particularly for moms using Android phones. (For moms using iPhone, we suggest going with Apple’s AirTag trackers instead.) The most useful feature of these little pucks? An audible chirp that the user can activate to locate the attached item with sound.

This bundle also comes with one year’s subscription to Tile Premium, which unlocks a “Smart Alerts” feature that lets the trackers audibly notify you when leaving their Bluetooth connectivity range. The plan also provides annual battery replacements among other features, normally costing $29.99 annually.

The best tablet for reading, checking email, and watching Netflix on a bigger screen

Apple iPad, available from Apple, $329

Even though most of us are attached to our phones, scrolling through email, reading the news, and watching YouTube on a screen that’s five or six inches is less than ideal. Apple’s entry-level $329 iPad — updated once again for 2021 with the A13 Bionic processor — is a great choice for anyone in search of a general-purpose tablet. 

Apple’s iPad continues to feature a sharp and colorful screen, long battery life, and solid performance for those who want something that’s more portable than a laptop but bigger than a phone.

A keyboard case to make her iPad feel more like a laptop

Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard Case, available on Amazon, $145.08

If your mom already has an iPad, or perhaps maybe they’re getting one as a gift from someone, a keyboard case is a great addition that will enable them to get much more use out of it. Logitech has a wide variety of keyboard accessories and cases, including the Logitech Combo Touch, which is compatible with the 7th and 8th generation iPad. This model includes a spacious keyboard and trackpad and connects through Apple’s smart connector, which means no fiddling with Bluetooth.

A beautiful wireless charger

Courant wireless chargers, available at Courant, from $40

Courant has a wide range of leather-clad wireless chargers and wireless charging battery packs that are as beautiful as they are useful. Mom can charge her phone, AirPods, and other gadgets with wireless charging on these pads quickly and easily. We really love the catch-all that also has a space for her wallet, keys, jewelry, and other small items. We’ve used Courant’s chargers in our own homes and office, and they are reliable, easy to use, and super attractive to look at.

A streaming player to make her TV smart

Roku Express 4K+ Streaming Media Player, available at Roku, $39.99

Roku’s latest streaming box will let mom access dozens of streaming TV and movie services, like Netflix, Hulu, and more. The streaming player comes with a special remote that features voice control and search, which is incredibly useful.

The Express 4K+ is also an affordable gift that supports the latest visual standards, giving the mom in your life a massive entertainment upgrade for cheap. This could make gifting on a budget deceptively luxurious for your lucky recipient, or make for a great addition to an assortment of gifts for mom.

A hydroponic garden

AeroGarden Harvest, available at AeroGarden, $99.95

Who doesn’t love fresh herbs, tomatoes, and produce? AeroGraden’s easy-to-use hydroponic gardens make a great gift for moms who want to grow some fresh food indoors. The Harvest has LED lights that turn on and off each day automatically to ensure that the included seed pods get all the light they need to grow. The device also alerts you when it’s time to add fresh water or plant food, making it super easy to grow herbs or produce at home. Moms can grow fresh herbs, tomatoes, lettuce, and more. We’ve tried it to great success!

A pair of blue-light-blocking glasses

Shop all glasses at Felix Gray for $95 and up

These days, we all spend a lot of time looking at screens that display harsh blue light, which can lead to eye strain and disrupted sleep patterns. Luckily, Felix Gray makes incredible blue-light-blocking glasses for people who don’t need glasses at all, as well as those who need reading or prescription glasses.

The company uses special lenses that filter out blue light. Its regular pairs look like normal glasses without any visible yellow tint, but the special sleep glasses have a yellow cast to their lenses. However, they block even more blue light, making them ideal for nighttime reading. We’ve tried Felix Gray’s glasses and we love them — we think Mom will, too.

A cool device to turn old photo negatives and slides into digital photos

Kodak Mobile Film Scanner, available at B&H Photo and Amazon, $35

If your mom is anything like mine, she’s got tons of old photos, negatives, and slides lying around from the days of physical photography. You can help her digitize her old negatives and slides with this nifty device from Kodak. Using her phone’s camera and an app, she can capture the images stored on negatives and slides and get them onto her phone as normal digital pictures.

A customizable phone case

Casetify Custom Case, available at Casetify, from $55

Casetify’s easy to use online tool lets you turn your mom’s favorite photos into a custom iPhone or Samsung smartphone case. Talk about a customizable gift with practical use.

You can customize more than just the colors, images, or even photos – even the case’s rigidity or ruggedness can be adjusted based on the case you’re choosing. Several of Casetify’s materials options are available, and some prioritize style over strong protection.

A smart picture frame

Aura Mason Smart Picture Frame, available at Best Buy, $199.99

Moms love nothing more than looking at pictures of their children. The Aura Mason smart picture frame lets you send Mom new photos to look at all the time.

An Amazon Echo Show for video calls

Amazon Echo Show 5 (2021), available on Amazon, $84.99

If your mom or mother-in-law doesn’t own a smartphone, that makes getting “face time” with her grandkids rather difficult. Luckily, Amazon’s smart displays offer a video calling function, bringing that function into their home cheaply and easily.

For 2021, Amazon has updated its Echo Show 5 with a 2-megapixel camera – a 100% improvement – for even better video calls than before. It will also cost less on your mom’s energy bill with a new low-power mode when it’s not in use.

One of the best smartwatches to date

Apple Watch SE, available at Best Buy, $279

Some moms are total tech geeks, and there’s nothing more appealing to a geek than a nice looking smartwatch. If Mom is an iPhone user, get her an Apple Watch SE. It’s the new more affordable smartwatch from Apple, and it has all the features she’ll need.

A watch that looks like a traditional timepiece, but has a lot of smarts

Withings Steel HR, available at Amazon and Withings for $179.95

If your mom isn’t crazy about smartwatches with screens, but she still wants a watch that has some smart features, she’ll love the Withings Steel HR. It looks like a normal watch, but it has a heart rate monitor and other sensors to track activity and sleep. The Steel HR also buzzes with notifications from select apps. The watch has a tiny screen at 12 o’clock, so when she presses the button on the side, she can see the date, time, her metrics, and incoming notifications.

A smart mug that keeps her drink the perfect temperature

Ember Mug 2, available at Apple, $129.99

Not all tech has to be super techy. Ember’s smart mug is a great gift for moms who love to drink piping hot tea, coffee, or other hot drinks. The ceramic mug syncs with an app on her phone to show how much she has drunk from the mug and also the preferred temperature of her drinks. The mug comes with a coaster that can reheat her drink and keep it at the optimal temperature. We tried this mug and we loved it.

The gift of peace and quiet with top-of-the-line noise-cancelling headphones

Bose QuietComfort 45 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones, available at Best Buy, $329

It’s more than likely that the mother in your life gets called upon … a lot. For those times when they just need some peace and quiet from the constant noise, they’ll appreciate your gift of Bose QuietComfort 45 wireless noise-cancelling headphones. 

Yes, they’re rather expensive, but they’re designed to last for years and stand in for almost every use case for headphones, particularly for folks that focus on the audio of their favorite movies and TV shows. For mothers that commute on public transit or travel often, these will come in plenty handy.

A long charging cable for her phone

Lightning Native Union Night Cable, available at Amazon, $24.95

USB-C Native Union Night Cable, available at Amazon, $34.99

One of the most frustrating things is losing your only charging cable for your phone. Everyone can use an extra charging cable, and having a long one like Native Union’s Night Cable is a great idea. The cable is 10-feet long, so Mom won’t have to struggle with a short cable anymore. It also has a weighted knot that can be moved up and down the cable to provide enough ballast to keep the cable and the phone it’s charging in place.

An excellent ebook reader

Amazon Kindle E-reader, available at Amazon, $89.99

If the mother in your life is a diehard bookworm, then they might appreciate going digital – especially if their bookcase is starting to bow from the weight of their growing collection. The latest Kindle is also ideal for the mothers out there that commute or travel a lot, saving lots of space 

The base-level model is the best Kindle e-reader for buyers on a budget. We find the ad-supported version ($89.99) to be not as intrusive with the ads as it may seem. Of course, the Kindle can hold thousands of ebooks, and now features a front light.

A wireless photo printer for making instant memories

HP Sprocket Portable 2 x 3-inch Instant Photo Printer, available at Amazon, $127.99

Does the mom in your life miss the old days of Polaroids at the party? Bring back those memories and help them make some new ones with a wireless photo printer to print selfies and other shots from their smartphone.

The Sprocket from HP prints 2 x 3-inch photos using Zink technology contained in each film print to bring out the picture’s color. Sprocket can print photos in portrait or landscape layouts. Just note that HP’s special photo paper is required to use Sprocket, which costs an additional $25 per 50 sheets.

A smart baby monitor

Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor, available at Nanit, $299

If you’re shopping for a new mom, there is an endless selection of baby products you can get her and her baby. One of the most high-tech and pricey purchases for new parents is a nice video baby monitor.

The now-named Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor (formerly known as Nanit Plus) is one of our favorites because it’s a system that learns a baby’s movement patterns and sleep trends and lets the parents know when things seem off. It gives Mom and Dad a nice birds-eye view of the baby in its crib, so both parents can see the baby clearly in the app.

An audiobook subscription that gives back to local booksellers

Libro.fm three-month gift subscription, available at Libro.fm, $45

For the mom in your life that prefers not to read or can’t seem to find the time, give them a try at audiobooks with Libro.fm. Sure, you could gift them an Audible subscription like everyone else has, but this service is considered a social purpose corporation, or SPC, which means it pursues social goals in addition to financial goals as part of its business model, even when the two may be at odds. The result is several projects designed to benefit local booksellers, which helps give peace of mind.

A slim fitness tracker

Fitbit Inspire 2, available at Best Buy, $99.95

If the mom in your life wants to stay fit or get fit, the Fitbit Inspire 2 tracker is a great option. It’s a simple fitness-focused tracker with an easy-to-use app that makes it fun for moms to see their activity goals and workout metrics.

A pair of wireless earbuds that just work

Apple Airpods (2nd Gen), available at Target and Amazon, from $129.99

The problem with most wireless headphones is that they’re hard to use: Bluetooth pairing is a pain, they disconnect from the phone, or they have too many controls. Apple’s AirPods are the easiest wireless earbuds to use with an iPhone, making them perfect for moms (and their tech support staff — i.e. their kids) everywhere.

A nifty handbag light

Wasserstein Handbag Light 1-pack, available at Amazon, $13

Mom’s purse is a cluttered abyss that’s piled with receipts, tchotchkes, keys — you name it. Make her search easier with this motion-activated light, which can be conveniently clipped on the inside of her bag.

A bluetooth shower speaker

SoundBot Water Proof Bluetooth Speaker, available at Amazon, from $14.99

To the family, she’s super-mom — but behind the scenes, she’s an enterprising singer who belts out show tunes in the shower (even with a meager vocal range). It’s a fruitful endeavor that assuages her day-to-day stress.

The least you can do is get her this hassle-free, waterproof speaker that’s compatible with all Bluetooth devices. Post-shower, she’ll feel zen enough to opt for McDonald’s drive-thru over last night’s leftovers; and the entire household will feel grateful.