Corey Gaskin / Ars Technica
While we’d by no means begrudge you treating your mother to flowers, chocolate, or scented candles for Mother’s Day, we at Ars all the time have tech on the mind, so we’d be remiss to not extol the advantages a great gadget can have on her every day life.
You’ll all the time know your mother’s tastes and pursuits higher than we do, in fact, but when she has room for a brand new piece of tech, we’ve rounded up just a few helpful, hassle-free, last-minute Mother’s Day gift concepts to your consideration under. Here’s hoping they offer some thanks again to the girl who has put up together with your nonsense all these years.
Note: Ars Technica might earn compensation for gross sales from hyperlinks on this publish via affiliate programs.
Apple Watch Series 6
Corey Gaskin
Apple Watch Series 6
An Apple Watch is a timeless gift… as long as you choose the appropriate era. They’re fashionable (particularly in new colours), dependable, customizable, and do most all the pieces you possibly can ask of a smartwatch.
The Apple Watch Series 6 is the most recent, best-looking, and most well-equipped of all of them. Health-minded mothers will admire options like blood oxygen monitoring, ECG readings, and all-day coronary heart price monitoring. It additionally options fall detection, which calls emergency providers within the occasion of a tough fall or if the emergency buttons are manually triggered. For each getting older and wholesome dad and mom, you may consider an Apple Watch as a Life Alert pendant that additionally screens and tracks facets of their well being and health.
Apple is obvious, as all wearable producers are, that Apple Watches will not be instruments for medical prognosis, although the sensors inside are FDA authorised and may help preserve observe of tendencies value chatting with a physician about. It’s the form of well being monitoring that approaches the futuristic thought of getting a tool in or on you that tells you when one thing’s improper. Sleep monitoring on the watch is one other good instance, as this exhibits you tendencies quite than any particular prognosis. And proper now, for the very best diploma of well being monitoring, we do not advocate something decrease than the Series 6.
Other wearables have these sensors, too, however Apple Watches additional seal the take care of their wide-ranging assist for varied apps and providers. If you may have an lively mother who’s into working, swimming, browsing, climbing, meditation, or gardening (simply to call just a few actions), there are devoted Apple Watch apps for all of these. Or in case your mother likes to maintain observe of sure sports activities, exhibits, audiobooks, podcasts, or information, there are Apple Watch apps for all of that, too. Really, no matter your mother’s into, there are apps for her to entry or interact with it on her wrist.
Oh, and she will use a brand new Apple Watch to name or textual content you when she’s not by her telephone. What mother does not need extra communication from their children this Mother’s Day?
-Corey Gaskin
Garmin Lily
Corey Gaskin / Ars Technica
Garmin Lily
Garmin’s Lily health monitoring watch is a beautiful wearable that emulates a basic timepiece aesthetic and is available in quite a lot of colorways for various tastes and events. These units mimic jewellery greater than tech. The Classic Edition has leather-based straps and a stainless-steel bezel in bronze or one in all two shades of gold, whereas the Sport Edition has an anodized aluminum bezel and silicone straps. In all, there are six types to select from—three of every version—and all of them are 5ATM waterproof and fashionably versatile, from informal to elegant.
Each has a metallic-looking dial with distinctive monochromatic patterns bolstering the refined appears. This masks a touchscreen beneath that presents data via a white mild TFT LCD. It’s simple to learn, even within the solar, so it doesn’t matter what the state of affairs she will learn textual content messages and different notifications on her wrist, be it from an iPhone or Android system.
Being a Garmin watch, there are additionally sensors for coronary heart price and blood oxygen monitoring you can spot verify, however additionally they inform easy-to-read mixture well being stats like stress ranges, irregular coronary heart price, health age, physique battery, and sleep monitoring. In-app, it’s also possible to observe menstrual cycles.
GPS isn’t inbuilt, although, neither is music storage, so if leaving the telephone at residence for on-the-go mother adventures is necessary to her, then this is probably not the most effective choose. Otherwise, actions for energy coaching, cardio, elliptical coaching, stair-stepping, yoga, Pilates, and breathwork can all be initiated and tracked proper on the watch.
-Corey Gaskin
Marshall Emberton
Jeff Dunn
Marshall Emberton
If your mother would admire a transportable speaker that may let her higher get pleasure from music or podcasts at residence, on the highway, within the bathe, or on the seashore, we just like the Marshall Emberton. For a compact (2.7×6.3×3.zero inches) and not-too-heavy (1.5 kilos) system, it packs spectacular audio high quality. Compared to equally sized audio system now we have examined just like the UE Wonderboom 2 or Sony SRS-XB33, it presents a fuller, smoother, and extra pure sound, with a commendable degree of stability and width. And whereas no speaker this measurement can pump out really deep bass, the Emberton delivers a pleasant degree of punch with out ever distorting or blobbing up the nice particulars of any given observe.
Besides that, we dig the Emberton’s guitar-amp-inspired design, which features a helpful battery-level indicator in addition to a easy one-button management scheme for adjusting quantity and playback. We discovered the battery itself to final roughly 10 hours per cost—although that may change relying on how loud you play—and the system recharges rapidly over USB-C. The entire factor has an IPX7 rating, too, which means it’s totally waterproof and can have no points surviving splashes from the bathe, pool, or kitchen sink.
That mentioned, the Emberton is costly for what it offers you. If you’d wish to gift a cheaper speaker, think about Tribit’s XSound Go or StormBox Micro. Neither is as flashy trying or full sounding because the Emberton, however each are good worth and equally waterproof. We’ve recommended the former previously, whereas the latter is much more compact and has a built-in rubber strap that lets it snap onto backpacks, bike handlebars, and the like.
-Jeff Dunn
Jabra Elite 75t and Apple AirPods Pro
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Jabra’s Elite 75t is a splendidly well-rounded pair of true wi-fi earphones.
Jeff Dunn -
Apple’s AirPods Pro are the true wi-fi earbuds to get in case you prioritize lively noise cancellation or ease of use with Apple units.
Jeff Dunn
Jabra Elite 75t & Apple AirPods Pro
If Mom want to get in on the “totally wireless” headphone development, think about gifting the Jabra Elite 75t. They’re smaller and lighter than most different true wi-fi earbuds, with an in-ear design that stays safe and comfy within the ear over a number of hours. We’ve had few points pairing them with iOS, Android, Mac, or Windows units. They get roughly seven hours of battery life per cost, which is above-average for a real wi-fi pair, and their simply transportable charging case supplies one other 20+ hours on prime of that. Their built-in microphone array does nicely to maintain your voice sounding clear throughout telephone calls, and so they’re IP55 rated, to allow them to stand up to sweat or mild rain whereas Mom is out and about.
Like most true wi-fi earbuds, the Elite 75t don’t sound superb, notably for the worth. They emphasize bass and treble out of the field, however numerous individuals get pleasure from that form of sound. For what it’s, it’s extra enjoyable than fatiguing. A latest replace to Jabra’s companion app added a helpful—if not world-beating—lively noise canceling mode as nicely. A one-button management scheme on every earbud makes it simple to pause songs, reply calls, and regulate quantity. Plus, if one thing ever goes improper, Jabra covers the system with a two-year guarantee.
If your mother solely makes use of Apple units, although, we are able to additionally vouch for Apple’s AirPods Pro as an iOS-friendly different. They’re sometimes costlier than the Jabra pair, however they pair near-effortlessly with iPhones and iPads, and so they have a more practical noise-canceling mode for blocking out rowdy environments whereas working or exercising. They even have a extra balanced and impartial sound that may very well be extra nice to sure tastes. That mentioned, they aren’t fairly as snug because the Elite 75t, they solely get about 5 hours of battery life per cost, and so they don’t have quantity controls constructed into the earpieces. But for iPhone house owners who’d want the only expertise attainable, the AirPods Pro do sufficient proper to be worthwhile.
-Jeff Dunn
A protecting or fashionable Magsafe iPhone case
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Apple’s leather-based pockets case is available in 5 completely different colours and affixes simply to your iPhone 12 or a MagSafe suitable case.
Corey Gaskin -
OtterBox’s Magsafe instances add an considerable quantity of safety and can be utilized whereas charging your telephone through Magsafe, however you will nonetheless want a great display protector.
Corey Gaskin -
Zagg’s Invisible Shield Glass display protectors are lifetime warrantied.
Corey Gaskin
Apple’s new Magsafe chargers are a straightforward technique to relaxation your iPhone 12 (or prop it up) and provides it a decently fast cost. Better but, the magnets and expertise inside allow you to entry that cost at full energy via Magsafe suitable instances like these from OtterBox. Or, within the case of Apple’s magnetic leather-based pockets, you may connect the pouch-like case to the again of your iPhone for a slim and helpful pockets answer.
The world’s opening up once more, and we have discovered OtterBox’s Magsafe cases to supply substantial safety on adventures indoors and outdoor, whereas Apple’s Magsafe Leather Wallet makes touring mild and simple. Both are available quite a lot of colours to match Mom’s fashion. Pair them with Zagg’s lifetime warrantied (i.e., limitless replacements, simply pay delivery) glass screen protectors, and each Mom and her telephone shall be able to enter the world once more, offered she’s vaccinated, in fact.
-Corey Gaskin
Apple Magsafe Accessories
Fast and chic charging gear
Of course, you may’t exit into the world with a lifeless telephone battery. That’s why we love these charging options under. All of them both make charging simple and chic or fast and highly effective.
Belkin 3-in-1 Magsafe Charger
Corey Gaskin / Ars Technica
On the straightforward and chic facet, now we have Belkin’s 3-in-1 Magsafe Wireless charger for all her iDevice necessities. Magsafe charging takes care of iPhone 12s, whereas the built-in Apple Watch charger sits subsequent to it, and under each lies a wi-fi charging pad for AirPods. All of these units can cost at prime speeds concurrently. It’s easy, glossy, and an ideal bedside companion that ensures she’ll always remember to cost or lose the chargers for any of those important iDevices.
Mophie All-in-One Portable Powerstation
Corey Gaskin
For the proper on-the-go answer, Mophie’s All-in-One Powerstation has built-in wi-fi charging (non-Magsafe), an embedded Apple Watch Charger, a USB-C PD port for top-speed 18W iPhone charging (or different units), and a USB-A port for charging another units. With 8,000 mAh capability, you may drop this in a purse and overlook about it for a few costs.
Fast wall charging for a number of units
Nekteck
Lastly, whenever you simply want the quickest attainable cost to your telephone, pill, and even sure laptops, Nekteck’s 111W USB-C Wall Charger Station is a superb answer that may cost as much as 5 units directly.
Pumping 87W via USB-C PD, you may cost laptops just like the Dell XPS 15, the most recent MacE book Pros, or an iPad Pro at or close to prime velocity. At the identical time, you should utilize the 4 12W USB-A ports (USB-IF licensed to stop frying units) to cost any USB-charged units, once more, concurrently. It’s an incredible possibility for the nightstand, desk, and even kitchen, the place you could be charging a lot of units directly.
Pair this with Anker’s PowerLine II USB-C to Lightning cable for a prolonged six ft of secure and quick iDevice charging or Nekteck’s USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 cables for secure and top-speed charging on USB-C or Thunderbolt units, like iPads, Nintendo Switches, and ereaders.
-Corey Gaskin
Fast Charging Accessories
Logitech C920S HD Pro Webcam
Logitech
Logitech C920S HD Pro Webcam
The previous a number of months of Pandemic Living has taught us, amongst many different issues, the significance of getting a great webcam. If your mother shall be working remotely for the foreseeable future, or in case you simply wish to up her video high quality throughout household chats, think about upgrading her laptop computer’s grainy built-in digital camera to the Logitech C920S HD Pro Webcam.
The C920S is just a few years outdated at this level, nevertheless it nonetheless takes crisp 1080p video at a smooth-enough 30 frames per second, with a wide-enough 78-degree subject of view for becoming a number of individuals into the body if wanted. It works near-immediately after being plugged in (through a USB-A plug), and its folding design clips simply and securely onto a laptop computer or monitor with little fuss. Its autofocus is comparatively fast to right any blurring, its stereo mics preserve your voice sounding clear, and you’ll tilt the digital camera up and all the way down to get a greater shot. It additionally comes with a nifty bodily “privacy shutter” that may block the digital camera lens whenever you aren’t utilizing it. While its image isn’t fairly as spectacular in darker rooms, it does a good job at robotically adjusting publicity when lighting is much less constant. It’s attainable to manually regulate sure image settings via Logitech’s companion software program
For most, although, the C920S’ ought to current a great picture by default. It’s not probably the most technically proficient webcam by any means—one thing like Logitech’s Brio steps as much as 4K video, whereas different good cameras just like the Logitech C922x Pro Stream or Razer Kiyo are higher suited to dwell streaming video on-line. But for a primary webcam improve, the C920S nonetheless hits the candy spot between worth and efficiency. Importantly, we’ve additionally seen it come again into inventory after a 12 months of pandemic-fueled provide points. That mentioned, if that provide runs dry by the point you learn this, the three options talked about above are all worthwhile for these prepared to pay a bit further.
-Jeff Dunn
Eufy Indoor Cam 2K
Jeff Dunn
Eufy Indoor Cam 2K
A great indoor safety digital camera like Eufy’s Indoor Cam 2K may help your mother regulate the home whereas she’s away. For $40, it supplies crisp 2K decision video that stays clear in the course of the day and night time, permitting her to see what the canine is doing, know when others have come residence, or just have peace of thoughts in opposition to undesirable company.
Eufy’s companion app is simple to learn and can promptly ship alerts and seize video when it detects particular sounds (crying, as an illustration) or movement. It enables you to customise how incessantly the digital camera will ship these alerts, set particular “activity zones” that set off a notification when somebody wanders into them, or use the digital camera’s built-in mic and speaker to speak with others in the home. You can manually set off an alarm operate if wanted, whereas a nifty “Pet Command” function can play an audio clip if a pet will get into a delegated space. The system will also be built-in with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant units.
Any safety digital camera carries some degree of privateness issues, however the Indoor Cam 2K offers the choice to document video to the cloud—through Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video service or Eufy’s comparatively reasonably priced $3/month or $30/12 months plans for 30 days of clips—or regionally to a microSD card. Only the latter shops video clips at a higher-than-1080p decision, although. Either approach, you would possibly wish to ensure that everybody else in the home is cool with you giving Mom this a lot energy forward of time.
The bodily {hardware} of the Indoor Cam 2K isn’t a lot to jot down residence about. It might stand to swivel a bit extra, it’s virtually solely plastic, and the digital camera’s 125-degree subject of view isn’t the widest we’ve seen. Even nonetheless, it delivers glorious efficiency and a great deal of helpful options for the cash, making it a wonderful worth for first-time house owners of this type of system.
-Jeff Dunn
A comfortable lap desk
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The Ybj-ake Bamboo Laptop Desk is adjustable and versatile.
Corey Gaskin / Ars Technica -
The LapGear Designer lap desk is a soft possibility for making your lap a desktop.
Jeff Dunn
Over a 12 months into a worldwide pandemic and we’ve all discovered the right way to be a bit comfier at residence, whether or not working, socializing, or simply passing the time. Many of us have gotten inventive with how and the place we do these items, and the mattress or sofa is a tried and true, cozy favourite.
That’s why we’re followers of those two lap desks: one which lays in your lap with a cushioned undercarriage, the LapGear Designer, and one other extra conventional kind issue that stands by itself, the Ybj-ake Laptop Desk.
They each are available quite a lot of finishes (we advocate the black bamboo for the Ybj-ake, because of decreased splinter incidence on this end), accommodate laptops as much as 17 inches, and have raised stoppers to maintain the laptop computer from sliding off at varied angles. While the LapGear Designer’s angles rely upon the angle of your lap, the Ybj-ake can lengthen its legs and lift its tabletop to varied angles like an easel.
Whichever you choose, it’ll be a pleasant change-up for Mom from the desk or kitchen desk that additionally protects her from extra pc warmth.
-Corey Gaskin
Recommended Lap Desks
Google Chromecast with Google TV
Corey Gaskin
Google Chromecast with Google TV
If your mother solely watches a few the most well-liked streaming providers—Netflix, Disney+, and so forth.—she in all probability received’t want a devoted media streamer, since many latest TVs and cable containers have already got built-in assist for such apps. But in case your of us are slicing the twine or simply have extra eclectic tastes, the Google Chromecast with Google TV might make their TV viewing extra handy.
We just lately discovered the most recent Chromecast to be the best of the various $50 streaming sticks in the marketplace, because of its wide-ranging app assist, highly effective and correct search outcomes, simple setup, and easy distant. Compared to competitors from Roku and Amazon, the Chromecast does a greater job of displaying the apps you utilize probably the most, exhibits you’ve just lately watched, and genuinely helpful suggestions for brand new content material you’re more likely to get pleasure from. It does this on one display, pulling from varied streaming providers, and with a contemporary design that doesn’t look bland. It helps Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos encompass sound for these with higher-end leisure setups (although not all providers make the most of these options), it masses apps and menus rapidly, and like all Chromecasts, it enables you to beam video straight from a cell system or pc.
The flipside right here is that, to be able to get probably the most out of the Chromecast’s glorious advice system, you must share some degree of shopping data with Google. Countless individuals already do that each time they use Google Chrome, in fact, however in case you and your of us are particularly privacy-conscious, the comfort is probably not value it. The Apple TV 4K is best about not monitoring your viewing habits as extensively and now comes with a not-horrid remote, nevertheless it’s considerably costlier. For $50, the brand new Chromecast is a wonderful worth for anybody trying to make a TV smarter.
-Jeff Dunn
LectroFan
Jeff Dunn
LectroFan
If your mother lives with a loud snorer or in an space the place outdoors noise has been affecting her sleep, a great white noise machine like the LectroFan might assist her drift off extra simply. We’ve discovered its fixed, random (i.e., not particular sounds of nature and the like, which might extra simply disturb one’s sleep), and electronically generated noise efficient at masking outdoors sounds with out coming off as harsh. It has a large 30-step quantity vary and 10 white noise settings that take purpose at completely different frequencies, which assist it work in each loud or comparatively quiet environment. There’s additionally a 60-minute timer that’ll shut the machine off robotically over night time. All of that is set via just a few easy controls on the entrance of the diminutive system.
To be clear, a white noise machine isn’t a magic cure-all for sleep troubles, and the science around its effectiveness isn’t particular. Sudden modifications in sleep high quality are nonetheless finest mentioned with a medical skilled. There are smartphone apps that may produce related results, too, which can be useful on the go for the reason that LectroFan doesn’t run on battery energy. (Though many telephone audio system aren’t as full-sounding because the LectroFan.) But in case your of us have been particularly coping with environmental components that stop them from sleeping comfortably, sufficient individuals swear by a lot of these machines that gifting a great one could be value a attempt.
-Jeff Dunn