The Verge’s 2024 Mother’s Day gift guide: e-readers, earbuds, mugs, and more

Uno Show ‘Em No Mercy

If we’re being honest, you may no longer be your mom’s favorite after you’ve both indulged in a round of Uno Show ’Em No Mercy. The updated version of Mattel’s classic card game sends game-turning betrayals into overdrive with more skips, more draw cards, and new stacking rules that let you pile on a truly absurd number of cards (a punishing Draw 10 included).
Price: $9.97+

Lego Icons Tiny Plants

Why not skip the perennials this year and opt for something that will actually survive beyond Mother’s Day? Lego’s latest botanical set lets you build nine plastic plants — including a mix of arid, tropical, and carnivorous species — all of which are treated to their own desk-friendly terracotta brick planter. Just don’t expect to receive a cutting anytime soon.
Price: $48.99+

Ember Mug 2

If your mom is a coffee lover, how about gifting her something a little snazzier than another “World’s Best Mom” mug? Ember’s latest smart mug is pricey, yes, but the heated receptacle can ensure her morning mood elixir never falls below her preferred temperature. The mug itself can last up to 80 minutes on a single charge or the entire day using the included charging coaster.
Price: $129.99+

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

Amazon’s step-up Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition adds wireless charging and an automatic backlight to one of our favorite ebook readers. It’s just as comfortable to hold and easy on the eyes as the standard model, with crisp 300ppi resolution, 32GB of storage, and Bluetooth support so she can listen to her favorite beach read via Audible, rather than, huh, read it.
Price: $189.99

Thermomix TM6

The Thermomix TM6 may be the last kitchen appliance your mom will ever need. It offers a multitude of functions — including the ability to chop, blend, mix, grind, sauté, and steam — and you can even use it to weigh food. The fact that it features a built-in touchscreen so she can browse more than 80,000 tasty recipes is just the proverbial cherry on top.
Price: $1,499

Apple iPad (10th-gen)

If you’re looking to make a big splash this year, you can’t go wrong with an iPad. Apple’s latest entry-level model is still very capable thanks to its reliable battery life and A14 Bionic chipset, which can run most modern apps and games with ease. Plus, with several fun colors to choose from, you’re likely to land on something that fits her style.
Price: $349+

Apple Watch Series 9

The Apple Watch Series 9 is a great gift for someone who already lives inside Apple’s walled garden. It’s a fitness companion, a personal navigator, a notification display, a calendar, and a clock all wrapped into one. The newest model also supports Apple’s new double-tap feature and Precision Finding, allowing your mom to easily locate her phone should she ever lose it.
Price: $329.99+

Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Bulb (two-pack)

A pack of smart bulbs is a terrific gift for smart home newbies. Kasa’s inexpensive RGB bulbs are reliable, easy to use, and decently bright at 800 lumens. They don’t require any hubs or controllers, either; just screw them into your favorite lamp and set the brightness, color, and scene using the Kasa app or a virtual assistant like Amazon Alexa.
Price: $13.99+

Sophie Faux Fur Throw Blanket

It might be getting warmer outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t snuggle up on a lazy day. Thankfully, Anthropologie’s polyester throw blanket is one of the plushest around — at least according to my cozy Verge colleagues. It’s also available in seven attractive colors, including mint green, cocoa, and a vibrant hot pink shade for those still living their Barbie best.
Price: $68.69+

Tile Mate (2022)

Like AirTags, the Tile Mate can help you keep tabs on your personal belongings. Tile’s Bluetooth trackers are a little more basic than Apple’s, but they work with both Android and iOS devices. That means your mom will be able to see the last known location of whatever she’s looking for and sound an alarm within 250 feet, regardless of whether she’s rocking a new Galaxy S24 Plus or your hand-me-down iPhone.
Price: $24.81+

Nixplay 10.1-inch HD Touch Screen Wi-Fi Digital Frame

Nixplay’s photo frames are straightforward, sharp, and bright enough to display family photos in any lighting. The app lets you wirelessly and securely share photos directly to the frame or via Google Photos, and it can regularly cycle through a gallery of images. The 10.1-inch model is available with a variety of muted bezels, too, including an attractive wood grain finish.
Price: $154.99+

Eater Wine Club subscription

Whether your mom considers herself an amateur sommelier or just likes a good Georgian orange, our sister site Eater offers a wine club subscription that automatically delivers a batch of hand-selected wines every month. Each box contains either two or four bottles, depending on the subscription, and is often centered on a particular season, celebration, or notable slice of history.
Price: $70+

Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (fifth-gen)

Amazon’s orb-shaped Echo Dot is a good little Alexa bot, one that can serve double duty on your mom’s nightstand. She can use the clock-equipped smart speaker to hit the lights and begin playing soothing sleep tracks or simply to check the news and take hands-free control of any other smart home gadgets she might have.
Price: $59.99+

Stanley Go Everyday Wine Tumbler

If you’re already planning on gifting a bottle of wine this year, pairing it with a quality tumbler isn’t a bad idea. Stanley’s vacuum insulated stainless steel mug can keep drinks hot for up to 1.5 hours or cold for up to 20 hours, depending on how much ice you toss in. It’s simple, effective, and holds up to 10 ounces of the “good stuff,” whatever that might be.
Price: $20

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony’s latest pair of premium headphones aren’t just a great gift for audiophiles — they’re ideal for anyone who wants a better way to tune out while listening to music or traveling. While expensive, we still consider them the best headphones for most people thanks to their well-balanced sound, superb noise cancellation, and several ambient audio features.
Price: $398+

Roborock Q5 Pro Robot Vacuum and Mop

Picking up after children can be a full-time job, which makes a robot vacuum a cheeky way to thank your mom for the countless days she did it on your behalf. Roborock’s Q5 Pro is one of our favorite models, particularly for pet owners, as it can handle carpet and hardwood floors with relative ease. You can even attach mopping pads for light upkeep and tackling fresh spills.
Price: $279.99+

Kombucha Brewing Kit

The Kombucha Shop’s entry-level kit is a terrific starting point for those interested in brewing their own fermented teas. It includes organic kombucha cultures, teas, and cane sugar, all of which are shelf-stable. You’ll also find instructions and equipment in the box, including a gallon jar, pH test strips, and a temperature monitor.
Price: $49.99

Fitbit Inspire 3

The lightweight Fitbit Inspire 3 is a great gift for someone looking to dip their toes into wearables. The throwback fitness band is an affordable way to add heart rate monitoring, smartphone notifications, and sleep / workout tracking to your wrist. It’s basic, sure, but how many other wearables let you wear them as a clip and last up to 10 days on a single charge?
Price: $99.95

JLab Go Air Pop

If you’re looking for a cheap pair of earbuds so your mom can listen to her glut of true crime podcasts on the go, JBL’s Go Air Pop cost less than a Mother’s Day mimosa. The reliable earbuds pack decent specs for the price, too, including IPX4 water resistance, three distinct EQ modes, and 32 hours of runtime with the included charging case.
Price: $15.49+

Click and Grow Smart Garden 3

The Click and Grow Smart Garden 3 makes it almost too easy to grow fresh herbs and veggies at home. The small self-watering base fits on a windowsill and holds up to three biodegradable “pods,” each chock-full of seeds and other vital nutrients. Three basil pods are included, but if you want more, you can pick up more than 70 other varieties for about $4 a pop.
Price: $80.55+

Sonos Roam

With the Sonos Roam, versatility is the name of the game. The rugged smart speaker functions like any other Bluetooth speaker when you’re away; however, when at home, it easily slots into a larger Sonos system. It’s light on bass compared to traditional Sonos products, but it still offers great sound, Qi wireless charging, and — unlike newer Sonos speakers — support for both Alexa and Google Assistant.
Price: $179+

DJI Osmo Pocket 3

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 could be the ideal vlogging camera for moms hoping to capture their kids growing up, newfound empty nesters looking for a hobby, or truly anyone looking to shoot 4K/120fps video. It’s small, (relatively) affordable, and lightweight like a smartphone but offers better video quality with unrivaled stability thanks to a built-in mechanical gimbal.
Price: $519+

Yankee Candle (22-ounce)

They might be the most cliché gift on our list, but aromatic gifts can also be some of the best. Yankee’s 22-ounce jars come in a smorgasbord of classic and less than classic scents, from lavender and birch to vanilla and… stargazing? Either way, each candle offers 110 hours of burn time, which is exceptional considering the reasonable cost.
Price: $16.88+

Eve Smart Plug & Power Meter

If your mom’s smart home experience stopped at bulbs, try introducing her to the Eve Smart Plug & Power Meter. She can use it to remotely turn on or schedule a routine for anything plugged into it, which makes it great for automating an old coffee maker or an oil diffuser. Eve’s latest smart plugs also support the new Matter standard, meaning they’ll work across smart home platforms.
Price: $39.95

Houdini Electric Corkscrew

Uncorking a nice bottle of wine doesn’t have to be a painful experience. Houdini’s electric corkscrew can remove it with ease at the touch of a button. It’s made of a mix of stainless steel and black polycarbonate plastic, and it can uncork quite a few bottles (at least a dozen or more) before the battery needs changing.
Price: $19.99

Burt’s Bees Tips and Toes Kit

Aging might be a fact of life, but a little self-care can go a long way in preserving healthy skin. Thankfully, Burt’s Bees Tips and Toes Kit opts for coconut, honey, grapeseed, and other natural ingredients over parabens, which have shown to impact the body’s hormone levels. The six-piece kit consists of several distinct pieces, too, including creams, butters, lip balms, and salves.
Price: $11.99+

Nutribullet Pro 900

Your mom can skip her weekly trip to Jamba Juice and make her own concoction at home with the Nutribullet Pro 900. Its stainless steel blades are strong enough to pulverize produce and thicker fruit, and it comes with two sleek 32-ounce jars with matching lids and handles. The latter makes it easy to bring smoothies on the move, regardless of where she goes.
Price: $79.99+

The Appreciation Sugarwish

Sugarwish is a great gifting service if you need something delivered. You can drum up a personalized card and choose from one of several boxes, which allow your mom to select her own mix of sweets, candles, savory snacks, and even wine. The Appreciation box offers a wide variety of choices and starts at just $25, letting her indulge her sweet tooth even if you can’t be around.

Price: $25+

ESR Magnetic Car Phone Mount (HaloLock)

A phone mount is an essential piece of kit for road warriors who use their phones as a heads-up display, whether for navigation or to cycle through the latest Beyoncé tracks. If you use an iPhone 12 or later, you can clip ESR’s adjustable MagSafe mount to your air vent and attach your phone — that is, without fiddling with pesky latches or buttons.
Price: $17.99+

Furbo 360° Dog Camera

Dog moms might squeal when they see the Furbo. The interactive 1080p camera features a remote treat dispenser and two-way audio, allowing her to keep an eye on her pup and sling treats while she’s away. The newest model also sits on a swiveling 360-degree base and provides real-time barking alerts, though, the latter requires a monthly Dog Nanny subscription.
Price: $189+