Tech gifts for Mother's Day

Find the perfect iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, accessory, or app gift for the mother in your life!

Looking for just the right tech gift for mother's day? Trying to decide between an iPhone and an iPad? An Apple TV and an iPod touch? A gorgeous case or a fantastic speaker? An app she'll love or a game she can't get enough of? Or perhaps you're simply looking for a great way to send a card, some flowers, or a gift certificate? Not a problem. iMore's got you covered. Whether you're buying for your mother, or helping the kids buy for theirs, here are some of our favorite device, peripheral, and product picks for mom!

iOS device gifts for Mother's day

How to access tv shows in the cloud on your iphone ipad apple tv

It's a big ticket item to be sure, but whether you're footing the bill alone or chipping in with the rest of the family, there's no gift quite like an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or Apple TV.

The Apple TV starts at only $100, the iPod touch and iPhone at $200 (on contract for the iPhone), and the iPad 2 at only $400. If the mother in your life doesn't yet have an iOS device, it's the perfect time to get her one. And if she does, but she's looking for more, it's a great time to help out. With an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or Apple TV, a whole world of content opens up. Watch, listen, learn, laugh, love. It really is the gift that keeps on giving.

Not sure which one you should get? Not a problem! Start here:

  • iOS device gift guide

iPhone and iPad accessory gifts for Mother's Day

If the mother in your life already has all the iOS devices she needs, and you still want something substantial you can wrap up and give her, accessories are a great gift idea. They can change the way her iPhone or iPad looks and works, and make mom's life easier or simply more fun. Here are some of the very best accessories for Mother's Day, picked by our exceptionally accessory-savvy senior editor -- and mom -- Georgia.

SGP Linear Blitz Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 review

Every iPhone looks pretty much the same. Luckily, there are tons of awesome cases that can add some personality and style, and change the look on a daily basis if we so choose. The SGP Linear Blitz is simply one of the hottest iPhone cases I've ever seen. It's bulkier than ultra-light or feather cases, but offers more protection. The Apple logo cutout is simply amazing. If you don't think the mother in your life would mind trading a little extra size for incredible good looks, the SGP Linear Blitz Case could be for her.

$31.95 - Buy now

Overboard waterproof case for iPhone and iPad

Time was, if you wanted to get away from it all, you secreted yourself in the bathroom and took a long, relaxing, sudsy soak in the tub with something indulgent to drink and marvelous to read. Getting a trashy magazine or paperback a little wet was no big deal, but for our previous iPhones and iPads, it's a deal breaker. That's why the Overboard waterproof cases are so great. They completely protect your device while still keeping it responsive to the touch. And while, with an iPad or iPhone you can certainly read your fill of iBooks, Kindle, or Newsstand, you can do more -- watch TV and movies, and play video games. Now that's relaxing!

Various - Buy now

SGP GLAS.t Screen Protector

The problem with screens is that they scratch. The problem with most screen protectors is that they feel like plastic. Not so with the SGP GLAS.t. As the name implies, this screen protector looks and feels like glass. If the mother in your life is a little less careful and a little more rough and tumble with her iPhone, this is a great way to keep it safe.

$29.95 - Buy now

BodyGuardz ScreenGuardz HD for The new iPad and iPad 2

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The iPad has an even bigger screen than the iPhone and, especially if we have little ones around the house, can require even more screen protection. It won't stop damage due to drops or impact (you'll need a protective case for that) but it will stop scratches and scrapes that happen in the blink of an eye but annoy you ever after.

$17.95 - Buy now

SGP kuel H12 Stylus Pen

Steve Jobs might have thought a stylus was yucky, but for many a mom, it can be miraculous. For ladies with long nails or in freezing winter climates, properly using an iPhone or iPad touch screen can be difficult or uncomfortable. Not so with a stylus. Any app that involves handwriting, drawing or painting can also be much easier, and much more fun with a stylus. As can gaming.

The SGP kuel H12 Stylus Pen is Mobile Nation's favorite stylus. If you think your mom might want something smaller and more compact to carry around, try the Kuel H10.

$19.95 - Buy now

Jawbone JAMBOX

The one downside to the iPhone and iPad is their small, mono speakers. If mom wants to blast some music and get her groove on, Apple isn't going to get the job done. But the Jawbone JAMBOX will. It works over Bluetooth so once it's charged and ready to go, there are no wires to get in your way. It's small and easy to carry, yet packs a powerful audio punch. It can also be used as a speakerphone which is especially great for group calls or FaceTime with families on special occasions.

$199.95 - Buy now

iPhone and iPad app gifts for Mother's Day

Apps are great tech gifts. They're not expensive but they can provide ours of use, or just plain fun. Best of all, you can gift them up until the last possible moment, and they'll still arrive at nearly the speed of email. Here are some of our favorite apps for mom, picked by our very own app editor extraordinaire -- and mom -- Leanna Lofte.

Sincerely Ink

Don't be lame and rush to the grocery store to pick up some last minute left-over Mother's Day card on the morning of -- make a custom card with Sincerely Ink! It features 32 different Mother's Day templates that can be customized to featured your photos. The convenience of making the card and mailing it directly with your iPhone and iPad is easier than going to the store and the personalization makes it more special for Mom -- it's a win-win!

Free - Download Now

The Photo Cookbook - Baking

Does your mom love to bake? Then she's going to love The Photo Cookbook - Baking for iPhone and iPad and its 60 yummy recipes and 500+ gorgeous photos! Each recipe is beautifully laid out and easy to follow and tapping on an ingredient will tell you more about it.

The Photo Cookbook - Baking is also available as an in-app purchase for $3.99 in The Photo Cookbook - Quick & Easy. So if you want to go all out, get Mom the Quick & Easy app and pick up the Italian, Asian, and Baking cookbooks available as in-app purchases.

Pro-tip: Make Mom one of the items from the The Photo Cookbook - Baking and present them both to her as gift on Mother's Day.

Baking, $4.99 - Download Now

Quick & Easy - $4.99 - Download Now

Gilt City

What Mom doesn't love to shop and get a great deal? Gilt City will be her go to app then next time she hits up the big city closest to her because it's loaded with great deals from local shops and restaurants. I actually recommend picking something up for her from Gilt City, and when she complains that you spent too much money on her with that package of four Salsa dance classes, you can exclaim "No worries, Mom! It was only $30 with the Gilt City app! Here, let me download it to your iPhone for you!" Your mom will be so proud!

Free - Download Now

Sitter Sorter

For mom's of little ones, finding a baby sitter and keeping track of her regular sitters is a chore in and of itself. With Sitter Sorter for iPhone, this chore becomes a breeze -- and maybe even a little fun. Sitter Sorter allows Mom to store the days and times that sitters are available and all their contact info, so when she's looking for a sitter, she can just type in the time and date that she needs a sitter for, and Sitter Sorter will list which sitters are available during that time. Then she can send the sitter a text, or if the sitter is also using Sitter Sorter, a request is sent to the sitter and s/he can send a confirmation right back.

$0.99 - Download Now

Cut the Rope

Every mom needs a good game for those times she just wants to relax and have some time to herself, and what a better game than Cut the Rope! It's fun, cute, and can be played for short bursts of time or for hours at time. Perfect!

$0.99 - Download Now

Last minute gift ideas for Mother's Day

If you've waited until the last minute and you forgot a gift for that special mother in your life, here are your choices: a) crash through the upstairs window, dive roll through the flowerbed, hotfoot it to the car, screech out the driveway, and hit up the QuickyMart of air fresheners and chocoblocks; or b) check out the list below, tap a few links, type a few words, sit back and wait for the smiles.

Netflix, Hulu Plus, Slacker and other subscription

Netflix, Hulu Plus, Slacker and other subscription

Subscription are nice because you give them once but they last the entire year. For iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad using mom's, Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Slacker are great options.

iTunes, App Store, iBooks gifts and gift certificates

Best free apps for iPad

Content is king of the last minute gifts. Your mom can never have too many apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, or books to enjoy. With a gift certificate, they can find the ones that are just perfect for them!

Variable - Buy now

Amazon gift certificates

New Kindle

Amazon has a ton of digital content all there own, but they also have old school media -- paper books, plastic CDs and Blu-Rays, games that come on cartridges... Gift certificates let them pick just exactly the goods -- real or virtual -- they want, and Amazon will deliver it straight to their door or their device.

Variable - Buy now

Your picks?

There you have it, iMore Nation, our top tech gifts for Mother's Day. Did we miss any of your favorites? If so, tell us all about them in the comments below!

Rene Ritchie
Contributor

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.