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We're not against flowers, and we like chocolate as much as anyone, but to our way of thinking, nothing says "I love you" on Mother's Day like a large-screen TV or some other gift of technology.
And because the moms in your life deserve the best, we're compiling an unbeatable list of high-performing Mother's Day tech gifts.
These suggestions racked up a high score in our ratings and most earned a coveted recommended or CR Best Buy designation. They’re guaranteed to put a smile on Mom’s face. And you can accessorize any of these ideas with a card and some nice flowers, too.
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(If a bracelet, necklace, or pair of earring is on the gift list, use these tips when buying jewelry for Mother's Day.)
Lenovo Yoga 910
This laptop belongs to a multigenerational family of Lenovo Yoga laptops, all blessed with downward-dog-like flexibility. The Yoga 910's ultrathin touch screen and keyboard can be folded flat or bent over backward so that it can serve as a tablet substitute. The result is a design that's both utilitarian and flat-out sexy. The 14-inch screen hits a sweet spot between useful real estate on your screen and portability. Finally the Intel Core i7-6500U 2.7GHz processor and 256GB solid-state drive make the Lenovo Yoga 910 fast, fast, fast.
1MORE E1001 Triple Driver
Getting excellent sound from a pair of headphones often means embracing an aesthetic that lies somewhere between WWII pilot and classic DJ. The 1More E1001 in-ear headphones are a svelte and elegant alternative. And they let you keep the volume a bit lower by achieving an earplug-like seal to block out external sounds.
If you want both high performance and comfort in an IEM (in-ear monitor) design you need the perfect fit, and the E1001 helps you achieve this by including nine—count 'em, nine—pairs of earpieces. The result? Mom can listen to Sara Bareilles in peace. For a few minutes at least.
LG 49LH5700
Mom might already have a 65-inch TV complementing the living room décor, but how about a bright, beautiful set in her bedroom or home office? This low-priced LG offers excellent 1080p HD picture quality, even when viewed off-axis, coupled with intuitive smart-TV features, all the better to binge-watch "Orange Is the New Black" on Netflix. (The audio is so-so, but that's what sound bars are for.) On the bang-for-your-gift-bucks scale, the 49LH5700 is also a flat-out bargain at around $350.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
With the excellent cameras built into today’s smartphones, a stand-alone camera has to be something truly special to make it worth buying and carrying around. This lightweight and compact Sony is that and more.
Yes, at upward of $800, this Sony Cyber-shot is pricey. But its Zeiss lens helps produce higher image quality and overall performance than many an SLR with a kit lens. This camera offers high-quality 4K video, and in still mode it can shoot up to 16 frames per second. Its bright, sharp LCD viewfinder can flip 180 degrees, making it ideal for selfies.
The Sony can capture images in the RAW file format that serious photographers favor. This will give your mom maximum flexibility to tweak her photos before printing them and hanging them next to the picture of the dog you drew when you were in fourth grade.
Bose SoundLink Color II
This splashproof wireless speaker ticks all the boxes. It’s stylish and inexpensive and performs well enough for all but the most serious listeners. The Bose SoundLink Color II has enough volume to be heard in the great outdoors, and it's still small enough to slip inside a beach bag. It also features a plain old 3.5-mm jack, so Mom can just plug in her phone in if the Bluetooth connection is glitchy. Add all these qualities together and it’s easy to see why this Bose is a CR Best Buy. It's perfect for listening to National Public Radio as well as Public Enemy.
Fitbit Charge 2
Our top-rated fitness trackers are, admittedly, a bit clunky for many female wrists. Which is why we’re suggesting that you gift the Fitbit Charge 2, which is a strong performer that happens to be found on many wrists around the CR offices.
On the form-vs.-function spectrum, the Fitbit Charge 2 nails that “just right” balance. It’s comfortable, its interface is intuitive, its heart rate readings are accurate, and its display is easy to read under any lighting conditions. The Charge 2 is available in a range of stylish hues, along with the elegant-and-understated basic black version.
(Learn the secret to finding a waterproof fitness tracker.)
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