16 Last-Minute Mother's Day Gift Ideas and Deals (2020)

The undeniable surrealness with the Covid-19 pandemic may be to blame, but in case you didn’t notice, Mother’s Day is coming up fast. Like, really fast.

If you’re in need of a last-minute Mother’s Day gift, you have some obstacles to overcome. This year, traditional presents might not be safe or available. You can’t exactly bring her breakfast in bed or take her out to dinner, but you can still give Mom a present if you’re so inclined. We’ve rounded up some last-minute ideas, though due to the ongoing pandemic, delivery times are delayed nearly everywhere. Even if your gift doesn’t arrive by May 10, we’re willing to bet that Mom will understand and (probably) won’t ground you.

Be sure to check out our Mother’s Day Gift Guide for other recommendations.

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The Best Kindles Are on Sale

Photograph: Amazon

Whether she’s a fan of Jane Austen, Nora Roberts, or Toni Morrison, your mom can read her favorites on a Kindle, and the devices are discounted right now. The Kindle Paperwhite (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is the most well-rounded option, on sale for $100. It’s water-resistant, the screen is bright, and the battery lasts for weeks on a single charge. If your budget is a little tighter, the base Kindle (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is another great gadget, on sale for $65. This model isn’t water-resistant and it’s a bit chunkier than the Paperwhite, but it’s still a perfectly fine e-reader.

These deals are part of a larger sale on Amazon devices you may want to check out.

The Kindle Paperwhite costs $100 ($30 off)

Last-Minute Home Gifts for Mom

Photograph: Facebook

Tile Mate 4-Pack for $50 ($20 off): These trackers can prevent lost keys, wallets, phones, and basically everything but Mom’s brain. She could probably attach it to a grandkid if need be.
Facebook Portal for $79 ($50 off): If Mom prefers Facebook, there’s no better way to chat face-to-face. Check out our review for everything you need to know about the gadget.
Homesick Candles for 20 percent off: We’re all feeling a little homesick right now. These scented candles and reed diffusers are inspired by locations. Maybe you’re in New York but your mother’s in California. Maybe she misses her childhood home in Louisiana, or you take annual vacations to Colorado. There are special Mother’s Day scents too. Shipping is free on all orders, and you can save 10 percent on one candle or 20 percent on two or more.
Nest Mini for $30 ($20 off): The Nest Mini is one of the best smart speakers you can buy. Thanks to built-in Google Assistant, the next time Mom forgets the name of “that one guy from that movie,” she just might be able to find out the answer.
Wayfair’s Big Outdoor Sale offers up to 65 percent off: If your mother hates her patio set but can’t be bothered to swap it out, you can snag some really good prices in this sale. Aside from furniture, there are rugs, storage solutions, and even inflatable hot tubs with price cuts. You could get her a fancy wine-themed birdhouse or one of those creepy garden gnomes.
Ember Temperature-Controlled Mug 2-Pack for $150 ($50 off): These heated mugs are great for coffee-addicted moms. We like them a lot. More recently, the mugs have learned a new trick: caffeine tracking. If Mom loves coffee, but you don’t love the Ember’s price tag, check out our favorite travel mugs for other ideas.
One-of-A-Kind Bouquet for 15 percent off: 1-800-Flowers is offering 15 percent off handmade bouquets from local florists. Delivery slots for Mother’s Day cost a bit more, and there’s limited availability. Still, since we’re so close to the official holiday, this may be your best bet if you’re determined to get her flowers.

Last-Minute Health and Tech Gifts for Mom

Photograph: Fitbit

Fitbit Versa Lite for $130 ($30 off): I got my mom one of these, and she loves it. So does WIRED senior writer Adrienne So, who gave it an 8/10 WIRED Recommends in her review last year. Despite being a slightly older model, this still makes the cut as one of the best fitness trackers. Fun color options are an added bonus. Other Fitbits wearables are on sale, too.
AirPods Pro for $235 ($15 off): If your mom has an iPhone, these are the best AirPods you can buy her. They’re sweat-resistant and great for workouts. You can check out more of our favorite earbuds here.
Apple iPhone SE for $350: The new iPhone SE (8/10 WIRED Recommends) is perfect for moms who have been complaining about ever-increasing smartphone sizes. It’s small, supports wireless charging, and still has the home button and Touch ID, though there’s no headphone jack like the rest of Apple’s iPhones. It’s discounted $50 if you activate it on a carrier network, but it’s still a great deal at its MSRP of $400.
iPad 2019 for $250 ($100 off): The iPad is a great, versatile tool to have in the home, whether it’s for reading, catching up on YouTube, or if Mom just wants a bigger screen to see your face during FaceTime video calls. This is a killer price for Apple’s base iPad, but it might be a good idea to consider the 128 GB model for $330, which gives you a lot more storage space for photos and apps. Best Buy has a ton of other deals on Apple gear right now, including the Apple Watch Series 5 and the HomePod speaker.
iRobot Roomba 675 Robot Vacuum for $219 ($81 off): This model didn’t make our list of the best robot vacuums, but we like iRobot’s Roombas in general. Your mother will probably also like not having to break out the handheld vacuum cleaner as frequently. The Eufy 11S is another good pick that’s slightly more affordable.
Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay Hybrid Instant Camera for $140 ($20 off): This is the best instant camera you can buy. We give it lots of praise in our review (8/10, WIRED Recommends), and a couple of the color options are on sale at this price.
Nixplay 13-Inch Seed Digital Picture Frame for $172 ($56 off): We included one of these in our gift guide for nerdy moms and dads. Frames like these are a good way to share pictures of the kids, the garden, or your crazy quarantine hair. A smaller version of this frame is also on sale.
Roku Streaming Stick Plus for $39 ($21 off): This is the best Roku for most people. It’s easy to use, too, so you (hopefully) won’t be stuck playing tech support on the phone once it’s delivered. Check out our Roku buying guide for more.