Cool Mother's Day gifts for 2019 – CNET

Google Home Mini: $29 (save $20)

Chris Monroe/CNET

If Mom doesn’t already have some kind of smart speaker, here’s an inexpensive way to get her started. The Google Home Mini is a great alternative to the Amazon Echo Dot, offering good sound for its size and some stylish color options.

Save 25-30% on Nixplay digital photo frames

Nixplay

You know all those treasured photos trapped on Mom’s phone? Give her a place to show them off, along with new photos sent by friends and family. That’s the beauty of a digital photo frame, which I rank among the all-time best Mother’s Day gifts you can give.

For CNET readers only, Nixplay is offering 25% off the Nixplay Seed Ultra 10-inch and Nixplay Seed 13.3-inch with promo code CNETMOMS25.

You can also get 30% off the Nixplay Seed 10.1 (black or wood-effect frame) with promo code CNETMOMS30. The black one works out to be your best overall deal, with a final price of $105.

Insignia 8-quart Pressure Cooker: $40 (save $80)

Best Buy

Let’s be honest, handing Mom a gift that says “this will help you with the housework!” just isn’t cool. But this particular item is a major exception to the rule: It’s the must-have kitchen appliance, and has been for the last few years’ worth of holidays.

Although the Walmart deal on the Instant Pot has ended, this Insignia alternative from Best Buy is just as good — maybe even a little better. That’s because it’s an 8-quart cooker, so able to cook for bigger crowds than the 6-quart.

Apple Watch Series 3: $199 (save $80)

Screenshot by Sean Hollister/CNET

At $199, the Apple Watch Series 3 still isn’t what I’d call cheap — but it’s $80 off the regular price and without question the best iPhone-compatible smartwatch.

The white sport-band goes with everything, but you can make this gift even more fun with some colorful replacements, like this three-pack for $14. While you’re at it, look at all the other inexpensive Apple Watch accessories you can get.

AirPod alternative: The BlitzWolf BW-FYE1 wireless earbuds for $33 (save $17)

BlitzWolf

When you apply promo code CNETBWFYE1 at checkout, you’ll get an exclusive deal on one of my favorite AirPod alternatives.

The BW-FYE1 features a compact charging case, autopairing the moment you open that case and a comfy stay-put fit. I find the sound quality to be quite good overall, though a bit lacking in bass because these don’t really seal inside the ear (same as AirPods). But for Mom, simplicity and comfort are key, right? These deliver.

Facebook Portal: $99 (save $100)

Facebook

Don’t just call Mom to say hi — video-call her! It’s the 21st century, after all.

That option has rarely been cheaper now that the Facebook Portal is on sale for $99. It’s not only a dedicated video-call machine, but also a voice-powered smart assistant, able to play music, show videos, even run a slideshow of family photos. Even if you don’t have a Portal of your own, you can call Mom (and vice versa) via Facebook Messenger.

By the way, if you’re interested in getting both a Portal and a Portal Plus, you can save $200 if you purchase from Facebook proper.

UE Wonderboom mini Bluetooth speaker: $43 (save $37)

Sarah Tew/CNET

The Wonderboom is compact, fully waterproof speaker that plays very loud for its size, with a good amount of bass. It also floats in water and has decent battery life. CNET readers can get it for just $42.99 with promo code CNETBOOM, applied at checkout.

Just one thing to note: Although it’s new, and available in your choice of colors, it ships in brown-box, rather than retail, packaging.