This year, why not ditch the flowers, chocolate and mildly humorous cards and instead treat your mum to something a bit special.
I have hand-picked some items that are sure to impress!
- MAHI Leather Stockholm iPad/Tablet Sleeve
- Amazon Kindle Paperwhite E-Reader
- Activity Trackers
- Headphones/Earbuds
Bose SoundLink® around-ear wireless headphones II
The Bose brand is synonymous with quality audio items, from home cinema, to speakers and some of the best consumer headphones on the market.
The only issue is that reputation usually comes at a price! The SoundLink 2 headphones are the sweet spot in the Bose line up.
Although not cheap, they are in the middle of the price spectrum, deliver brilliant Bose Sound and are Wireless. This means they will connect with any Bluetooth enabled or NFC Device.
They do not have noise cancelling qualities of the flagship QC35 range . However, as they are around ear, instead of on ear, and at nearly half the price, they will make a very welcome gift for anyone who regularly commutes or travels.
The Bose SoundLink® around-ear wireless headphones II are £199 direct from Bose, and come in either Black or White/Cream.
Apple BeatsX
Do not be concerned by Apple in the name, these are again wireless headphones that uses Bluetooth to connect, so your device does not need to be an iDevice.
BeatsX are new to the market and previewed on the site only a month ago. These ear bud style headphones are perfect for those who may lead a more active lifestyle.
With 8 hours of playback from a single full charge they will last for most flights or trips to the gym. They have an Apple W1 chip built-in which brings a feature called Fast Fuel, resulting in a further 2 hours of playback after just a 5 min charge!
The built-in Microphone means they can also double up as a very usual headset for anyone who spends most of their time on phone calls. A selection of ear buds are also provided to ensure the best possible fit.
BeatsX are £129 online from Apple and come in Grey, Blue, White or Black.
Bowers & Wilkins P3 On-Ear Headphones
If full ear headphones are to big and ear bud pellets are not favourable, then your third option is on ear. These tend to be slightly smaller, slimmer units compared to the full over ear option.
Bowers & Wilkins are another big name is high end audio equipment, and at the moment there is a very good offer on their P3 headphones.
The Series 1 (pictured) has just been replaced with the second series, and some retailers have reduced the price on these great headphones.
They are not wireless, which could be an issue for some! The earpads are made from heat-sensitive memory foam that moulds to the shape of your ears, becoming more comfortable and enhancing sound quality over time, claim B&W.
At the end of the headband, on each side, are hinges so the headset can collapse and be stowed in the provided hard case, when not in use.
The best deal I can find currently is £79 at John Lewis Online. The P3 comes in White, Blue or Black and at time of press they are all in stock.
B&O Beoplay H5 Wireless Headphones
If you are wanting to spoil your Mum this Mother’s Day then a gift from Bang and Olufsen headphone range will be greatly welcomed.
The H5 in ear wireless range are a luxurious treat. Instead of the usual rubber cable linking the ear buds the H5 has a braided textile covering.
They are splash resistant so are just as usable in the gym or whilst travelling. They connect via Bluetooth to any current day smartphone, MP3 or tablet and will provide 5 hours of playback on every charge.
This is slightly shorter than other similar models for playback, but the provided USB charing cube will deliver a full charge within 2 hours when connected to a power source.
There is also an app for Android and iOS users which will help enhance the audio playback by giving you control of some settings!
The Beoplay H5 are £199 and come in Charcoal Sand???, Black, Moss Green (really) and Rose.
Sony ZX220BT
Ok, so these probably have the least desirable name out of the list, but do not let that put you off. For the price, these are possibly the best, big brand, wireless headphones on the market today.
There are no frills or special features here. Just a really good pair of headphones. Sony clearly only had 2 objectives when making these. Be wireless and last the day! They ticked both boxes.
With Bluetooth and NFC connectivity they are compatible with any Bluetooth device. The built-in battery delivers 8 hours of playback and can be charged up via USB when needed.
Other additions include a microphone for making calls and the ear pieces swivel so the headset sits flat on your chest when you remove them.
Sony has them at £70 but they are regularly on offer at sites like Amazon for c.£50.
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