14 DAY TRIAL // We live in crazy times, and unfortunately, while these crazy times are becoming the new normal, the face mask was (at least in the last couple of years), still is, and will probably continue to be the accessory nobody wants but everybody carries around.
So more often than not, walking around with your face covered is something that no longer makes people look awkward at you.
Enter the Razer Zephyr wearable air purifier.
If you’re familiar with what Razer does, you probably know already that the company has come up with some pretty weird ideas over the years, and occasionally, these weird ideas actually entered the mass production.
The Zephyr is based on a prototype called Project Hazel and which envisioned a wearable air purifier that looks exactly like the final model, but also came with built-in voice amplification. This feature was eventually dropped to make the device overall lighter, but otherwise, Zephyr and Hazel are like two drops of water.
There’s something that must be said from the very beginning: Zephyr isn’t by any means a face mask supposed to protect you from COVID-19. Not at all. Razer clearly states this is an air purifier, not a medical device, and despite the N95 grade filters, it shouldn’t by any means be considered a replacement for an N95 mask.
Zephyr is just that, an air purifier, though the big and often awkward difference from the products already on the market is that it’s an air purifier that you wear on your face.
Razer promises approximately 13.2mmH20 breathability, and thanks to its replaceable filters, it can filter air both inhaled and exhaled. Because breathing easily is so vital, Zephyr comes with two built-in fans with adjustable speeds (4200 to 6200 rpm). The icing on the cake is the Chrome RGB lighting that all Razer customers out there really love.
On paper, Zephyr looks like a revolutionary device that lets you breathe fresh (or better said, clean) air no matter where you are.
But it’s the “where you are” part that’s raising some doubts here.
I must admit that I didn’t go to a supermarket wearing the Zephyr, but I did go outside trying to see people’s reactions while they walked past me. More often than not, they stared at me as they were approaching before eventually trying to keep a safe distance. Obviously, the pandemic most likely contributed to this fear of getting close to someone with such an unusual mask on the face, but it’s pretty clear the Zephyr will contribute to social distancing wherever you go (again, keep in mind it’s not supposed to protect you from COVID-19).
Most of my friends agreed that I was looking like I was getting ready for the apocalypse, and I’m pretty sure strangers were thinking the same as well.
But on the other hand, using the Zephyr is a cool, unusual experience. I must admit that I enjoyed tweaking the Chroma lights every now and then, and without a doubt, you can’t wear this purifier without the lights. It’s like eating a sandwich without bread. Chrome lights are an essential part of the whole thing, and even though they’re so close to your eyes, they’re not bothering the wearer in any way.
What could be an issue, on the other hand, is the fan system. It feels awkward to hear the fans at work, especially while you breathe, but it’s pretty much just a matter of time until you get used to the whole thing.
Without a doubt, wearing such a bulky device on your face could seem uncomfortable, but to my surprise, it is not. Razer has managed to do the Zephyr incredibly light, and even though I’m wearing glasses, the purifier remained in place all the time.
The soft silicone face seal and the dual strap design certainly help, with the tight seal also coming with the added benefit that your glasses will never fog up while wearing the Zephyr.
The air purifier comes with replaceable air filters, and given they’re placed so close to your face, you’d better make sure you follow Razer’s recommendations and replace them periodically.
CONCLUSION
From where I’m standing, the Zephyr is a cool device aimed at a very, very limited niche. For example, I can’t imagine a businessman wearing this product while walking into a meeting, but on the other hand, I can totally see a skater proudly adjusting the RGB lights while taking a break at the skatepark.
The Zephyr, however, could be just the first step towards creating a product aimed at the masses. It already has a very advanced feature package, it fits all head sizes, can last up to 8 hours per charge, and can even be used without the fans. And more importantly, it lets you breathe easily, especially when the fans are on.
But at the end of the day, giving up on this awkwardly cool design isn’t something Razer will probably be willing to do. This is good news for my neighbors: rest assured, you won’t see anyone else wearing an apocalypse mask too soon.
