High-tech mask with cool aesthetics
The Razer Zephyr sea breeze mask uses N95 filters and has some simple design styles, such as RGB lighting effects, but its ventilation fan may be loud.
Undeniably, we are surprised that the gaming hardware manufacturer Razer decided to produce the smart mask that was launched at CES earlier this year, code-named Project Hazel. The Razer Zephyr is priced at $99 and is now sold as a wearable air purifier, which is almost the same as the gaming hardware you can get. In other words, all the products provided by the mask are relatively affordable and look cool in the post-apocalyptic way of role-playing. RGB lighting adds some charm, while the replaceable N95 filter and integrated fan make it truly worthwhile for daily use. The voice from fans can become very annoying, you can only buy it directly from Razer during certain online drops, but as long as you still need masks in the next few years, Zephyr is one of your most interesting and high-tech models. purchase.
Zephyr comes in a cloth bag with some additional filters, a Razer brand USB-C cable with a plastic cap, and a 1 fluid ounce bottle of anti-fog spray that can be used inside the mask. The mask itself weighs 7.25 ounces and feels surprisingly light when worn on the face. Lay flat, it measures 7.1 x 4.1 x 4.1 inches (HWD).
The original Project Hazel mask design included ear hooks, raised silicone nose masks, and (most promising) voice amplification technology so that people can hear your voice clearly. Unfortunately, none of these prototype ideas entered the final product.
Instead, Zephyr has the following features: A clear but dimmed plexiglass front panel so people can see your mouth (even at night, due to indoor lights); the two two-speed fans behind the N95 filter can be replaced Helps with ventilation; additional, narrow, replaceable filters at the chin level; Razer Chroma RGB light ring around the ventilator fan; and a universal silicone mask to hold the mask close to the head. All filters have a magnetic metal cover to hold them in place; the mask is also held in place with magnets, but you can easily remove it for cleaning.
The double strap system replaces the earring fasteners. An elastic cord with a loop is behind your neck, and an extension goes up through the back of your head. Drawstring fasteners can help you tighten the straps. The straps are rubberized and comfortable to wear. The system works, but if you wear glasses or need to put on or take off a mask quickly, it can be troublesome.
The box says Zephyr uses "99% BFE tested N95 filter"-BFE is the bacterial filtration efficiency. This is different from Virus Filtration Efficiency (VFE), which are tested differently by these standards. Razer told us that it has conducted BFE certification testing in cooperation with a company called Intertek. Considering that the N95 standard is based on 95% BFE, 99% is quite good. Razer also submitted Zephyr to the FDA. Despite this, Zephyr is clearly not a medical-grade mask. Your surgeon should not wear it.
Each Zephyr comes with three sets of disposable filters. Razer says that in some places, if used for 8 hours a day, the filters can be used for 3 days; in other cases, it says they can last up to 72 hours. Either way, if you don't wear a mask, you can squeeze out a few days. If you buy the Razer Zephyr starter pack for $149.99, you will get 33 sets of filters that provide 99 days of protection. Razer bought it on its own and sold 10 sets of filters (with 30 days of protection) for $29.99.
There is a USB-C port inside the right side of the mask for charging. If you don't use any lights and keep the fan low, you should be able to use it for 8 hours on a single charge. You can enjoy three and a half hours with the lights on and the fan turned up. I ran mine and each setting was below these estimates.
You must connect Zephyr to your Android or iOS phone via Bluetooth to control the lights and check the battery status. The app also allows you to control the fans, but you don't need it to turn them on and off.
You can choose to display static light, choose a pulsating pattern in two colors, or set it to cycle through the possible 16.8 million colors. The external ring light can mimic breathing patterns, display static colors, display all colors, or present a wave effect, in which the halo appears to rotate and constantly switch tones. If you want an interesting lighting effect, set the breathing option of the same color both inside and outside; the pulse option is also very simple.
Zephyr offers several useful benefits, but when you put it on, the first thing you should do is announce, "I am the liquidator of Gotham." Get rid of it early.
I wear glasses. Fogging is the most annoying thing about wearing a mask, whether it is a fabric with wire on my nose or a disposable N95 surgical mask. The silicone gasket inside the Zephyr is always tight enough so that even if I have a beard and a mustache, it will not fog up during the test. However, Razer should provide a more sized silicone case; when trying to speak, my mouth feels a little bit trapped inside, and the bottom is a little too close to my lips. It is not enough to cover my hairy chin.
Wearing a mask for a few hours is very comfortable. If you can tolerate the noise, this comfort will increase when you run the ventilation fan. At high settings (6,200 RPMs), the whine is extreme. The effect is better at low (4,200 RPM), which is more like white noise. If you use Zephyr in an office where the fan is running, it may annoy everyone around you.
The lights outside are very interesting. I can imagine people attending a carnival or LAN party enjoying them, but in reality, they are just a fake conversation starter that drains the battery. Razer should consider making a more affordable version of Zephyr that can ditch the external halo. However, indoor lights are necessary. Due to the smoked glass appearance of the front panel, your mouth would not be clearly visible without the internal LED. Think of them as diving helmets, with light shining on the wearer's face-so other people can see you.
You can easily open the mask by pressing and holding the button on the right air inlet. Tap once to set the fan to high, the other to low, and then turn off. However, it will not affect the light show-if it is turned on, it will stay on until you adjust the lights using the Zephyr mobile app. The Bluetooth pairing process is very fast, but plan ahead-don't enter a dark movie theater with all tilted lights.
You can use Zephyr without a battery and still get all the protection from the filter. But I found that a fan is needed when walking-otherwise, if you are remotely active, there will be no ventilation and moisture accumulation in the mask.
If you are considering Zephyr, you need to consider some real disadvantages. The first is that you cannot put the mask in your pocket. At best, you can hang it around your neck with a band, like a necklace.
The magnets that hold the filters in place are relatively effective, but a wrong impact can skew them and cause you to lose N95 protection. My four-year-old kid tried to grab the mask, and the metal disc cover flew out of his roaming hands. He didn't even try. There is no harm in the twist lock option.
Limited visibility is another potential hazard. The mask protrudes about an inch from your face and cuts into your peripheral vision as you look down. At least, forget to read your phone easily without lifting it high. What's worse is trying to navigate while walking-you can easily miss stairs or curbs. Therefore, Zephyr is not ideal for runners or joggers. You must also fasten it tightly to prevent it from falling off your face.
Talking in a mask can also make your voice sullen; after all, you are speaking through a thin window. It underscores how helpful the speech enhancement technology Razer originally planned to include. Abandoning it will almost certainly make the mask lighter and cheaper, but I will definitely trade it for external lights, especially if Razer can build sounds like Bane, Darth Vader, and Ghostface. A fool can dream.
Perhaps the ultimate obstacle to overcome is whether you can wear Zephyr in public. It boils down to your personality and how much positive and negative attention you can handle. I have experienced screams of joy for it, and saw desperate shaking of my head. Some people commented that the mask reminded them of working in a painting company.
Razer Zephyr has not fulfilled all the promises of Project Hazel, but in the best case, it is an effective and fun personal air purifier that can make your travel more interesting and comfortable, especially In situations where you can't wear a traditional mask. If you are willing to go through the hassle of signing up for Razer's sales announcement and trying to catch one, then for some kind of nerd, the entrance fee is worth it. Just don't pay the scalpers the thousands of dollars they charge on other websites, and be prepared to glance at the grocery store once in a while.
The Razer Zephyr sea breeze mask uses N95 filters and has some simple design styles, such as RGB lighting effects, but its ventilation fan may be loud.
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Eric has been writing about technology for 28 years. He is a founding team member of Windows Sources, FamilyPC and Access Internet Magazine (all disbanded, it is not his fault). He is the author of two novels, BETA TEST (an unusually easy doomsday story-Publisher Weekly) and KALI: THE GHOSTING OF SEPULCHER BAY. He works at his home in Ithaca, New York.
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