Razer Zephyr review: because style must keep up with the times

One of Razer‘s projects in recent years is Project Hazel, a smart mask. That has become Razer Zephyr, which takes most of the safe, social, sustainable elements from its predecessor, with various upgrades and tweaks to the design.

WHAT IS IT?

The mask is built for extended use, a necessity in the current climate. It advertises a longer-lasting battery, for one, but the in-build voice-amp was removed for that battery life and also making it lighter. The dual-adjustable head-straps it now has is meant to help it fit all head sizes, and also has 2 larger air exchange chambers and a third passive one for better air flow. In addition to those, fans in the air exchange chambers have fans to help you keep cool with two speeds that can be activated with the push of a button.

The box comes with 3 sets of N95 grade filters for up to 9 days of coverage, besides all the necessary accessories for charging, carrying it around and an anti-fog spray.

THE FIT

The removal of the voice amp allows the Razer Zephyr to be more breathable and comfortable, featuring bigger valves for improved airflow, and fitting a larger battery for longer use. Its weight is also reduced. As promised, the dual-adjustable head straps in tandem with the silicone face seal is meant to make the mask a snug fit. The silicone face seal is removable for you to clean and sanitize it daily. The straps work as such where it can shake if you don’t fasten it properly, and will feel too tight if you over-adjust, so fiddle around with it as you need.

The transparent design – which you can jazz up with Razer Chroma RGB lighting – means you can have a bit of head-turning style while being more “social”, in the sense that your face isn’t fully obscured by your mask. The anti-fog spray ensures a clear view too. The Razer Zephyr’s features do mean that it’s on the larger side which could obscure your view some. At a lower fan speed without the RGB on, you can expect up to 8 hours of battery life.

The air chambers are meant to allow freshly filtered air to flow freely and helping you breathe more comfortably, further assisted with the two fan speeds at either 4200 or 6200 RPM. Generally, the faster speed would be better for more active users. However, mask on after 15 minutes during a workout doesn’t feel comfortable, so you might want to more slower-paced walks or when you work.

SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY

The N95 grade filters, air exchange chambers and dual-intake fans means you’re both ensured safety and breathable comfort. The Razer Zephyr is FDA-registered and lab-tested to filter at least 99% of air particles (up to 0.3 microns) as you breathe, the N95 filters also featuring two-way filtration for inhaled and exhaled air. They’re meant to last 3x longer than regular daily disposable masks as well.

The cover uses a magnet to help attach the filter, so it won’t come off, while being easy to replace as needed. Sustainability is further emphasized in how the filters are lab-tested to maintain optimized efficiency for up to 3 days, and produces up to 80% less material waste.

For regular use, the mask is designed to be water resistant to small splashes, but it’s not recommended if you need to use it in wetter conditions. Cleaning it is simple: wash the silicone and straps gently with soap water, rinse thoroughly and dry them without placing them in direct sunlight. Exteriors can be wiped down with a damp cloth. What you want to avoid will be the inner plastic surface, as it could damage the anti-fog layer which prevents condensation.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

The Razer Zephyr can only be connected to one mobile device at a time, which is hardly an issue. The mask can connect with the app via Bluetooth, only for controlling the fan speed and internal / external lighting.

As promised, the comfortable design avoids any aches you may feel from having a regular mask’s strap over your ears for the entire day. If you’re particularly prone to sweating, the sweat on the silicone face seal might cancel out the comfort. As mentioned, even with the fan on, the mask isn’t recommended for workout sessions, but will be fine in situations outside of more strenuous activity.

That said, this mask is one way to sport the modern fashion thanks to its overall design and the RGB lighting. Should more manufacturers decide to try their hand at a similar product, the age of designer masks might be something to consider.