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Sam Machkovech-November 5, 2021 at 8:26 PM UTC

For the past two weeks, I have worn a $99 Razer Zephyr mask almost everywhere-but it is not the same as wearing it.

Razer set foot in the field of high-tech wearable devices for the first time, launching a "N95" mask, claiming that its performance exceeds your expectations of fabrics. The company set quite high expectations for the initial prototype display of the mask in January, just to reduce the functionality and make the mask cheaper and lighter. However, this release is far from the ubiquitous cloth masks today.

Since it comes from Razer, a peripheral manufacturer known for its neon-colored gaming mice, headsets and keyboards, this mask looks very eye-catching. Watch it! Razer Zephyr Razer Zephyr is basically a gaming mouse, you can tie it to your face, RGB lighting effects and more. So I had to try it.

I have gotten rid of the experience of being equally impressed and overwhelmed by the mask. If nothing else, Razer has made an interesting attempt to make the mask more interesting. You have to wear a mask anyway, Razer seems to be using this product. Why not stand out?

For some everyday technology products, "imperfect but interesting" may still be worth buying—especially if the product adds enough productivity advantage to your daily life to offset any compromises. The same description is harder to sell for things that are directly attached to the face.

Therefore, most of my Razer Zephyr and wind masks are stuffed into my bag, to show off as a party trick or to wear as an experimental lark. But its position in my bag is right next to my KN95 mask, and I am always eager to change back to those as soon as possible.

Zephyr's initial teased vision was tempting, even though it looked like a prop in the old classic "cybergoth rave" GIF. The 2021 CES version promotes the following:

Of all the proposed "Project Hazel" features, only three did not enter the final cut, as indicated by the asterisks.

The initial publicity made me feel that Razer understands some common problems with masks. I am particularly optimistic about the combination of its lights, microphones, speakers and translucent plastic, especially because a few of my friends have hearing impairments (normal masks will cover up the sound and prevent lip language from being read).

Nevertheless, I am still worried that this over-designed mask may cause excessive weight or heat. Obviously, some price must be paid, whether it is weight, heat or cost. Although I will never know how the original model actually performed, the current model certainly cannot meet my accessibility hopes.

At the right angle, the photo of the Razer Zephyr with translucent plastic and internal lighting looks clear enough for lip-reading. But in fact, this translucent plastic poses more problems than lip-reading opportunities.

Razer painted this part of the mask in dark colors, and the way the entire suit was molded makes it impossible to manually replace this part with clearer options. Why does Razer do this? Probably because the shape of the plastic front is enough to distort your lips, so that your mouth looks like sitting on a small, connected TV.

In order to make the lips visible, Zephyr's internal lighting needs to be set to a high and stable brightness, which will generate significant heat in the mask. This is where this comes into play for the internal fan. They run at two speeds; "low" makes a slight and obvious whine, and "high" is loud enough to sound like a small leaf blower on your face. You don't need to turn on the fan to use the mask, but "low" is essential for long-term comfort, thanks to the fit of the plastic gasket around the nose and mouth. And when the internal light is on, only "high" can maintain heat and prevent internal fogging.

Either way, lighting cannot compensate for natural problems such as fogging, viewing angles, and visual distortion. Lip reading is feasible in some situations, but it requires the wearer to keep the head mostly still. For those who do not rely on lip-reading, the plastic casing and the constantly running fan will inhibit ordinary people’s speech. Unless you are in a quiet room, you may lose most of what you say, or you need to speak at a higher-than-usual volume and extra pronunciation.

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