Shenzhen – Following a YouTube review of its Zephyr and Zephyr Pro mask, which boasted N95-grade filters, gaming hardware company Razer has retracted all claims on its products.
Shenzhen-based YouTuber who goes by the handle Naomi’ SexyCyborg’ Wu conducted a video review of Razer’s Zephyr mask, which was marketed as an “air purifying mask” with N95-grade filters.”
As an advocate for masks since the Covid-19 pandemic started, Wu said that her stance had cost her a lot of followers as not everyone agrees with her position.
She first described the mask’s hardware, commenting on magnetic filters and overall “nice design.”
Wu then focused on the health safety characteristics of the mask, comparing it to other medical-grade masks and equipment.
“That said, loose-fitting PAPRs (Powered Air Purifying Respirator) are by far the most comfortable kind of mask or respirator to wear for any amount of time as well as the safest,” she commented.
“The product concept (Zephyr’s) is definitely sound, and Razer should be congratulated for being willing to take a chance and step up, innovate and try to make a product that truly serves the public good,” Wu noted.
However, it was not designed by people who knew very much about masks, wearables or biomedical engineering, she added.
“The mask itself is not NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) approved and would never get NIOSH approval” due to problems with fit, filtration and protection, she said.
On the previously marketed “N95” materials used in the mask, Wu said such marketing was “misleading and dishonest.”
N95 is a certification for the entire mask, not a part of it, she said.
“It’s just deceptive marketing,” Wu said. “The mask can never, and should never, have N95 anything written anywhere on the packaging or marketing material.”
Following the video, which has had over 1 million views since its Nov 2, 2021 release, Razer issued a statement on its Twitter account on Jan 8 to explain the “science” behind its masks.
“We’ve taken feedback and guidance from regulatory agencies to establish our testing protocols for the Razer Zephyr and Razer Zephyr Pro,” the company said, encouraging members of the public to “review the test results” included in the post.
We've taken feedback and guidance from regulatory agencies to establish our testing protocols for the Razer Zephyr and Razer Zephyr Pro. Review the test results and learn more about how we've designed the wearable air purifier*: https://t.co/a64JBKiaOe pic.twitter.com/IunXhc4fkS
— R Λ Z Ξ R (@Razer) January 8, 2022
Somewhere in the fine print on its website, Razer noted, “The Razer Zephyr and Zephyr Pro are not certified N95 masks, medical devices, respirators, surgical masks, or personal protective equipment (PPE) and are not meant to be used in medical or clinical settings.”
Gaming website GamesRadar also said on Jan 13 that Razer had removed all mention of “N95-grade” from its website and marketing materials of the Zephyr masks.
Razer has also reached out to Wu, informing her of their plan to remove the N95 marketing from the website. “Sorry, but no – it’s past that,” said Wu.
“Media outlets have labelled it an N95 mask, immune-compromised individuals and healthcare workers all over social media are calling it an N95 mask,” she said in a Twitter thread.
Razer confirmed in a Vulcan Post article that it is currently removing all references to “N95-Grade Filter” from marketing materials and reaching out to existing customers to clarify./TISG
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