LG Adds Mic and Speakers to Its Air Purifying Mask, Launched Next Month

LG has announced an updated version of its high-tech air-purifying face mask, the LG PuriCare Portable Air Purifier. The company did not announce pricing or widespread availability, but said PuriCare would launch in Thailand next month “with other markets to follow once approved by local regulators.” Between the ongoing pandemic and widespread air pollution, there is reason to believe that there will be a demand for products like this.

LG first announced the mask last year, which uses replaceable air filters and built-in fans to filter the air. LG says the new version has a smaller, lighter motor, along with built-in microphones and speakers that amplify the wearer’s voice. (Video of the original mask shows that it muffles speech quite effectively.) This latest technology, which LG calls VoiceON, “automatically recognizes when users speak and amplifies their voices through the built-in speaker.”

LG isn’t the first company to put this kind of voice amplification technology in a face mask, with Razer’s Project Hazel mask (expected to arrive in limited quantities later this year) offering a similar setup. Razer’s goggle also has LED lighting, so take that, LG.

The new LG PuriCare mask weighs 94 grams, has a built-in 1000mAh battery and charges in two hours via USB. LG claims it’s comfortable enough to wear for up to eight hours straight, but in my experience no mask is really comfortable after a few hours.

Notably, LG is not claiming that the mask will protect against the novel coronavirus in any way, although it did suggest that was the case when it first announced the product. It is true that some air-purifying filters capture particles the size of the virus that causes COVID-19, but without scientific studies on this particular product or more details on the type of filters it uses, we cannot. and should not be made. claims its effectiveness in this regard. A mask is definitely better than no mask, and the best mask is one that you will happily wear.

Anyway, welcome to 2021: we are now making specification updates on face masks.