Razer removes mentions of N95 certification from its Zephyr masks, despite mentioning it in its ad

Officially launched by Razer in October 2020, the Zephyr protective masks promised to protect users from viruses like COVID-19, while offering a distinctive look with RGB elements. After a series of criticisms from consumers regarding the true degree of protection offered by the accessory, the manufacturer removed from its official website all descriptions that stated that it had a degree of protection “equivalent to the N95 standard”.

The N95 standard indicates that a mask is 95% efficient in filtering particles, the PFF2 have an efficiency of 92%.

Before the change, Razer claimed that its filters were up to 99% efficient at filtering bacteria, with effectiveness similar to the N95 standard. The company now describes them only as “air purifying filters,” but says tests have shown they can exceed 95% efficiency in filtering particulates.

Razer claims Zephyr is not a medical device

The changes to the way Razer describes the Zephyr and Zephyr Pro skins are related to the requirements for a skin to be considered N95 standard. In order for the accessories to obtain the classification, it would be necessary for their entire structure and not just the filters to be capable of obtaining a minimum efficiency of 95% in blocking particles present in the air.

In a statement, the manufacturer stated that its masks “are not medical devices, respirators, surgical masks, or personal protective equipment and should not be used in medical or clinical settings.” The company has also removed all references to the N95 standard from its official blog post explaining the technology behind the Razer Zephyr.

The changes came after a series of criticisms by YouTuber Naomi Wu, who in November 2021 published an extensive review of the skins and claimed that the marketing could be misleading. And he criticized the company again this week, following the reveal of the Razer Zephyr Pro during CES 2022.

Naomi claimed to have been contacted by the manufacturer, who warned her about removing references to the N95 standard on their official website. However, the content creator claims that the change is not enough, as the misinformation has already been widely circulated on media sites and removing it is not enough to change the public perception of the products. She believes they should be withdrawn from the market and re-released only after receiving a completely new design that meets the standards required by regulatory bodies.

Source: TheVerge