Razer sells out of its futuristic $99 face masks within minutes

By Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer
Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer

    Chris Morris is a former contributing writer at Fortune, covering everything from general business news to the video game and theme park industries.

    Razer’s futuristic take on face masks turned heads as soon as the company unveiled it at CES 2021 in January. And now the company says it has sold out of the $99 Razer Zephyr minutes after it put them up for sale.

    The Zephyr is a bit more than the paper or cloth face mask you’ve encountered throughout society over the past 18 months. It resembles a prop worn by the villain Bane, played by actor Tom Hardy, in the film The Dark Knight Rises. And it has a price tag at which most people would scoff.

    That didn’t stop enthusiasts from grabbing it when it went on sale Thursday night. It’s a story told in two tweets:
    https://twitter.com/Razer/status/1451386513116254209

    https://twitter.com/Razer/status/1451413025529942020

    The Zephyr has two N95 grade filters that Razer says last three times longer than single-use disposable masks and fans that increase air circulation for increased comfort. The masks also have interior lights, highlighting the wearer’s mouth, and anti-fog coating.

    Additional filters cost $30 for a 10-pack.

    Razer did not say how many Zephyr masks it initially put up for sale but did indicate that it planned to make more and would alert customers when those become available.

    The Zephyr is one of the more unique “smart” face masks on the market, but it’s hardly the only one. LG, last year, unveiled its own high-tech mask, called the PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier, which went on sale in select regions earlier this year.  And Apple has created its own mask for employees.

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