I saw wireless earbuds that are also air purifiers, and they claim to be a maskless mask
Like many world-changing events, new applications of existing technology can lead to some interesting concepts. For example, the Covid-19 pandemic has led to the creation of masks with audio components. The controversial Razer Zephyr had external speakers, will.i.am’s Xupermask Honeywell collaboration had earbuds, and of course there was Dyson’s air purifying mask-headphone combo. When the pandemic and lockdown finally ended, the idea of portable air filtration devices with audio listening devices more or less disappeared.
That idea is being revived by Ible, a Taiwanese company founded in 2015. The company is currently known for its Airvida line of wearable air purifiers that resemble necklaces. At CES 2025, Ible unveiled its upcoming E1 & T1 wireless earbuds that double as air purifiers. Users can listen to music and make phone calls, while the air purifiers claim to offer something similar to an invisible face mask.
While I wasn’t able to test the hardware in person, I visited the booth and spoke with the company, and both audio devices offer a different look at the future where the best earbuds are also health devices, which are increasingly a thing.
The Airvida E1 is a pair of neckband earbuds that combine 25 dB noise cancellation with an ionic air purifier. The device weighs just 42 grams, is connected via Bluetooth and offers a battery life of eight hours with audio or over 30 hours without audio. The device is charged via a magnetic charging cable. When it comes to sound quality, the E1 uses a 13mm dynamic driver and a multi-layer composite diaphragm for rich sound and robust bass.
Interestingly, it can also be used as a desktop air purifier when used with a stand. The Airvida Connect app provides real-time air quality updates, pollen alerts and adjustable ion levels. This device claims to achieve 99.9% removal of PM2.5 particles and pollen allergens, along with 99.7% efficacy against Influenza A and SARS-CoV-2 viruses.
Meanwhile, the T1 appears to be the world’s first portable ionic air purifier integrated with noise-canceling earbuds. Like the T1, the audio device hopes to provide 99.9% protection against air pollutants, allergens and viruses, while delivering superior sound quality with active noise cancellation and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity.
At 9.5 grams per earbud, they’re certainly hefty – something like the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds weigh around 5 grams – and battery life is quite low at five hours of use (or about 24 hours for air purification). The USB rechargeable charging case offers three charging options for long-term use.
Still, 9.5 grams is light (and small) for an air purifying solution, so we can forgive that. It generates more than 30 million negative ions per cm³ and promises to effectively clean the air around the facial area. It comes with replacement eartips in three sizes and two color options: Space Black and Pearl White. It is intended to be useful in a variety of environments and operates efficiently at temperatures from 0°C to 40°C and relative humidity from 30–85%.
Both the E1 and T1 earbuds combine innovative air purification with advanced audio technology, and I hope they live up to their claims and prove useful for those with breathing problems, allergies or those trying to avoid germs – and that the music can hold up too keep. What’s the point of breathing more clearly if the sound doesn’t put you in the mood to belt out some tunes?
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