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LG shows off battery-powered air-purifying face mask at IFA trade show

LG has yet to announce a release date for the device.

David Priest Former editor
David Priest is an award-winning writer and editor who formerly covered home security for CNET.
David Priest
2 min read
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LG's take on the face mask.

LG

LG announced last week an air-purifying face mask, which the company plans to show off today at the IFA trade show in Berlin. The face mask will fit like many others, with loops that hook behind the ears, but LG said it'll include two high-quality HEPA filters that can remove at least 99.97% of particulates in the air down to 0.3 microns in size (HEPA filters often boast higher efficiencies in capturing particulates larger or smaller than that particularly difficult-to-catch 0.3 micron size). 

In a world continuing to face the coronavirus pandemic, an air-purifying mask seems likely to gain traction. While the price and release date haven't been announced, LG offered other information about the device.

The mask includes 820-mAh battery-powered dual fans, along with the filters. On high settings, the battery life will last about 2 hours, LG said, and on low it will last about 8 hours. "With its Dual Fans ... [the] wearable air purifier allows users to take in clean, filtered air," the consumer electronics giant said in its press release. In addition, the fans will adjust speed as you inhale and exhale to make breathing feel "effortless."

The mask will come with a case that both charges the battery and disinfects the mask with UV light.

While LG said the mask will clean the air coming in through the filters, its press release doesn't say the same about air going out. The announcement also didn't include any mention of whether the mask will protect users from COVID-19 more effectively than alternatives -- a subject already fraught in the realm of face masks and air purifiers

Watch this: LG shows off air-purifying face mask at IFA 2020

When I asked these questions over email, an LG spokesperson said, "We're waiting until further testing is complete before we're able to share full details."

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The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.