YES my Malaysia peeps, I don’t know about you, but I became one of the happiest persons on planet earth when our beloved government announced the lift of our lockdown 3.0 and when dine-ins are allowed again. Oh my god! The feeling of eating that fresh French fries, that hot food, the social life and of course, the gym!
But of course, as much as I am enjoying my freedom now, I am also taking precautions in my surroundings and keeping myself safe by being responsible just so that everything can go back to normal as soon as possible.
How? Introducing LG PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier!
Unboxing
Firstly, let’s go through the unboxing process of this LG PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier, where it comes with an eco-friendly package made out of recycled paper, with LG PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier text on top.
Opening up, you’ll see that LG truly cares about the environment and here it says boxes are not glued for easier unboxing and recycling, the two plastic pack can be used as a stand while charging.
Then below this note, you will see the Wearable Air Purifier itself.
Next, there are:
- Owners Manual & Warranty Card
- the Face guard
- the Strap Extender
- a really nice-looking suede portable pouch to store the device when you are moving around
- the two HEPA PuriCare™ filters
- a USB-A to USB-C Cable
- and the LG PuriCare™ inner filter covers
(Left: Face guard, Top right: Strap extender, Bottom right: Portable pouch)
(Top left: HEPA filters, Bottom left: USB-A to USB-C cable, Right: Inner filter covers)
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Build Quality
Next, let’s talk about the build quality of the Wearable Air Purifier itself.
My first impression just by holding on to it is that it is really really light! While yes, it is not as light as your typical cotton or surgical mask, but it was way lighter than the first generation, where it is now at only 94 grams compared to the first generation, which weighed at a heavier 126 grams.
In terms of the color options, at this point in time, in Malaysia, it comes with just one color which LG calls it Creamy White.
It has a built-in Li-on rechargeable battery of 1,000 milliamps which gives you up to 8 hours of usage with a single charge, around 2 hours charge time, where of course you could get even more hours, depending on your usage.
Then when it comes to charging, there is a USB Type-C charging port, which is nice, since USB C is already and easily available for all of us, compared to having an “old school” micro USB Cable, so nice one, LG!
Looking at the bottom left, we have the micro-miniature voice unit which projects your voice clearer with the VoiceON™ technology that does sound really good. When I spoke through the phone or even to people in real life, they were all in a huge surprise on how clear my voice was compared to a typical mask.
Then at the bottom here you have the air exhalation valve, and this not only makes you exhale easier but also prevents the typical fogging that you get when you wear glasses, that is usually the case for other typical masks.
Then near that, there is the power and another Bluetooth connectivity indicator for the app integration where you can track your breathing experience and product maintenance, which will be available really soon.
So one of the significant design improvements in the implementation of the fans, where instead of it being outside, which created quite a bulk on the mask, it is now integrated inside.
Where there are dual inverter fans in which the fan speed is controlled according to your breathing cycle and the volume of breath you exhale. So, the deeper you breathe in, the faster the fan will function. And this is also a really significant upgrade as the fans were manual on the previous generation.
As seen in the unboxing, the HEPA H13 filter of the fan is replaceable, for consistent clean air with the given PuriCare™ HEPA H13 grade filters which is also within the highest grade of HEPA as it traps 99.95 percent of air particles from coming through. And this HEPA Filter is recommended to be replaced every month, based on a 6 hour daily usage.
Next is the inner cover which blocks respiratory droplets and the faceguard which will minimize air leakage and inflow around the nose and chin. And yes, a daily inner cover replacement is recommended.
So once again, for those wearing glasses, you know this will be a lifesaver for you.
Not forgetting behind this face guard, there’s a magnet that easily attaches to the Wearable Air Purifier.
Also worth mentioning is the fact that the faceguard is made out of medical grade materials to protect you inside and out. This silicone has been checked for safety. It’s the same materials applied to oxygen respirators at hospitals and has been certified for electromagnetic safety. SGS has also tested it and proved the safety of its substance.
Then here you have the elastic fabric band ear strap which is adjustable to fit your ears, and for those who might be wearing this for longer hours, the strap extender which comes inside of the box is great to give your ears a little break.
Setup
Alright, let’s go through the Setup process of the mask.
Firstly, you’ll want to place the HEPA filter inside and make sure that you close it and hear a click sound and put it on the other side of the mask as well.
Then you will need to put the inner filter cover for added protection of your inner droplets or in other words, your spits when you talk. Then all you have to do is just place the face guard over it, with the 3 magnetic pulls, it’s so easy and convenient.
Then once it’s all in, after putting the mask on your face, adjust the side straps according to the fitting of your face.
Then press and hold the power button, and wait for a tiny beep sound and then there will be a light indicator that will tell you that it is turned on.
Once it is powered on, when you breathe, you can immediately hear the dual fan turned on as well, where this Wearable Air Purifier Fan is constantly at Auto mode, where the fan speed will always auto adjust based on your breathing algorithm.
Daily Use
So how is it like using the Wearable Air Purifier daily? Well, I’ve been using it for almost 3 weeks now and all I have to say is I really like it.
The main thing that I love about this is the fact that it is super comfortable, especially with the super flexible straps although someone told me that it “looks” like it’s not comfortable, and I just love how when I wear the mask I have that sort of extra comfortable feeling when I am breathing, as I do feel like I am breathing some extra clean air, because of the Dual Fans and the HEPA filter inside.
And because the fan moves as per the activity I do, it is perfect when I am working out, going for my outdoor walks, and walking casually as well.
I have also noticed that the fan also turns on automatically, when I am in a Lift, to ensure that I have the right amount of airflow, which is EXTREMELY sweet!
I know a fitness instructor where she does indoor cycling and also pilates to try this mask out. At first, her reaction like I mentioned earlier was “OMG my face will be so tired wearing it”, but as soon as she tried it on, she was impressed with how light it was!
Then to put it to the test, she actually cycled and taught a virtual class with the mask on. The fan helped her a lot with the breathing and it definitely is much more breathable than wearing a sports mask too.
Also, not having to smell the spits when exhaling on a typical screen face mask or even a sports mask while talking and teaching a class was a HUGE plus point for her.
Now as mentioned earlier, there is Bluetooth connectivity where the app is out really soon. To activate you will just have to press for about 7 – 8 seconds and you’ll hear a beep sound. Then the light indicator on the Bluetooth icon will pop up.
So yes, just be a bit more patient because well, good things come to those who wait because with the app, you can track your activity where you will also get notifications on like the filter management, time usage of the mask, the air intake and respiratory rate, breathing frequency, or even the real-time battery information, and even cooler the number of steps you take per day. I really can’t wait to try the app integration with this mask!
Another thing that is nice that is sold separately is the UV nano case which allows you to sterilize the mask with UV light for bacteria removal, filter drying, and also recharging.
Conclusion
So, the final question is, would I be using this every day? YES YES and YES!
To be fair, I have been rocking this mask as my daily wear just because of how it looks, with the whole Storm Trooper kind of looks, how light it feels, and not forgetting me wanting to be out, I can roam around without worrying too much about the air and viruses around me.
Of course, with great quality comes with a tad of a premium price where it is priced at RM849.
And remember, you are getting something which has a way better experience on you breathing daily, without any compromises, which is ultimately very important for our daily lives.
Remember, this is not just your ordinary mask but it is a Wearable Air Purifier, that complies with IMDA Standards, and MCMC as well, so If you can afford it, please do get yourself one, and trust me you won’t regret it.
So guys, with this, do let me know what you think – Will you get yourself one?
