Like many other world-changing events, new applications of existing technology can lead to some interesting concepts. For example, the Covid-19 pandemic led to the creation of masks with sound components. The controversial Razer Zephyr had external speakers, will.i.am’s Xupermask Honeywell collaboration had earphones, and of course there was Dyson’s air purifier mask-headphone combo. When the pandemic and shutdown eventually ended, the idea of portable air filtration units with audio units faded away.
That idea is being revived by Ible, a Taiwanese company established in 2015. The company is currently known for its Airvida line of portable air purifiers that look like necklaces. During CES 2025, Ible unveiled its upcoming wireless E1 & T1 earphones that double as air purifiers. Users can listen to music and take phone calls while the cleansers claim to provide what looks like an invisible face mask.
While I wasn’t able to personally test the hardware, I visited the booth and spoke with the company, and both of these audio devices offer a different glimpse into the future where the best earphones are also health devices, which is becoming more and more a thing.
Airvida E1 is a pair of neck braces that combine a 25dB noise reduction with an ionic air purifier. Weighing only 42 grams, the device is connected via Bluetooth and provides eight hours of battery life with sound or over 30 hours without sound. The device is charged via a magnetic charging cable. When it comes to sound quality, the E1 uses a 13mm dynamic driver and multi-layer composite diaphragm for rich sound and robust bass.
Interestingly, it can also be used as a desk cleaner when used with a stand. The Airvida Connect app offers 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% effectiveness against influenza A and SARS-CoV-2 viruses.
(Image credit: Future)
Meanwhile, the T1 appears to be the world’s first portable ionic air purifier integrated with noise-cancelling earphones. 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.
They weigh 9.5 g per earphone, and they’re certainly hefty – something like the AirPods Pro 2’s buds weigh around 5g – and battery life is pretty low at five hours of use (or around 24 hours for air purification). The rechargeable USB charging case offers three charges for extended use.
Still, 9.5g is light (and small) for an air-purifying solution, so we can forgive that. It generates over 30 million negative ions per cm³ and promises to effectively purify the air around the face area. It comes with replacement ear tips in three sizes and two color options: Space Black and Pearl White. Intended to be used in various environments, it works effectively in temperatures from 0°C to 40°C and a relative humidity of 30-85%.
Both the E1 and T1 earphones blend innovative air purification with advanced audio technology, and I hope they can live up to their claims and prove useful to people with respiratory problems, allergies or those trying to avoid germs – and that the music can too stand up. What’s the point of breathing more clearly if the sound doesn’t get you in the mood to belt out some tunes?
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