If we’d seen this product last year we would have laughed it off as a weird, CES-only type of gadget. Unfortunately we all know how 2020 went and how 2021 is continuing at this stage. For the modern pandemic though MaskFone has you covered — literally.
The brainchild of UK-based company Binatone, the MaskFone is a mask with true-wireless headphones built in. The multi-layered mask uses replaceable medical-grade N95 filters to give you a 5-layer filtration system — the protection you and others need during a deadly pandemic.
The mask includes built-in wireless earbuds with noise cancellation features which offer up to 12 hours of play back with a microphone situated within the mask. The built-in microphone allows for clearer phone calls — who here has not suffered from unintelligible interactions dues to mask wearing? (well, Melbournites will know it all too well) The mask also houses controls for your music/phone calls.
The MaskFone is washable — the headphones can be detached before doing this — with the Maskfone offering IPX5 water and sweat resistance. For times when you are not using the earbuds there is also a magnetic earbud holder.
As you’d expect in 2021 the mask supports Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri and it is available from MaskFone now but also from Amazon US from February 1 for US$49.95 with more retailers to follow. At this stage it is unclear if it will arrive at any Australian retailers but hopefully by the time it does we won’t need it anymore.
For more information head on over to the MaskFone global website.
EFTM’s coverage of CES 2021 is supported by Hisense, Samsung and Powered by Telstra 5G.
