Dyson’s new Zone air-purifying headphones look like something you’d expect to see in a dystopian sci-fi movie, maybe even on the …
Dyson’s new Zone air-purifying headphones look like something you’d expect to see in a dystopian sci-fi movie, maybe even on the head of a Batman villain. But it’s actually a real device you’ll be able to buy sometime this fall, Dyson says. For Dyson — a company that’s best known for its high-end vacuum cleaners — it’s the first foray into wearable technology. The Zone is a set of noise-canceling, over-ear headphones that « simultaneously deliver immersive sound to the ears and purified airflow to the nose and mouth, » addressing the « urban issues of air quality and noise pollution. » No word yet on pricing, but it seems safe to assume that these will cost more than your typical premium noise-canceling headphones from Bose and Sony, and maybe even more than Apple’s AirPods Max headphones. There’ve been rumors that Dyson was working on such a device for years. Back in 2018, Bloomberg reported that Dyson was working on an air purifier-headphone combo and in 2020, Dyson applied for a patent for a new pair of headphones with a built-in air filter. « Air pollution is a global problem — it affects us everywhere we go. In our homes, at school, at work and as we travel, whether on foot, on a bike or by public or private transport, » says Jake Dyson, chief engineer (and son of the company’s eponymous founder). « The Dyson Zone purifies the air you breathe on the move. And unlike face masks, it delivers a plume of fresh air without touching your face, using high-performance filters and two miniaturized air pumps.
