News | Entertainment
19 Jan 2026 15:55
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Will.i.am has designed a futuristic face mask

    The Black Eyed Peas frontman has teamed up with costume designer Jose Fernandez and engineering company Honeywell to create the high-tech Xupermask that protects people from COVID-19


    It features a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration system and a filter port to protect against the virus and prevent common annoyances such as foggy glasses, as well as Bluetooth connectivity, LED day glow lights, multi-functioning button controls and a magnetic earbud docking system which is all powered by a 7-hour battery.

    Announcing his creation, Will.i.am told PEOPLE: "I thought about all the pain points that people have with masks and earbuds and how earbuds were not designed to pick up the voice of people that have fabric in front of their mouth.

    "People have to take the mask off and put themselves at risk. [With Xupermask], you could literally whisper on a bike on a Zoom, and they hear you perfectly fine because we block off the wind and we block out the noise and block out the germs."

    The 46-year-old rapper also added that he intended for the design to look like it came from a sci-fi film although the target consumer was originally the "sneaker head."

    He explained: "We designed it for that perspective of collecting and 'drop culture. It's for that collector, that traveler. The price point is not astronomical ... within the same price or just a little above AirPod Pros.

    "Jose was my go-to person for anything future pushing. When it was time to make this product, I would say, 'Let's make something that actually has functionality but then also looks like it's something that came out of a sci-fi film. Let's bring the future now.'"

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     18 Jan: Teddi Mellencamp is "really sick" - months after she revealed her cancer had become "undetectable"
     18 Jan: Ashton Kutcher is "so proud" of his ex-wife Demi Moore in The Substance
     18 Jan: Lo Bosworth has given birth two weeks early
     18 Jan: Chase Infiniti botched Leonardo DiCaprio's beard when she cut it whilst they bonded before shooting One Battle After Another
     18 Jan: A shark has been named after Kelly Clarkson
     18 Jan: Jennifer Lawrence's marriage is kept "alive" with a compromise to her struggle with timekeeping
     18 Jan: Timothee Chalamet got a stern warning from a background actor on Marty Supreme
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Don't be surprised if the coaching nous of Scott Robertson is lured to the UK More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Drug researchers say the collapsing price of methamphetamine has concerning implications More...



     Today's News

    Rugby:
    Don't be surprised if the coaching nous of Scott Robertson is lured to the UK 15:27

    Business:
    Drug researchers say the collapsing price of methamphetamine has concerning implications 15:07

    Law and Order:
    Police say the victim of a targeted shooting in South Auckland's Onehunga is critical but stable in hospital 14:57

    Tennis:
    Kiwi squash star Paul Coll has won his 30th title on the PSA Tour 14:27

    International:
    At least 21 dead after two high-speed trains derailed in Spain 14:17

    Business:
    Trump is threatening more tariffs over access to critical minerals – will NZ be targeted? 14:07

    Living & Travel:
    More details about the discovery of a tramper missing almost three weeks in Tasman bushland 13:27

    Politics:
    Corrections officials say a rise in alleged sexual assaults by prison officers could be down to reporting changes 13:07

    Law and Order:
    A 27-year-old man's been charged after an assault in Central Otago's Arrowtown last month 12:27

    Health & Safety:
    Biosecurity officials hunting Queensland fruit flies in Auckland - have found nothing after another weekend of precautions 11:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd