We thought we'd seen it all when it came to screens. And then Asus arrived with its VU Air Ionizer, a range of monitors that include... an air purifier. Yes, a real one. Not a cosmetic option or a style effect. No, a functional ionizer supposed to improve the quality of the air in front of you while you work.
A monitor that cleans the air (really)
The models are pretty standard on paper: 23.8, 27, and 34 inches, all in Full HD except the 34-inch, which offers a curved panel in a 21:9 format. No 4K or OLED here, but decent specs: IPS panel, 100 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time. In short, nothing crazy for demanding gamers, but sufficient for office work or Netflix in good conditions.
What's eye-catching, obviously, is this ionizer integrated into the back of the screen, which promises to clean the air around you. Asus talks about 90% of dust eliminated in three hours in a space of one cubic meter. All without a filter to change. Basically, these devices are supposed to release negative ions into the air to break down fine particles. Does it really work? We'll have to wait for independent tests, but Asus insists that it's designed for small workspaces, where every inch counts.
For those who spend all day in front of their screens, Asus has also thought about eye comfort with its Eye Care Plus technology: blue light reduction, anti-flicker, break reminders, and even a mode to help people with color blindness better distinguish colors. A nice little extra, even if it's not new in the Asus range.
The other original idea is the transformable packaging. The monitor's cardboard can be folded to become a phone stand, a small laptop stand, or a document holder. Handy if you want to do a little sorting on your desk without going to Ikea. And it avoids throwing a large cardboard box straight into the trash. The packaging is even designed to encourage better posture, so you don't end the day with a stiff neck.
No price or release date yet, but unlike other slightly wacky concepts — like a motorized screen from Lenovo or a deodorizing mouse from Asus — these screens seem well on their way to hitting shelves. It remains to be seen whether buyers will take to it. The idea of a monitor that also acts as a purifier. Frankly, it's no more absurd than a connected coffee maker.
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