Latest news with #ReonPocketPro
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
I tried Sony's new wearable air conditioner – does it really work?
Last year, Sony quietly launched one of the strangest gadgets it's ever made. It wasn't a new pair of headphones or a new TV (though it did launch those too), but a wearable air conditioner, giving the Dyson Zone a run for its money as one of the kookiest gadgets in tech. This portable fan, the Sony Reon Pocket 5, sat at the base of your neck and kept you cool (or warm) via a temperature-controlled plate that chilled or heated the skin on contact. Now, Sony's back with a follow-up that's arriving just in time for the summer. The Reon Pocket Pro is a bigger, more powerful, smarter wearable cooling device that promises faster cooling and a more streamlined fit thanks to its new curved design. It also comes bundled with the Reon Tag – a small external sensor that helps the device automatically adjust the temperature based on your surroundings. While I've only spent a couple of days with the Reon Pocket Pro so far, I can already tell it's going to be a heatwave hero. But will it actually replace my trusty tower fan? Here's everything you need to know about Sony's wearable air conditioner, plus my first impressions. The Reon Pocket Pro works similarly to its predecessor: it sits in the base of your neck and uses thermoelectric cooling or heating to regulate your body temperature. Instead of blowing cold air or pumping heat, the plate gets cold or warm on contact with your skin. The idea is that by cooling or heating your upper spine – where blood flows close to the surface – the device helps your whole body feel more comfortable. It kind of feels like an ice pack moulded against your skin, or a warm compress. What sets the Pro apart is the upgraded hardware. It's larger than the Pocket 5 and has a new curved design with a better fit. It's still light at 85g, but the extra surface area means more of your skin stays in contact with the cooling plate to improve heat transfer. There are now two heating and cooling modules – what Sony calls 'dual thermo modules' – inside instead of one, which effectively doubles the surface area and makes the temperature changes more noticeable. Rather than simply running both at once, the modules alternate with varying intensity to maintain more consistent cooling over time. Interestingly, Sony says that the newly developed fan delivers roughly twice the airflow of the Reon Pocket 5, helping to dissipate heat more effectively while keeping noise levels low. The Pro ships with a single adjustable neckband that bends to fit the contour of your neck, making it more comfortable and secure than before. Sony says it's added a flexible silicone extension at the tips and a thicker tube around the wire frame to improve comfort and support during longer wear. You also get two airflow covers in the box. There's a shorter one for t-shirts and a longer one for collared shirts to help direct heat and airflow, depending on what you're wearing. While there's no official IP rating, the device is splash-resistant, with a rubber cap covering the USB-C charging port. You can control it manually via the device itself or use the Reon app. Both let you switch between cooling and warming modes, as well as choose your preferred intensity. But the Pro also supports a smart auto mode that reacts to your body and environment. It comes bundled with the Reon Tag, a small wearable sensor that clips onto your shirt, feeding environmental data back to the app. Together, the system can adjust the temperature depending on the degrees outside, the humidity, and whether you're indoors or out. It even knows when you're wearing it, automatically switching on or off when it detects contact with your neck, like how wireless earbuds pause when you take them out of your ears. Sony's also tweaked the Smart Cool mode to react more smoothly to changes in temperature and humidity, so it feels less like a setting and more like something that's just quietly working in the background. Sony claims the Pro can last up to 15 hours on smart mode and up to 34 hours at the first level of the cooling setting. In my limited time with the device so far, with use over a couple of days, the cooling kicks in fast within a few seconds of turning it on. The plate started to chill my upper back almost immediately, giving some cool relief to my body. The fan is quiet – Sony says it's 50 per cent quieter than the Pocket 5. It was barely audible even in a silent room, and the curved design makes it feel more stable and natural than I expected. It's also surprisingly discreet. It sits flush under a shirt or t-shirt and stays put thanks to the malleable neckband that's included in the box. I pulled it out in the pictures just so you can easily see it, but it can be tucked under your shirt so it's not seen. It's not going to cool your whole body like a proper air conditioner, but for targeted comfort while commuting, working, or even just sitting around at home, it makes a noticeable difference, and was way more effective than a fan that just blew hot air at my face. This one actually cooled my body. I've got the new Reon Pocket Pro to hand right now, and I'll be taking it on the sweaty Jubilee Line to test its effectiveness. Will it be better than one of those dorky wearable neck fans? My full review is coming soon.
Stuff.tv
20-05-2025
- Stuff.tv
Wearing Sony's latest wacky wearable sent a chill down my spine (for all the right reasons)
There's a fine line between today's wearable tech and cyberpunk sci-fi; Sony's new Reon Pocket Pro personal temperature regulator sits right on the crossroads. The sixth iteration of the neckband cooler isn't ready to repurpose your lost fluids like a Dune Stillsuit, but has seen some significant changes to better help stop you getting hot under the collar. Unless that's what you're wanting, of course. As with last year's Reon Pocket 5, it's a hands-free alternative to a portable electric fan (or, perish the thought, a paper one you wave yourself) or hand warmer. Aimed at commuters, office workers and travellers, it sits out of sight under your shirt, where a thermoelectric cooling (TEC) plate makes contact with your skin; it cools down or heats up based on built-in humidity and temperature sensors. This new version doesn't get any hotter or colder than before (Sony reckons pushing too far in either direction would be uncomfortable) but the TEC plate surface area has more than doubled. The cooling effect is twice that of the old model, with two separate peltier elements that take turns to chill you. Swapping between plates every ten or so seconds stops your brain from getting used to the sensation. It helps that the unit has a more pronounced curve, to more naturally follow the contours of your neck and spine. The neck band is way more adjustable this time around, too; the flexible arms and rubber end tips make it easier to find a comfortable fit while still giving the exhaust fin enough room to vent hot air up past your collar. The whole thing has grown to accommodate the extra cooling hardware, so Sony has taken the opportunity to add a bigger battery. The Reon Pocket Pro should now last up to 15 hours in the Smart cooling mode at an ambient 30 degrees celsius, or double what the previous-gen model could manage. The more powerful internal fan is also 50% quieter than the old version, and the cooling algorithms have been tweaked so it's twice as fast to react to changing external temperatures. It's still finished in light grey – because, let's be honest, no-one's office shirts are truly white after a few wash cycles – and includes vents for t-shirts and long-collared shirts in the box. The whole thing is splash and sweat resistant, including a covered USB-C charging port and sealed control buttons. That's right, buttons. While you can still pair the Reon Pocket Pro to a smartphone to adjust its temperature remotely, there are now dedicated buttons on the device to change cooling mode, and increase or decrease temperature. It still turns on and off automatically as you pull it on or remove it from your neck, to save battery. The companion app and Pocket Tag sensor haven't changed between generations. The former still shows you the ambient temperature and humidity, the current cooling mode, and the multiple levels of cooling or heating if using the manual mode. You can pick a specific crossover at which you'll be cooled or heated (say, 18 degrees celsius). The latter still clips onto a short pocket and monitors the temperature outside of your shirt, for better reaction to changing temperatures – like going from an air conditioned office to a stuffy train carriage. It still takes just a couple of seconds to get properly chilly or toasty warm, with the effect lingering for however long you wear the Reon for. The fan really is whisper quiet now, and while the larger size does mean it bulges a little more prominently out from underneath a t-shirt, it's still fairly subtle. The feeling of coolness in one spot doesn't override how warm you might be feeling elsewhere, but it genuinely did help me feel less flustered in my AC-less home office. The Reon Pocket Pro is launching in seven EU countries – an expanded reach from the Reon Pocket 5 – as well as Hong Kong and Sony's native Japan. It's set to cost £199 in the UK, which is a considerable hike from the Pocket 5's £139 starting point. Sony is opening up pre-orders today through its online store; customers hoping to save themselves from sweaty commutes should get their units in the coming weeks.
The Independent
20-05-2025
- The Independent
I tried Sony's new wearable air conditioner and it cooled me down instantly
Last year, Sony quietly launched one of the strangest gadgets it's ever made. It wasn't a new pair of headphones or a new TV (though it did launch those too), but a wearable air conditioner, giving the Dyson Zone a run for its money as one of the kookiest gadgets in tech. This portable fan, the Sony Reon Pocket 5, sat at the base of your neck and kept you cool (or warm) via a temperature-controlled plate that chilled or heated the skin on contact. Now, Sony's back with a follow-up that's arriving just in time for the summer. The Reon Pocket Pro is a bigger, more powerful, smarter wearable cooling device that promises faster cooling and a more streamlined fit thanks to its new curved design. It also comes bundled with the Reon Tag – a small external sensor that helps the device automatically adjust the temperature based on your surroundings. While I've only spent a couple of days with the Reon Pocket Pro so far, I can already tell it's going to be a heatwave hero. But will it actually replace my trusty tower fan? Here's everything you need to know about Sony's wearable air conditioner, plus my first impressions. The Reon Pocket Pro works similarly to its predecessor: it sits in the base of your neck and uses thermoelectric cooling or heating to regulate your body temperature. Instead of blowing cold air or pumping heat, the plate gets cold or warm on contact with your skin. The idea is that by cooling or heating your upper spine – where blood flows close to the surface – the device helps your whole body feel more comfortable. It kind of feels like an ice pack moulded against your skin, or a warm compress. What sets the Pro apart is the upgraded hardware. It's larger than the Pocket 5 and has a new curved design with a better fit. It's still light at 85g, but the extra surface area means more of your skin stays in contact with the cooling plate to improve heat transfer. There are now two heating and cooling modules – what Sony calls 'dual thermo modules' – inside instead of one, which effectively doubles the surface area and makes the temperature changes more noticeable. Rather than simply running both at once, the modules alternate with varying intensity to maintain more consistent cooling over time. Interestingly, Sony says that the newly developed fan delivers roughly twice the airflow of the Reon Pocket 5, helping to dissipate heat more effectively while keeping noise levels low. The Pro ships with a single adjustable neckband that bends to fit the contour of your neck, making it more comfortable and secure than before. Sony says it's added a flexible silicone extension at the tips and a thicker tube around the wire frame to improve comfort and support during longer wear. You also get two airflow covers in the box. There's a shorter one for t-shirts and a longer one for collared shirts to help direct heat and airflow, depending on what you're wearing. While there's no official IP rating, the device is splash-resistant, with a rubber cap covering the USB-C charging port. You can control it manually via the device itself or use the Reon app. Both let you switch between cooling and warming modes, as well as choose your preferred intensity. But the Pro also supports a smart auto mode that reacts to your body and environment. It comes bundled with the Reon Tag, a small wearable sensor that clips onto your shirt, feeding environmental data back to the app. Together, the system can adjust the temperature depending on the degrees outside, the humidity, and whether you're indoors or out. It even knows when you're wearing it, automatically switching on or off when it detects contact with your neck, like how wireless earbuds pause when you take them out of your ears. Sony's also tweaked the Smart Cool mode to react more smoothly to changes in temperature and humidity, so it feels less like a setting and more like something that's just quietly working in the background. Sony claims the Pro can last up to 15 hours on smart mode and up to 34 hours at the first level of the cooling setting. In my limited time with the device so far, with use over a couple of days, the cooling kicks in fast within a few seconds of turning it on. The plate started to chill my upper back almost immediately, giving some cool relief to my body. The fan is quiet – Sony says it's 50 per cent quieter than the Pocket 5. It was barely audible even in a silent room, and the curved design makes it feel more stable and natural than I expected. It's also surprisingly discreet. It sits flush under a shirt or t-shirt and stays put thanks to the malleable neckband that's included in the box. I pulled it out in the pictures just so you can easily see it, but it can be tucked under your shirt so it's not seen. It's not going to cool your whole body like a proper air conditioner, but for targeted comfort while commuting, working, or even just sitting around at home, it makes a noticeable difference, and was way more effective than a fan that just blew hot air at my face. This one actually cooled my body. I've got the new Reon Pocket Pro to hand right now, and I'll be taking it on the sweaty Jubilee Line to test its effectiveness. Will it be better than one of those dorky wearable neck fans? My full review is coming soon.
