Sony saw premium portable cooling devices coming back in 2019. The Reon Pocket is now back, following Dyson’s efforts this year, with a new Pro Plus edition. In case you’ve forgotten what the Reon Pocket is, it’s a portable air conditioner. The Pro Plus? Obviously, just a bit more so.
The little device is more than just a handheld fan, of course. It tucks down behind a wearer’s neck inside their shirt, circulating cool air as you move from a high-pressure meeting to your sports car and back. Obviously. Sony’s updated Pro Plus model gets a little cooler than before. But that’s not all it does.
Sony re-ups the Reon
The wearable air-con system is a whole 2°C cooler than before, according to Sony. It features “a newly designed algorithm targeting a surface temperature of 20°C,” the company says. It’ll still run for up to ten hours, though that figure isn’t when running the upgraded Reon for maximum chilliness. The gadget clings to a wearer’s neck, so it won’t drag that button-up shirt collar into a mess, either.
It’s not much use to frozen South Africans right now, though it would be welcome in summer. But… it’s also got a warming module to play with. Sony reckons the Reon Pocket Pro Plus is also capable of keeping things toasty. Just how warm it gets isn’t explained, but the company shows visuals that peg the warm spots at around 42°. That’s… plenty.
The wearable device charges via USB-C, and it’ll take 130 minutes for a 90% charge. Max it out and you’ll wait 200 minutes — a little over three hours. That’s long enough to build up a sweat (or a chill, depending on the month). The question is: How much are you willing to pay for one? The Sony Reon Pocket Pro Plus is currently on sale in the UK and other regions. The price? Around R4,500. Add some shipping and taxes, and you could be the most comfortable person strolling around your office this summer.
