Sony Reon Pocket Pro Plus Air Conditioner Arrives In U.S. To Beat Summer Heatwaves - Forbes

What the report says

Forbes reports that Sony’s Reon Pocket Pro Plus, a wearable thermal device designed to cool or warm the user, has arrived in the U.S. after a late-July shipping window. The timing coincides with another predicted U.S. heat dome, according to the Forbes article, which frames the product as a hands-free alternative to portable fans during high temperatures.

The device is worn around the neck, with a metal plate positioned at the nape to cool the skin directly. Forbes says it sits mostly under clothing, while a vent expels heat away from the body; an extension can help direct warm air outward when worn with a collared shirt. Unlike a fan, the Reon Pocket Pro Plus does not primarily move air around the user but applies thermal cooling to the neck area.

Forbes says the package includes a separate Wearable Sensing Device, or TAG, which connects wirelessly to a smartphone app and measures ambient temperature. The device can then adjust cooling automatically, while users can also change settings through physical controls or the app. Sony says the latest version cools 20% more than the previous model, includes automatic shutoff if overheating is detected, and adds a Smart Mode for temperature adjustment.

Battery life depends on the cooling level, with Forbes reporting up to 10 hours on the second-coldest setting and a recharge time of about three hours. The listed U.S. price is $259.99 through Sony’s electronics site, though Forbes noted it was already out of stock there, with other sellers offering it at varying prices.