Sony Just Made Its Wearable AC Noticeably Better
If you've ever suffered through a sweltering commute wishing someone would just invent a personal air conditioner you could wear, Sony has been quietly working on exactly that since 2019. The Japanese electronics giant has now announced the Reon Pocket Pro Plus — the latest iteration of its wearable cooling device — and it's the most refined version yet.
The new Pro Plus builds on last year's Pro model with a 20 percent improvement in cooling performance, which is a meaningful jump for a device that's already carved out a niche among heat-sensitive commuters, office workers, and outdoor enthusiasts in Japan and Europe.
How It Actually Works
Unlike portable fans or Dyson's HushJet Mini Cool — which essentially blast you with ambient air — the Reon Pocket uses thermoelectric (Peltier) technology to actively cool a surface that presses against the back of your neck. The device sits in a specially designed undershirt pocket at the nape of the neck, quietly drawing heat away from your body.
The Pro Plus comes with design updates aimed at making it more discreet under a wider variety of shirts, addressing one of the main complaints users had with earlier models. The form factor has been slimmed down and refined so it doesn't create an obvious bulge under dress shirts or polos — a key upgrade for anyone hoping to use it in professional settings.
Pricing and Availability
The Reon Pocket Pro Plus launches in Europe and select other markets today at €229 (approximately £199 or around $270 CAD). As has been the pattern with every previous Reon Pocket model, Sony has not announced any plans to bring it to the United States — and Canada remains similarly off the roadmap for now.
For anyone in Europe or Japan, it's available directly through Sony's retail channels. Canadians looking to get their hands on one will need to import, though import duties and the lack of warranty support may complicate that path.
The Bigger Picture: Wearable Climate Tech Is Growing Up
Sony first unveiled the Reon Pocket concept ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, positioning it as a practical solution for surviving Japan's brutal summers. Six years and several iterations later, the product line has matured considerably — moving from a quirky gadget to a genuinely polished wearable.
The growing interest in personal cooling devices reflects a broader trend: as summers across the Northern Hemisphere get hotter and longer, consumer demand for compact, wearable climate solutions is rising. Sony isn't alone in this space — startups and established brands alike are experimenting with cooling vests, wristbands, and neck fans — but the Reon Pocket remains one of the most technically sophisticated options on the market.
Whether Sony eventually decides to launch in North America remains to be seen. Given climate trends and the product's evolution, there's a reasonable case that the demand is there.
Source: The Verge. Read the full story at theverge.com.
