May 24 update: this post, first published on May 22, was updated on May 24 with further details of the Reon Pocket Pro Plus, its history and how it works.
The Sony Reon series of thermos devices (think personal air conditioner) has a new member, the Reon Pocket Pro Plus. If you haven’t seen a Reon, that’s not surprising: it’s designed to be worn under clothing. The new model has arrived in time for summer heatwaves — the U.K. is just beginning to experience one right now.
What Is The Sony Reon Pocket Pro Plus?
It’s a way of keeping cool in summer without the need for a hand-held fan, for instance. It has a stainless-steel cooling panel which presses against the body and delivers lower temperatures to the body.
An adaptable neckband holds it in place at the front, while the main section sits at the back of the neck where it presses the cold panel against your skin.
Though there are buttons on board to adjust exactly how much cooling you feel, these can be hard to use when the device is behind your back, under your clothes. There’s also a smartphone app for granular control.
Because it’s behind you, it’s not suitable for wearing at night if you sleep on your back. Sensors monitor the skin temperature to keep the experience safe and comfortable, Sony has said. The Reon monitors the ambient temperature with a supplied tag which you can attach to a belt or bag. It wirelessly connects to the Reon to regulate the temperature based on the environment.
This tag helps the Reon assess exactly how hot things are in a more accurate way than it could do from being stuck under your clothing.
This is the second-generation Pocket Tag, smaller than its predecessor and monitoring not just temperature but humidity as well.
How The Wearable Air Conditioner Works
Although the cold is focused on the top of the back, the cooling effect is felt more widely by the wearer. Reactions include this from Tom’s Guide: “It helped to regulate my entire body temperature despite just being at the top of my back,” it said. “Obviously, everyone’s body is different when regulating temperature, but I could feel the temperature adjustments I was making instantly. This was a lot faster than using a handheld portable fan.”
That’s not to say that fans don’t have a value: Dyson has just released the powerful and highly portable model called the Hushjet Mini Cool Fan — full details here.
The unit is thick enough to be visible under the wearer’s T-shirt, say, and an air vent peeps out of the clothing. There’s also an extension vent for wearing under a collared shirt.
Which means that the Reon Pocket Pro Plus is never invisible, even if it never dominates the way you look, either.
The vent is designed to dissipate the heat and the air is angled away from the user’s body to take the hot air away from the skin. And unlike other versions, the vent can now be adjusted to ensure the air isn’t being pumped out against your clothes.
The new Reon isn’t the first of its kind. “Originally conceived by an engineer from Sony’s Alpha camera division, the personal temperature regulator gadget is the third of its kind to head west. Earlier models were only sold in Asia but the Reon Pocket 5 came to the UK in 2024 and the Reon Pocket Pro saw limited European release in 2025,” Stuff reported.
Key Upgrades: Better Cooling And Design
The new model offers up to 20% higher cooling performance compared to last year’s release, which means the cooling plate can go an extra 2 degrees Celsius (X degrees Fahrenheit) colder than before.
The neckband has also been changed so that the flexible tubing now has a larger diameter, meaning it holds the device in place more firmly than before while the user is walking or engaging in what Sony calls light activity.
Battery life is up to ten hours — that’s the same as the previous model managed, even though this one gets 20% cooler, though note that this figure is achieved with the Reon Pocket Pro Plus on its second-highest setting, not the top-most, frostiest level.
In terms of safety, there’s an automatic shutdown system so that the device won’t overheat while it’s working to keep you cool.
Year-Round Versatility, Pricing And Availability
In winter, the device can be used to warm you up instead of cooling you down, which adds to its versatility.
The Reon Pocket Pro Plus is available now and is priced at £199 in the U.K., where it’s about to be needed in the sudden super-hot weather, and €229 in Europe. When it comes to the U.S., expect a price around the $270 mark.
And in the meantime, if you’re in the U.K., stay cool.
