GoKawiilRecord-breaking heat waves across the US have sparked increased interest in personal cooling devices as we all aim to both stay cool and keep our cool. This year alone, we’ve seen major players in the air care industry, such as Dyson, Shark and Blueair, release handheld fans. Now, another tech giant is jumping on the trend here in the US.
Sony Electronics’s Reon Pocket Pro Plus is a wearable heating and cooling device that's been available in Japan since 2019, but as of July, it will start shipping in the US. I got a first look at this technology and have been testing it for the past few days. This is everything you’ll want to know about it, along with my thoughts.
The portable, 8.7-ounce Reon Pocket Pro Plus is designed to be worn around your neck and under clothing, making it more discreet than other wearable and handheld fans. Using a stainless steel plate that comes in contact with the skin, the wearer can manually adjust the device's cooling or warming temperature range from 41 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit in the accompanying Android, iOS or WatchOS app or on the device itself.
You can switch between cooling, heating and smart modes. Anna Gragert/CNET
Smart sensors automatically adjust temperature
There’s also the option to use smart mode, which you can select both in the app and on the Reon Pocket Pro Plus. In the app, you set the temperature range and, using multiple temperature and humidity sensors on the device and the included Reon Pocket environmental sensor that can be attached to a bag or belt loop, the Reon Pocket Pro Plus’s algorithm will automatically adjust the plate’s temperature to your preference.
While the Reon Pocket sensor tag is separate from the device, it measures the temperature and humidity of your surroundings and displays this information in the app. Because of that, you’ll want to ensure the sensor isn’t covered. It comes with a carabiner for this purpose, so it’s easy to attach to a purse or backpack.
The Reon Pocket sensor tag measures your environment's temperature and humidity. Anna Gragert/CNET
On the Reon Pocket Pro Plus unit, you can adjust settings without the app. There are start-stop, warm and cool mode, smart mode and plus and minus buttons, all with corresponding LED lights.
How the technology works
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