The phrase “spine-chilling” doesn’t tend to describe a feeling most people want to experience, but most people probably haven’t worn Sony’s neck-attaching cooler during peak summer heat.
Sony’s Reon Pocket Pro Plus, a line of wearables that originally launched in 2019, works differently from other fan-based neck coolers. Instead of just blowing air at your body, it chills a metal plate that presses against your neck and runs slightly down your spine. Cooling the body here makes sense, since a lot of blood flows through major arteries around your neck before circulating to the rest of your body.
To maximize the benefits of that design, Sony says the upgraded Reon Pocket Pro Plus now gets 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit colder than previous models, which is a 20% improvement over the last generation. Sony also says it’s refined the Reon Pocket Pro Plus’s cooling algorithm to better adapt to your body’s temperature and environment. Speaking of climate monitoring, the Reon Pocket Pro Plus also comes with its own sensor, the Pocket Tag 2, which is 18% smaller than the previous generation and can be hung on a carabiner or strap to take temperature readings.
Cooling wasn’t the only thing on Sony’s mind, though; it also refined the Reon Pocket Pro Plus to fit more comfortably on the neck and shoulders and changed the exhaust vent’s design so you can adjust the angle and prevent warm air from being blasted back at your body. Oh, and battery life is 10 hours on the second-highest cooling setting—same as last generation—which is pretty solid, considering the other improvements.
Unfortunately, the Reon Pocket Pro isn’t confirmed for a U.S. release yet (it may never be), but it launches today in the U.K. and Europe for 199 pounds and 220 euros (about $270), respectively.
