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Record-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/CNETSmart 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/CNETOn 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
The device’s plate uses a Peltier element, which a Reon representative described as a semiconductor module. When an electric current is applied, it can cool on one side and heat on the other. To maximize cooling performance on the plate's skin-contacting side, a high-volume fan, a vapor chamber and heat-dissipation fins are used to release the internal heat generated on the opposite side of the plate.
When I first tried it, I was surprised by how quickly the Reon Pocket Pro Plus could adjust its temperature. When switching between cool and warm modes on the device and in its app, I immediately felt the difference on my upper back. While this technology isn’t for full-body cooling, I found its effect on my upper back was enough to make a difference. I especially love the cool setting for a soothing effect.
The "mode" button's LED light changes color based on whether it's heating, cooling or in smart mode.
Anna Gragert/CNETDesigned to be discreet
There is a neckband that holds the device in place, so the thermal plate can make contact with your upper back’s skin. The neckband is adjustable and can be bent. There are also extension tips that can be removed to adjust the length.
The neckband protrudes from your clothing, with the most noticeable part of the device being the air vent that extends from the back of your shirt. It does come with a shorter air vent cover for clothing without a collar, like a T-shirt. When it's in cool mode, warm air may be emitted from the vent, depending on the ambient temperature.
From the front, and depending on your shirt, the neckband may be visible.
Anna Gragert/CNETI found the device fairly comfortable and lightweight, but I wish that the plastic neckband were covered in a softer material.
The device worked best when I was sitting down or not moving my upper back as much; otherwise, I had to adjust it to maintain contact with my skin during movement. So it makes sense to me that the Reon Pocket Pro Plus is intended for use while walking or hiking -- not during rigorous exercise.
From the back, the device's air vent does protrude.
Anna Gragert/CNETSilence and battery life are golden
What the Reon Pocket Pro Plus really has going for it is its silent operation, making it even more discreet. During my testing, I only heard a slight noise when the device turned on, but that was it.
As for battery life, on the cool setting in smart mode, you get up to 15 hours. When the 3,000-mAh lithium-ion battery is fully depleted, it takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes to charge. By comparison, the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool handheld fan has up to 6 hours of battery life on low speed and charges in 3 hours.
Price is a downside
The main drawback for me is that the Reon Pocket Pro Plus is $260. While it doesn’t offer the same discreet, quiet technology or heating, the most expensive handheld fan I’ve tested is the three-in-one Shark ChillPill at $150.
With an estimated delivery between July 27 and 28, the Reon Pocket Pro Plus includes free shipping, 30-day returns and a one-year warranty. You also get the Reon Pocket tag sensor, the short air vent for collarless tops and a USB-C charging cable.
You also get the sensor tag and shorter air vent for collarless tops.
Anna Gragert/CNETI like Sony’s Reon Pocket Pro Plus, as it opens the possibilities for how quiet, low-profile and adaptable heating and cooling technology can be. I just wish it were more affordable and didn’t require as much adjustment during upper-back movement.
If you’re looking to stay cool this summer without breaking your budget, consider a handheld fan like Blueair’s new AlwaysCool, the ChillPill or HushJet Mini Cool. But if silence and discretion are important to you, and you have the cash, then the Reon Pocket Pro Plus is a cool investment (literally).
