Sony Launches $260 Reon Pocket Pro Plus in US as Heat Waves Lift Cooling Demand
Updated
Updated · CNET · Jun 30
Sony Launches $260 Reon Pocket Pro Plus in US as Heat Waves Lift Cooling Demand
3 articles · Updated · CNET · Jun 30
Summary
Sony’s 8.7-ounce Reon Pocket Pro Plus starts shipping in the US in July, bringing its neck-worn heating and cooling device outside Japan for the first time.
The $260 device uses a skin-contact plate with a Peltier element to cool or warm between 41 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit, with app controls and a smart mode that adjusts settings using temperature and humidity sensors.
Sony pitches discretion as a key selling point: the unit sits under clothing, runs nearly silently and delivers up to 15 hours of battery life in cool smart mode, though it works best when the plate stays pressed against the upper back.
Record US heat waves have fueled demand for personal cooling gear, but Sony enters a crowded market where handheld rivals from Dyson, Shark and Blueair cost less, making price the product’s main drawback.