Updated
Updated · Forbes · Jun 26
Sony Opens U.S. Pre-Orders for $259.99 Reon Pocket Pro Plus as Heatwaves Intensify
Updated
Updated · Forbes · Jun 26

Sony Opens U.S. Pre-Orders for $259.99 Reon Pocket Pro Plus as Heatwaves Intensify

3 articles · Updated · Forbes · Jun 26

Summary

  • $259.99 U.S. pre-orders are now live for Sony’s Reon Pocket Pro Plus, with shipments expected to begin in late July despite demand rising during severe summer heat.
  • The neck-worn device cools through a plate against the back of the neck rather than blowing air, adds app controls and smart auto-adjustment, and is rated 20% cooler than the previous model with up to 10 hours of use.
  • Early reviewers said the redesigned neckband makes the unit more secure and effective, with one report saying it can reach temperatures about 2 degrees lower than its predecessor.
  • Reviews were not uniformly positive: testers flagged the $259.99 price as steep and said USB-C charging from empty can take roughly 200 minutes to three hours.
  • The launch lands as Europe swelters and the U.K. records its highest-ever June temperature, giving Sony’s niche wearable cooler unusually timely appeal even as some reviewers doubt it will go mainstream.

Insights

With experts skeptical of its cooling method, can Sony's $260 wearable AC truly conquer this summer's extreme heat?
As personal cooling becomes a billion-dollar market, are these gadgets a real solution or a luxury climate distraction?