Sony REON Pocket Pro Plus review: Tranquil personal cooling is a delight, but it comes at a higher cost.
**REON POCKET PRO Plus**
**MSRP**: $259.99
**"A sophisticated approach to personal cooling."**
**Pros**
- Comfortable to wear
- Enhanced cooling efficiency
- Useful smart modes
- Sufficient battery life per charge
- Can also provide heat
- Quite discreet design
**Cons**
- Not as powerful as a fan
- Slow to charge
- Difficult to access controls
- A bit pricey for its function
**Quick Summary**
Wearable cooling devices are not particularly common in the U.S., which is why the Sony REON Pocket Pro Plus stood out to me. People typically think of personal cooling as neck fans or cooling towels, but Sony has adopted a unique method. The REON Pocket Pro Plus employs thermoelectric cooling and heating technology to produce sensations of coolness or warmth through direct skin contact at the back of your neck, rather than relying on a constant air stream to your face.
After using it, I realized that the product doesn’t aim to cool your entire body or replace an AC unit. Its purpose is to enhance your comfort, and it achieves this subtly. The larger inquiry is not whether the technology functions but if such a device integrates naturally into daily life. By the conclusion of my experience with the REON Pocket Pro Plus, I had a clearer understanding of its optimal use scenarios.
**Sony REON Pocket Pro Plus Specifications**
- **Model Number**: RNPK-P1PT (Main unit: RNP-P1, TAG: RNPT-2, Neckband: RNPB-NP1P)
- **Price**: $259.99
- **Battery Type**: Integrated rechargeable Lithium-ion (3,000 mAh)
- **Cooling Battery Life**:
- Level 1: ~34 hrs
- Level 2: ~27 hrs
- Level 3: ~16 hrs
- Level 4: ~10 hrs
- Level 5: ~5.5 hrs
- SMART COOL mode: Up to 15 hrs
- **Warming Battery Life**:
- Level 1: ~10 hrs
- Level 2: ~8 hrs
- Level 3: ~6.5 hrs
- Level 4: ~5.5 hrs
- **Charging Time**: Approximately 120 min (80%), 130 min (90%), 200 min (full charge)
- **Dimensions (W × H × D)**:
- Main Unit: Approx. 83 × 21 × 43 mm (3.3 × 0.8 × 1.7 in)
- With Neckband & Air Vent Cover (Short): Approx. 120 × 58 × 170 mm (4.7 × 2.3 × 6.7 in)
- **Weight**:
- Main Unit: Approx. 194 g (6.8 oz)
- With Neckband & Air Vent Cover (Short): Approx. 247 g (8.7 oz)
- **Operating Temperature**: 5°C to 40°C (41°F to 104°F)
- **Connectivity**: Bluetooth 5.0 Low Energy
- **Supported OS**: iOS 16 or later, Android 9 or later
- **Key Functions & Modes**:
- COOL mode (Manual/Smart), WARM mode (Manual/Smart), SMART COOL ⇔ WARM auto-switching, AUTO START/STOP, USB-powered operation, Fan-less silent operation
- **Included in the Box**: REON POCKET PRO Plus main unit (RNP-P1), Neckband PRO Plus (RNPB-NP1P), REON POCKET TAG 2 (RNPT-2), CR2032 coin cell battery, L-shaped USB-C to USB-C cable, Short adjustable air vent cover, Startup guide, Warranty
**How the REON Pocket Pro Plus Works**
The REON Pocket Pro Plus features two thermal modules, or Peltier plates. These modules rest against the back of your neck, providing sensations of cooling or heating through direct contact. This differs significantly from a traditional neck fan, as it does not involve direct airflow across your face.
Sony has incorporated a notable level of intelligence into the device. With a companion app and a small sensor that attaches to a backpack or belt, it monitors ambient temperature and humidity to adjust the cooling or heating levels automatically in Smart mode, thus eliminating the need for frequent phone checks when transitioning between indoor and outdoor environments.
One of the most surprising features was the automatic start and stop functionality. It detects when worn and activates accordingly. When removed and placed on a surface, it shuts off automatically. This cleverly designed aspect gives the device a genuinely smart feel rather than just being app-connected.
Manual controls are also provided, allowing selection from five cooling levels
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Sony REON Pocket Pro Plus review: Tranquil personal cooling is a delight, but it comes at a higher cost.
Sony's REON Pocket Pro aims to substitute neck fans with thermoelectric cooling. It's discreet, efficient, and effectively provides personal cooling; however, its price is somewhat elevated.