Sony has announced a new version of the wearable personal air conditioner that the company first showcased in 2019 ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The latest version is an upgrade to last year’s Pro model, and while the new Reon Pocket Pro Plus isn’t a complete overhaul of the hardware, it does come with performance upgrades and design updates that make it easier to wear discreetly under a variety of shirts. It’s launching today in Europe and other markets for €229/£199, or about $270. Like all previous versions, Sony has not mentioned plans to bring it to the US.
Instead of just blasting you with air like the Dyson Hashjet Mini Cool, the Rion Pocket Pro Plus works like a cooling plate accessory for the Shark’s chilipil. Using a pair of advanced flexible arms that wrap around your neck to hold it securely to your upper back, the device relies on a cold metal plate pressing against your skin. Compared to last year’s model, the plate surface temperature has dropped an additional two degrees Celsius, and this works in conjunction with an “evolved cooling algorithm”, which Sony claims improves cooling performance by 20 percent.
Other upgrades include a new design for the Rion Pocket Pro Plus’s exhaust vent, which allows you to increase its length and adjust its angle to ensure hot air moves away from your body, even when wearing a high-collared shirt. The Pro Plus also works with a new Rheon Pocket Tag 2 sensor that is now 18 percent smaller and has a new design that allows it to be hung from a strap or carabiner away from your body for more accurate temperature and humidity measurements.
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