Sony's Reon Pocket Pro Plus offers hands-free cooling during UK heatwaves

Facing a series of summer heatwaves in London, the author turned to Sony's Reon Pocket Pro Plus, a wearable air-conditioning neckband priced at $260. The device employs the Peltier effect, placing an electrically cooled metal plate along the back of the neck to chill circulating blood, and can lower temperature by an additional two degrees Celsius over the prior model, a 20 percent improvement. It vents warm air through an adjustable exhaust and runs up to 15 hours on its smart cooling mode, though actual battery life dropped to four or five hours during peak heat.

A companion smart tag can track ambient temperature and humidity, but its connection was unreliable and not essential for cooling performance. The unit is quiet, sweat-resistant, and can be charged while worn using a USB-C cable; physical buttons on the device replace the need for a smartphone app. While the device is noticeable under structured clothing, it provides a completely hands-free cooling solution that the author found superior to handheld fans.