Sony’s Reon Pocket line, launched in 2019, is one of its more unusual tech offerings. It’s a personal cooling gadget worn on the neck and upper back, functioning like a compact, wearable air conditioner. Seven years after its crowdfunding debut in Japan, the company has unveiled the Reon Pocket Pro Plus, its most powerful and efficient model yet.
Peltier-Based Neck Cooling Technology
Unlike typical neck fans, the device works on a different principle that has stayed consistent over time. Reon Pocket Pro Plus cools the skin at the base of the neck using a Peltier-based metal plate. This area is targeted because it’s close to major blood vessels, so cooling it helps lower overall body temperature more effectively.
The update reduces circuit board temperature by 2°C over the Reon Pocket Pro, improving cooling efficiency by 20%. In cold conditions, it can reverse mode to heat the skin via the metal plate.
Adaptive Hold Design Enhances Fit and Stability
The key upgrades in this generation focus on design. Sony has redesigned the flexible neck arms into a sturdier “Adaptive Hold Design” to prevent slipping and keep the cooling plate firmly against the skin during movement or exercise.
The exhaust vent has also been redesigned, letting users adjust both the length and angle of the heat outlet.This directs heat away from the body, improving comfort and allowing use with more clothing, including turtlenecks.
The kit includes the Reon Pocket Tag 2, a redesigned environmental sensor that is 18% smaller than the previous version. It replaces the rear clip with a strap or carabiner so it can attach to a bag or belt, keeping it away from the body for more accurate temperature and humidity readings.
The data is sent to the main device to refine the cooling algorithm, enabling real-time adjustments based on user conditions and the environment.
Battery life remains about 10 hours on the second-highest cooling setting, despite performance upgrades. It also supports a control app but can be used without a phone. It is resistant to sweat and light splashes, but it is not fully waterproof.
The Reon Pocket Pro Plus is available in select European countries (not Portugal) via Sony’s store and Amazon for €229. Interestingly, it is not expected to launch in the United States, unlike earlier versions. It may prove particularly useful as a compact cooling solution during increasingly hot European summers.
Read the original article on: tek.sapo
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