Product test
Testing the Thermacell E55, a mosquito repeller that actually works
by Martin Jungfer
Is the Reon Pocket Pro the solution to climate change?
2.9.2025
Translation: machine translated
Video: Davide Arizzoli
Pictures: Davide Arizzoli
What looks a bit like a dropshipping gadget is Sony's serious answer to hot summer days: the Reon Pocket Pro. But can the compact air conditioner counteract climate change? Yes and no.
Once again, this summer has shown us how unbearably hot days and tropical nights can be. Over the past few months, many people have seriously considered installing air conditioning in their own homes for the first time - and some have even taken the plunge. No small investment, both physically and financially.
So has Sony launched exactly the right gadget with the Reon Pocket Pro? Yes - at least a little.
Cold neck for hot days
This curious climate gadget is basically an electric cooling element that you can wear around your neck. With the help of the Peltier effect, the metal back, which lies directly on your skin, is noticeably cooled. Imagine carrying ice cubes on the back of your neck that never melt. With a full battery, the device lasts a good eight hours at full power. Perfect for a working day when the air conditioning has been switched off in the office.
However, the device can't really do much more than provide futuristic refreshment at work. If you're standing in the blazing sun in tropical temperatures of over 30 degrees, a cold neck doesn't help much either. Unfortunately, there is no fan that distributes cold air under your clothes.
More than cold iron
At least the Reon Pocket Pro is not lacking in features. The device comes with a small sensor module that you can wear separately on your clothes. This measures the ambient temperature and humidity and adjusts the power accordingly. Alternatively, you can also control the device using the physical buttons or a rudimentary app.
As a final little bonus, the gadget can not only cool, but also heat. So at least it won't gather dust in a drawer for nine months, but can be used all year round. And the heating power is potent!
Sony charges a steep 219 francs for the personal air conditioner. That could be a little cheaper for my taste. Now in stock, the gadget is currently not available to buy.
In a nutshell
Better than feared, more modest than hoped for
The Reon Pocket Pro does what it promises: cooling your neck. And since your body's temperature is primarily regulated via your neck and head, it feels really good. Sony's gadget definitely makes warm days in the office much more bearable. And it definitely keeps you warm in winter. But not much more.
Pro
- does what it claims
- Both cooling and heating performance are acceptable
- wears unobtrusively and runs quietly
- Battery lasts at least one working day
Contra
- cools and warms only very locally
- high selling price
- Does not withstand rising temperatures
Dayan Pfammatter
Freelance Editor
pf.dayan@gmail.comI've been fascinated by all things keys, displays and speakers for basically as long as I can remember. As a journalist specialising in technology and society, I strive to create order in the jungle of tech jargon and confusing spec sheets.
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