Sony's $260 Reon Pocket Pro Plus Cools Through 100.6F London Heatwaves

1 articles · Updated · Engadget · Aug 27

$260 Reon Pocket Pro Plus proved surprisingly effective in London’s third heatwave, giving hands-free relief on 100.6F days in a city where home air conditioning is scarce.
A Peltier-cooled metal plate sits at the back of the neck and spine, and Sony says the new model delivers 2C more cooling than its predecessor — a 20% performance jump.
Battery life fell short of Sony’s 10-hour to 15-hour claims in peak heat, lasting about four to five hours for the reviewer, though the device can be charged while worn via USB-C.
Physical on-device controls and a stronger neckband improved usability, while the optional temperature-humidity smart tag was unreliable and added little noticeable cooling benefit.
The appeal is amplified in England, where University of Reading research estimates only 4.3% of homes have A/C, versus 90% in the US.