Sony's Reon Pocket Pro Plus Wearable AC Offers Effective Heat Relief, Engadget Finds

Sony says the Pro Plus offers a 20 percent increase in cooling performance over its predecessor, with the plate able to drop an additional two degrees Celsius. It includes an adjustable exhaust attachment for collared clothing and physical buttons for controlling power and modes without a phone. The device's neckband provides 40 percent more securing force than earlier models, and it can run for up to 15 hours in smart mode, though the reviewer got closer to four or five hours during peak heatwave days.

The original review noted that the Pro Plus looks like a robot bug or medical device under thin clothing, and it generates condensation underneath clothing. The accompanying smart tag, intended to monitor humidity and temperature, was unreliable and did not noticeably affect cooling. Engadget's reviewer tested the device during World Cup matches in pubs without air conditioning and on commuter trains, where handheld fans proved less effective.