Torrid Times? Cool Off with the Sony Reon Pocket Pro! Your Neck's Secret Weapon Against Sweltering Heat!
Wearable Air Conditioning Devices Making Their Way Up the Neck.
By Klaus Wedekind | Tech & Gadgets Columnist
Let's face it - when temperatures soar above 30 degrees, our bodies are put under immense strain. A classic, time-tested solution to beat the heat? Cooling the neck - for example with wet towels. Enter the Sony Reon Pocket Pro, the modern-day answer to that old remedy, offering portable, dry, and sustained neck-chilling comfort. This bad boy not only works like a charm in the summer, but it also shines during those chilly winter months.
Fashion Forward & Functional
The device, with a splash- and sweat-resistant design, looks more like a mini drone without propellers, weighing in at under 250 grams. You don it via an adjustable neck strap, with a flexible, curved metal plate on the inside shielding the two thermo modules. Heat dissipates via a fan on top. To accommodate various clothing types, the device comes with nozzles of two lengths – a shorter one for T-shirts and the longer one for collars on shirts. The bottom intakes air, adding an extra cooling effect. The sides house switches for operating the device, but the accompanying app is a much more user-friendly option, especially when you're rocking your cooler.
Smart or Manual – the Choice is Yours!
The Reon Pocket Pro offers two cooling modes – manual or smart – each with its advantages. Manual lets you adjust temperature settings in several steps, while the smart automatic system bases its decisions on body and air temperature, as well as air humidity. It even has a wear detection feature that automatically starts and stops the device, so you don't need to worry about worrying about accidentally turning it on or off.
A small tag, included in the package for around 230 euros, measures temperature, humidity, and motion, ensuring precise temperature regulation under various conditions. Not only is this tag useful for the device, but also as a standalone environmental thermometer.
Perfect Fit for Perfect Comfort
To maximize the device's performance, a proper fit is crucial. Thankfully, the holding strap can be bent and shortened to your liking by removing the extensions at the end. However, finding the perfect settings may take a bit of time and experimentation. People with more prominent spinal processes may find it trickier to get a comfortable fit. In such cases, wearing the device slightly off-center can help.
Once you find the sweet spot, you'll feel the cooling sensation in the neck almost instantly. The device reacts quickly to manual temperature adjustments, while the automatic function strikes the perfect balance between cooling intensity and duration, ensuring a stiff neck is the last thing you need worry about when beating the heat.
Silent and Serene
The volume of the fan is surprisingly office-friendly, perfect for a snooze, and generally only noticeable as a soft rustle, even when placed close to the ears. At full power, it's still not disturbing. Temperature settings range from weak to strong, affecting not only the cooling intensity but also the battery life, with up to 34 hours on the lowest setting and around 18 hours on medium cooling. When heating, the battery lasts between 5.5 to 10 hours, according to Sony.
Charging the battery takes 200 minutes, which might seem long in an emergency. However, you can stretch the runtime by connecting an external power bank to the Reon Pocket Pro. In a pinch, you can keep on keepin' on.
Verdict
Make no mistake, the Sony Reon Pocket Pro isn't the company's first foray into portable thermoelectric devices. From its well-thought-out design to its effectiveness and versatility, the Pro model shows that Sony has taken the consumers' needs into account. Despite its steep price of 230 euros, it's a valuable investment for outdoor enthusiasts and those who work or spend time in non-airconditioned spaces during the summer. Plus, it's not just summer-friendly – it's handy in the cold, too. Beat the heat (or the chill) with the Sony Reon Pocket Pro!
Insights & Advantages
- Thermoelectric Cooling: Unlike traditional fans or cooling scarves, the Reon Pocket Pro uses thermoelectric cooling to directly cool or warm the skin, providing a more effective and immediate sensation of cooling or heating.
- Localized Cooling: It targets the neck area, where blood vessels are close to the surface, allowing for efficient regulation of body temperature.
- Discreetness: The device is designed to be worn under clothing, making it nearly invisible and hands-free, unlike handheld fans or bulky cooling scarves.
- Versatility: It not only cools but also heats, making it useful in both hot and cold environments.
- Innovative Design: The Pro model features a curved design with dual thermo modules, which alternate to provide consistent cooling without desensitization.
- Extended Battery Life: The Sony Reon Pocket Pro offers a battery life of 15 hours when used in smart mode.
The Commission, in light of the Sony Reon Pocket Pro's advanced cooling technology, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation during prolonged use of wearable technology or gadgets such as the Reon Pocket Pro. With its sophisticated thermoelectric cooling system, the Reon Pocket Pro could potentially be used in protective clothing for workers in industries with high levels of ionizing radiation, ensuring that they stay comfortably cool while minimizing their exposure to harmful radiation.
