On the subway, in the office, at the bus stop, the heat often comes from a specific point: the back of the neck. First it becomes a sticky feeling, then a shortening patience. A tight shirt, a backpack on my shoulders, the still air between my neck and hair. A curious object enters this increasingly difficult summer to navigate, halfway between a technological gadget and a small tool for daily adaptation: the Sony Reon Pocket Pro Plusa wearable air conditioner designed to directly cool the upper back.
The device was launched in Europe on May 12, 2026 with a recommended price of 229 euros£199 in the UK. Sony defines it as a wearable thermo device, therefore a wearable thermal device. The term “air conditioner” immediately gives an idea, even if the operation follows a more personal and localized logic: no jet of air on the face, no fan to hold in the hand, no device to place on the desk. It is worn under clothes, with a flexible collar that keeps it adherent to the nape of the neck, while a steel plate comes into contact with the skin and transfers a sensation of freshness.
Cold on me
The Reon Pocket Pro Plus it is the most powerful evolution of the series. According to data declared by Sony, the new model offers superior cooling performance of over 20% compared to the previous one and, in Smart Cool mode, the surface of the plate can reach approx 2°C less compared to the previous generation, under test conditions at 35°C. The straightener works on a small area, at the base of the neck, but that area has a sensitive role in the perception of heat: cooling it can make a sultry day more tolerable, especially when you remain still or walk at a light pace.
The device has five manual cooling levels and four heating levels, so it can also be used in the cold months. The battery varies greatly based on the intensity chosen: in cold mode it reaches approx 34 hours at level 1, approximately 10 hours at level 4 and around 5 and a half hours at the maximum level. Full charging takes approximately 200 minutes via USB-C. The main body weighs around 194 grams, while with the collar and accessories it weighs around 259-270 grams.
The most concrete news also concerns stability. The collar has a larger diameter and a structure designed to stay firmer during light movements. Sony speaks of an increased endurance of approximately 40% compared to the previous model. The air exhaust has also been modified: the upper vent can be adjusted in length and angle, so the heat produced by the device is better expelled even under a shirt or collared garment.
The sensor outside the clothes
The kit also includes Reon Pocket Tag 2a small external sensor that attaches to your bag, belt or pocket. It is used to read the temperature and humidity of the environment around the person, because the main device, hidden under clothing, would perceive a situation distorted by body heat and fabric.
The Tag 2 is smaller than the previous version and communicates with the main unit via Bluetooth. In practice it helps the Reon Pocket Pro Plus to regulate the cooling or heating in a more coherent way with the context. There is also the smartphone app, compatible with iOS and Android, useful for changing modes and intensity without looking for the buttons behind your back. The physical controls remain present, however under a t-shirt or shirt they become less comfortable to use.
All this makes the device interesting especially for those who work in too hot offices, take crowded public transport, have to cross urban sections under the sun or live in environments with poorly managed air conditioning. It is a personal comfort object, closer to an individual temperature regulation than a domestic solution against the heat.
Extreme heat, small objects
The launch comes at a time when the issue of heat is weighing more and more in Europe too. Copernicus recorded a early and intense heat wave in the second half of May 2026, with anomalies above 10 °C in some areas of Western Europe and temperatures perceived between 35 and 40 °C in large areas. The European Climate and Health Observatory reminds us that Europe is the continent that is warming most rapidly and that heat waves dangerous for health are increasing in duration and intensity, especially in southern Europe.
An important clarification is needed here. A wearable air conditioner it can provide relief, make a move more bearable, help those who particularly suffer from muggy environments. Sony itself, in the safety warningsclarifies that the device is not used to prevent heat stroke. The user guide also indicates to avoid using it while sleeping, in the rain, during intense exertion or in the hot sun for prolonged periods. It is also recommended to check the skin about once an hour and stop use in case of discomfort, redness or abnormal sensations.
This detail greatly changes the way the product is described. The Reon Pocket Pro Plus can be useful, even ingenious, but it remains an individual support. The real defenses against extreme heat continue to be water, shade, breaks, cool environments, better designed cities, attention to fragile people, working hours compatible with increasingly harsh temperatures. Technology can lighten a part of the day. The rest still weighs on houses, roads, transport, urban greenery and the organization of daily life.
The interesting thing, if anything, lies precisely in the direction. A large technological brand invests in an object to wear because the heat is becoming an ordinary, physical, personal experience. The climate enters the shirt collar. Sony places a cold plate on top of it.
