Beat The Summer Heat With Sony's New Wearable Air Conditioner

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When you're thinking about the different types of air conditioners to consider for beating the summer heat, central air, window AC units, and mini-splits are some of the most common options. However, a more personalized option with a big brand name behind it is about to become widely available in the United States. Sony recently announced plans to begin selling the Reon Pocket Pro Plus Sensing Kit, which is a wearable, personalized heating and cooling device that adapts to your body temperature in real time. Sony is taking pre-orders for the Reon Pocket Pro at its website for $260 with free shipping. Product shipment should occur in late July.

The Sony device runs from a battery and measures about 6 ⁷⁄₁₀ by 4 ⁷⁄₁₀ by 2 ³⁄₁₀ inches. It consists of a rectangular body that sits at the back of the neck with two flexible arms that wrap around the neck and hold it in place. It weighs a little more than 9 ounces. This product represents a creative way to keep cooler when air conditioning isn't available.

Even though the Reon Pocket Pro Plus is new to the American marketplace, Sony started selling this device in select worldwide markets in May 2026. Sony was also selling a similar device elsewhere in the world during the past couple of years. The new Reon Pocket Pro Plus adds value over the older Sony Reon Pocket 5 because it offers significantly more cooling capability in a slightly larger physical unit.

Many different kinds of people could benefit from the Sony personal AC unit. Hikers, cyclists, and other people doing their favorite activities outdoors on a hot day could feel cooler and more comfortable with this device. One person on Reddit who has used the device while hiking in the heat said it won't feel like you're in an air-conditioned room, but it will make the time spent outdoors more enjoyable. One U.S.-based motorcyclist imported the Sony Reon Pocket Pro Plus from a country where it was on sale in May in hopes of making it more comfortable to sit in traffic on a hot day. "It's been very helpful on my motorcycle rides," the rider said on Reddit.

The Sony Reon Pocket Pro Plus can also work for indoor cooling. If you're hoping to give your AC a break by not lowering the thermostat and wearing the Sony cooling device instead, it could certainly help with this task. "I'm now convinced it actually meaningfully cools the wearer down. That it's not just a sensation of cooling, but legitimately helping your body to regulate a cooler temperature," one Reddit user said after trying the device. If someone in your household feels too cold when you turn down the air conditioner, you could potentially leave the thermostat where it is and wear the Sony device to help you feel cooler.

The Sony Reon Pocket Pro Plus pre-order price in the United States of $260 is higher than similar devices. One such device (the Torras Coolify Neck Air Conditioner) costs $200 on Amazon, for example. Sony is a well-known, publicly traded company with a market valuation of more than $118 billion, while Torras is a comparatively small, Chinese-based company. Customers may believe they're receiving a better value by sticking with Sony. 

The Reon Pocket Pro Plus also has a higher price point than the older Reon Pocket 5, which is still available on Sony's Hong Kong website for a U.S.-dollar equivalent of about $140 as a sale price (or $191 as a regular price). The Reon Pocket 5 is not sold directly in the United States.

One area where the new Sony version outperforms and delivers a greater value than the Reon Pocket 5 is in battery life. Sony estimates the Reon Pocket Pro Plus will operate for 34 hours on a charge at the lowest cooling level and 5 ½ hours on the maximum cooling level. These timelines compare to 17 hours on the lowest level and 4 hours on the maximum level for the Reon Pocket 5. The older version does charge faster through a USB connection, though. The Reon Pocket 5 reaches 90% battery charge in about 100 minutes and full charge in 170 minutes. Meanwhile, the Reon Pocket Pro Plus needs about 130 minutes to reach a 90% charge and 200 minutes for a full charge.