The weather is heating up, and while the joys of modern air conditioning mean you can manage the heat easily while you're inside, being outside means heat, humidity and sweat.
Until now. Sony has just launched the Reon Pocket Pro, a "smart-thermo" wearable device into Australia. You wear it around your neck, and the device will cool – or warm – your body through the point of contact.
This is actually Sony's second device, following the original Reon Pocket, which didn't launch in Australia. The Pro version offers improved battery life, better heating and better cooling over the original.
The key upgrade is dual thermo-modules. Where the previous model had a single module, the Pro features two independent units working together to deliver double the cooling area and up to twice the heat-absorbing performance.
The upgraded design includes a new heat dissipation system that creates alternating cooling intensities for what Sony describes as a "continuous cooling sensation".
The Reon Pocket Pro can run for up to 34 hours on its lowest cooling setting, which is double the operating time of the previous model. Even on maximum cooling, the device can maintain powerful cooling for up to 15 hours. That should be enough to get you through a day out in the Australian Summer sun.
The device also features sensors that automatically adjust temperature based on your behaviour, body temperature and humidity levels.
Sony clearly understands that walking around with a chunky gadget on your neck isn't ideal for most situations. The Reon Pocket Pro features a compact internal structure finished in a subtle light grey colour that's designed to blend in with business attire.
The company has also addressed noise concerns, making the Pro 50% quieter than the previous model. The cooling and warming area has been strategically curved at the bottom to better conform to your body shape, and the neck band includes a flexible tube around the wire frame for improved comfort.
While the Reon Pocket Pro connects to a smartphone app for full control, Sony has included physical buttons on the sides of the device for basic functions. You can switch between Cool and Warm modes and adjust temperature levels without needing to pull out your phone.
Pricing and availability
The Sony Reon Pocket Pro will be available in Australia from November 2025 for $299, which makes it just in time for Christmas.
If I can get my hands on one for a review, I definitely will. This looks like the perfect Aussie gadget, and I'm keen to see how it performs.
