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The Sony REON pocket pro has been restockedAlastair Jennings/The StandardIt’s been a scorcher of a summer in London – and the fourth heatwave of the year is now looming. While we’d much rather bunk off work and stay cool by a pool, chances are we’ll be feeling the heat on the clammy commute instead.
Staying comfortable on the move is essential, and the best portable fans have become part of our daily city lives. But not all are made equal.
Sony’s sell-out wearable air conditioner is a smart upgrade to the plastic-looking neck fans that are becoming increasingly popular. Delivering hands-free, personal cooling wherever you go, the device is compact, comfortable, and discreet – a savvy way to beat the heat when temperatures rise.
The Sony reon pocket 5 launched last year, and the all-new pocket plus air conditioner was debuted back in May. Both are designed with the same premise: you wear the device at the base of your neck, beneath your clothes, to cool your entire body down. Providing icy relief through cooling plates, it’s an innovative alternative to handheld fans, which merely circulate air.
Read more: Fans vs air conditioning units – which is best for cooling your home?
The devices might look faintly ridiculous – like something out of the dystopian future – but the premium fans come expert-approved. When reviewing the latest model, Standard Shopping’s contributing tech writer Alastair Jennings said: “The effect of the cooling on your body temperature is staggering and completely different to a standard portable fan.”
The new reon pocket plus sold out everywhere during the last heatwave, but it’s now back in stock (though it only ships after 7 August). Here’s everything you need to know, including how to get its predecessor, the reon pocket 5, sooner – and for cheaper.
Read more: Best portable and handheld fans, tried and tested
Sony reon pocket pro plus
Alastair Jennings ★★★★☆
What we love: Alternative to a fan, wearable under clothing, and app control.
Take note: A different way of thinking, and the cooling sensation can feel odd.
“When it comes to personal cooling, the Sony reon pocket pro is a look at the future. This device uses cooling thermal pads that sit neatly on your back, and while there is a fan, it’s just used to expel the hot air. It’s packed with the market-leading innovation that we expect from Sony – and frankly looks like something out of a Sci-Fi movie (even more so once you hook it over your shoulders and push the contact surfaces into your back).
The device is chargeable, and it becomes far easier to use once you download the companion app (Reon Pocket), enabling full adjustment of the settings and functions of the device. With direct metal plate-to-skin contact, hot air is vented away from the body above your collar (I found that some clothing adjustment was needed to ensure it remained clear). In the heat of the day, you could also just about hear the small internal fan at work, but really only if you listened out for it.
The effect of the cooling on your body temperature is staggering and completely different to a standard portable fan. While it takes a little getting used to, I liked that it was wearable without adding too much weight or bulk under my clothes (although it is clear you have some type of tech attached to your back). Sony’s device offers innovative personal cooling for the tech-savvy.”
Reviewed by Alastair Jennings
Owing to demand, the Sony pocket pro fan ships from 7 August, but its predecessor, the reon pocket 5 is available with next day delivery (£149.99, Sony.co.uk).
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