Sony Launches Reon Pocket Pro Plus in UK, Europe

Sony has launched the Reon Pocket Pro Plus, an upgraded version of its wearable personal air conditioner designed to provide targeted cooling during hot weather. The device, which clips to the base of the neck under clothing, became available this week in the United Kingdom for 199 pounds and across Europe for 220 to 229 euros through Sony's online store and retailers including Amazon. No launch plans for the United States have been announced.

The Reon Pocket Pro Plus uses the Peltier effect to generate a chilled metal plate that presses against the skin near the neck, an area with dense blood flow for efficient body-wide cooling sensation. Unlike fan-based devices, it avoids blowing air and instead relies on direct contact cooling, supplemented by a quiet internal fan for air circulation.

Key improvements over the previous Reon Pocket Pro model include a two-degree Celsius reduction in the plate's surface temperature and an evolved cooling algorithm that enhances performance by 20 percent, according to Sony. The company states these changes allow for more precise monitoring of temperature shifts on the device and in the surrounding environment.