The Sony Reon Pocket isn't a brand-spanking new device - though this might be the first time you have heard of it. The first generation launched in 2019 as a crowdfunding project – not under the Sony name - but following its success (selling over 4,000 units in six days), it became part of the Sony Group in 2020 and is now launching its 5th generation.
Very much under the Sony name these days - or rather a subsidiary called Sony Thermo Technology - the Reon Pocket 5 sits around your neck and between your shoulder blades to warm or cool you down.
I tried it to see how it works, what it's like, and whether it is a COOL new wearable that could be the next HOT trend - sorry.
Design
Wareable
The Sony Reon Pocket 5 is an interesting device, to say the least. So much so that I'm not sure what to use as a reference point. It doesn't look like anything I've seen previously and arguably looks like it would fit more within the realms of medical devices than Sony’s usual offering.
Rectangular in shape with curved corners and tapered edges, the Reon Pocket 5 slots into a plastic rubber neckband that comes in two size options and two color options.
One of the color options is grey, the other beige. Both neck bands have arms that sit on your neck and both have an open element that allows for air to circulate.
On the larger neckband, the open element is higher, designed for when you are wearing a shirt or garment with a higher neck. The shorter neckband meanwhile, is for T-shirt-wearing days.
On the front of the Reon Pocket, there are ridged lines, and all in all, the design is rather nice. You don't see it mind - or most of it - as this is a device that sits under your clothes, as I mentioned.
The rear of the Reon Pocket 5 has a mental plate and this is the element that is positioned on your skin between your shoulder blades, giving you the initial shock of the cold touch you would expect when skin hits metal.
Overall, the Reon Pocket 5 is slim, and it does hide itself away beneath clothing. I tried it on with a green jumpsuit and you wouldn't know I was wearing it, though the airflow element does appear above your clothing and that part is obvious - especially if you have short hair. Mine is long and therefore covers the device entirely, but that won't be the case for everyone.
The jumpsuit I had on was in between shirt height and t-shirt height so I would have been better off with the shorter neckband in this case and that's certainly something to keep in mind.
It's comfortable to wear - at least it was for the 10 minutes I had it on - and you don't notice the arms around your neck too much. A similar feeling to having a pair of headphones around your neck shall we say - something you get used to, but you know is there.
What is perhaps more obvious is the Reon Pocket Tag, which is designed to give you greater flexibility between cooling and warming thanks to the motion and humidity sensors.
The tag is a small oval device that clips onto a pocket, measuring various elements to adapt cooling and warming accordingly. It attaches without a problem, but as small as it is, this isn't something I'd love to wear on my clothes day to day. It's not as discreet as it could be and with only one colour option, it does stand out on bright clothing.
Features
Wareable
The idea of the Sony Reon Pocket 5 is to help you feel more comfortable, whether warming you up or cooling you down. For the hot summer days when you're crammed onto a tube or train full of people, the Reon Pocket 5 will cool you down, with five levels of cooling to choose from in the app.
When it comes to warming you up - think summer evenings when the chill comes in - there are four levels of warming you can choose from. The app - Reon Pocket - keeps things exceptionally simple.
Once connected to the Reon Pocket 5, you can choose Smart, Cool, or Warm modes. The Smart Mode will automatically adjust the temperature of the warming and cooling surface on the Reon Pocket 5 to suit the temperature of your surroundings, inside your clothes, your activity - like whether you are moving - and your preferences, such as whether you have set specific parameters.
This mode will respond to the Reon Pocket Tag too, warming you up and cooling you down as it deems appropriate.
Select Cool mode and select from the five cool options, while Warm mode allows you to pick from four options, as mentioned. Within the app, you can see temperature and humidity, but that's about it. There's nothing too fancy with simplicity being key here.
I hustled my way through the various warming and cooling options available and the Reon Pocket 5 does respond with no lag in my brief experience. It was odd feeling the heat between my shoulders, and similarly, the coolness when I selected cool, but it seemed to do what it said on the tin. I'd be keen to see how the Smart mode works when out and about, however, as well as how the warm and cool modes respond when outside or moving between different environments.
Battery life
Wareable
Battery life is also something that will need to be tested in a full review, though alongside the improved cooling performance compared to the fourth-generation model of this device, there is also a significantly better battery life claim.
Sony says the Reon Pocket 5 will deliver up to 17 hours of battery life depending on the cooling setting, which is said to be 1.8x longer than the Reon Pocket 4. When it does run out of charge, charging takes place through the USB-C port on the side of the device so it's nice and simple at least, and based on those claims, should see you through a day and evening of playing hot and cold before it needs a recharge.
Early verdict
If you're someone who struggles with hot flushes - or finds yourself shivering when everyone else is sweating - Sony might have the answer to all your prayers with the Reon Pocket 5. There is no denying it is interesting, and it certainly serves a purpose. The question is whether you deem hot flushes or feeling cold enough of a problem to buy a device specifically to solve that problem.
The Sony Reon Pocket 5's design is slim and sophisticated, it will hide away beneath your clothing if you pick the right neckband, and I can see how it would be useful for the hot summer days and the stuffy trains. Whether it is a device I'd happily wear all day and into the evening remains to be seen for now, but it's certainly different and that's something worth talking about.
The Sony Reon Pocket 5 will be available from 15 May 2024 at sony.co.uk. It will cost £139.
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