Sony's Neck Buddy: The Reon Pocket 5 Pro - Beating the Heat without Becoming Stiff
Wearable air conditioning for the neck, not so long ago introduced.
By Klaus Wedekind
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The Sony Reon Pocket 5 Pro is a revolutionary gadget that aims to keep you comfy by cooling your neck area without stiffening it. In our hands-on review, we found it to be quite effective and enjoyable to use. Plus, it's not just for summer – it can also be a lifesaver in winter!
With temperatures soaring above 30 degrees, as they did last weekend, it can be a real strain on the body. An old-school remedy is to chill out the neck, using wet towels or something similar. Sony's Reon Pocket 5 Pro offers a modern twist on this cooling method, utilizing thermo modules to blow cool air (dry, of course!) for hours. You can even set it to smart mode, which adjusts the temperature automatically - even in the cold winter months.
The device looks a bit like a tiny drone minus the propeller and is water and sweat resistant. It weighs around 250 grams and is easily worn thanks to a flexible neck bracket. Inside, you'll find a steel plate that houses two thermo modules, with heat being dissipated through a fan installed on top. Since the Reon Pocket 5 Pro is designed to be worn under clothing, it comes with two adjustable nozzles: a shorter one for T-shirts and a longer one for shirt collars.
On the bottom, there are intake vents that provide an additional cooling effect. Controls on the side allow you to manually adjust the device, but it's more convenient to operate it via the accompanying app for improved ease-of-use.
There are two options for controlling the Reon Pocket 5 Pro: you can use manual mode to set the temperature within predefined steps, or opt for the smart automatic function, which takes measurements of body and air temperature, as well as humidity. The smart mode also features wear detection, meaning it will turn off and on automatically depending on whether you're wearing it.
In the box, you'll find a small tag that can be clipped onto clothing or a handbag. This accessory measures temperature and humidity even more precisely, as well as tracking physical activity and lighting conditions. This helps ensure that the device is able to adjust the temperature and keep you cool under various circumstances.
Getting the device correctly positioned is crucial to maximize its efficiency. The adjustable bracket allows you to bend and shorten it to your preferences. It does take some time to find the perfect position, but once you have it just right, the steel plate sits nicely against your skin.
Users with more padding find it easier to achieve a good fit, whereas those with prominent spine processes may require a slight sideways adjustment. Once positioned correctly, you'll feel the cooling effect almost instantly – it becomes pleasantly cool in just a few seconds!
The smart automatic feature really shines in testing. It can be used for both cooling and heating, or both simultaneously. This may seem odd at first glance, but think about how great it feels to enter an over-air-conditioned office on a hot summer day. The automatic feature reliably prevents overheating and stiff necks, ensuring that you stay comfortable.
Despite its close proximity to your ears, the device is pleasantly quiet and unlikely to disturb you, even at maximum power. You can set five different target settings for the automatic feature, ranging from weak to strong, which also determines the battery life.
Endurance tests proved the Reon Pocket 5 Pro to be surprisingly long-lasting. Even on a 30-degree day, it managed to run for more than eight hours in smart mode. The device can last up to 34 hours on the lowest setting and 18 hours on medium cooling. When heating, the battery lasts between 5.5 and 10 hours.
An empty battery takes 200 minutes to fully charge, which might seem long in an emergency. However, you can extend the runtime by connecting an external battery to the Reon Pocket 5 Pro.
In conclusion, the Sony Reon Pocket 5 Pro offers effective personal thermal comfort, with smart automatic adjustments and a practical design that makes it suitable for everyday use. At around 230 euros, it's not exactly cheap, but outdoor workers or those spending long hours in non-air-conditioned spaces in the summer might find it to be a worthwhile investment. Plus, it's versatile enough to be useful all year round!
Enrichment Data:The Sony Reon Pocket 5 Pro does not come with a heat alarm feature. It primarily focuses on providing personal thermal comfort by utilizing dual thermo modules and a heat dissipation fan to regulate temperature. While it can adjust its cooling and warming levels automatically based on multiple sensors and environmental factors, it is not designed to detect or prevent heat strokes or issue heat alarms[1][2][3].
References:[1] Reon Pocket 5 Promises Portable Climate Control | Wareable[2] Sony's Reon Pocket Turns Your Neck into an Air Conditioner | CNET[3] Sony's Strange Personal Air Conditioner Keeps You Cool, Without Being Obtrusive | Engadget
- The Commission might consider proposing a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, especially when using advanced technologies like smartphones and other gadgets that incorporate such radiation.
- On the other hand, workers can find solace in innovative devices like the Sony Reon Pocket 5 Pro, which offers personal thermal comfort, a feature that could be particularly useful when handling these gadgets, ensuring a comfortable working environment despite the risks associated with ionizing radiation.
