Sony’s Reon Pocket Pro Plus offers neck-based cooling and is now open for U.S. pre-order

Sony has opened U.S. pre-orders for its latest wearable cooling device as summer temperatures intensify across parts of Europe and the United Kingdom faces the prospect of record June heat.

The new device, called the Reon Pocket Pro Plus, is a portable air-conditioning-style wearable designed to cool the user without blowing air directly onto the body.

Unlike handheld fans or neck fans, the Reon Pocket Pro Plus works by placing a cooling plate against the skin at the back of the neck and upper spine.

Sony designed the device to sit under clothing, making it relatively discreet during use.

The cooling unit is held in place by an adjustable neckband made from flexible tubing. This can sit beneath a shirt collar to make the device less noticeable.

A small vent sits above the clothing to move warm air away from the body. For users wearing a collared shirt, Sony includes an extension to help guide the warm air out.

The idea behind the product is that cooling the nape of the neck can help create a broader cooling effect across the body.

Users can control the device using buttons on the unit itself or through a smartphone app.

The app provides more detailed temperature control and additional features.

Sony says the latest model delivers 20% stronger cooling performance compared with the previous-generation Reon device.

Battery life can reach up to 10 hours when the device is not set to its coldest temperature.

The product can also be used in winter as a warming device, although its focus is on summer cooling.

The Reon Pocket Pro Plus is now available for pre-order in the United States through Sony’s electronics website.

Its U.S. price is listed at $259.99, lower than earlier expectations that had placed the figure above $270.

Shipping is expected to begin in late July.

The device had already gone on sale in the United Kingdom in May, priced at £199.

The launch comes as extreme heat continues to affect parts of Europe, with the UK expected to experience its highest-ever recorded June temperature this week.

Sony’s wearable air conditioner enters the market at a time when more consumers are looking for personal cooling options that are portable, discreet and easy to use outside the home.

The Reon Pocket Pro Plus is not designed to cool an entire room like a traditional air-conditioning unit.

Instead, it targets the individual wearer by applying cooling directly to the body.

That makes it a very different type of product from standard fans or portable air coolers.

Its design may appeal to commuters, office workers or anyone who spends time in hot environments but wants a less obvious cooling device.

The product’s ability to both cool and warm also gives it year-round potential, although its summer use is likely to attract the most immediate attention.

With stronger cooling than the previous model, app-based controls and long battery life under certain settings, Sony is positioning the device as a practical wearable solution for heat management.

As summer temperatures rise and heatwaves become a growing concern, wearable cooling technology may become an increasingly visible part of the consumer tech market.

For now, Sony’s Reon Pocket Pro Plus offers U.S. buyers a new option for personal cooling, with deliveries expected to begin later this summer.