4. Pricing and availability<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\nWith temperatures set to rise in the upcoming months thanks to El Nino, most of us will probably be desperately looking for ways to keep cool. While air conditioning is one solution for us office-bound folks, that won\u2019t work for people who need to be outside in the heat or for those who have long walks to the MRT station or bus stop.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where the Sony Reon Pocket portable personal coolers come in. Now in its sixth generation, we tested both the Reon Pocket 6 and the Reon Pocket Pro Plus models. We\u2019ll mostly talk about the Reon Pocket Pro Plus in this review, but we\u2019ll highlight what has changed for the Reon Pocket 6.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In terms of design, there\u2019s very little that\u2019s changed from the previous Reon Pocket Pro to the new Reon Pocket Pro Plus. In fact, the only thing that is outwardly different is the included adjustable exhaust vent and a re-engineered neckband that follows the contour of your shoulders so that the cooler sits more securely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Internally, there\u2019s a new cooling algorithm<\/b>, and in tandem with the hardware changes, Sony claims the Reon Pocket Pro Plus will have better cooling performance by up to 20%.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As for the Reon Pocket 6, the changes are a bit more substantial, with a claimed battery life of up to 15 hours<\/b>, dual thermo-modules inherited from the Reon Pocket Pro, a new vapour chamber and heat sink, and faster charging alongside the new algorithm. The neckband has also been redesigned for a more comfortable fit around the neck with better flexibility.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Both models come with buttons on the sides to switch between cooling and heating modes, as well as to adjust the intensity. The buttons are straightforward and easy to use, but as you might have guessed, it can be tricky to reach them if you are wearing the device. Thankfully, there\u2019s a way to make it automatic.<\/p>\n\nThe Reon Pocket Tag 2 is included in the box.<\/p>\n
Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Both models come with the new Reon Pocket Tag 2<\/b>, which is a sensing device that can measure ambient temperature and humidity for automatic adjustment of cooling or heating levels for the Reon Pocket Pro Plus and Reon Pocket 6.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Unlike the original Reon Pocket Tag which has a rear clip, this new model has a strap hole and carabiner so you can attach it to a bag, lanyard or belt loop. While it\u2019s nice in theory, I found that when attached to anything, the sound of the metal carabiner clicking against the plastic housing is quite noisy. It would have been nice if Sony had used rubber for the edges of the hole to prevent it from making so much sound.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cool off, warm up<\/h2>\n\nYou can choose between two vent lengths depending on your outfit.<\/p>\n
Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
To set expectations going into this section, it\u2019s necessary to explain how the Reon Pocket devices work. Firstly and very importantly, they\u2019re not air-conditioners and they do not use fans to blow cold or hot air<\/b>. The only fans present are the ones used for heat dissipation to cool the internal components.\u00a0Instead, the way the Reon Pocket cools you down is via a metal plate that comes in contact with your skin.<\/p>\n
To put it more specifically, the Reon Pocket devices all utilise the Peltier effect<\/b> for heating or cooling, through a metal plate that comes into contact with the skin at the base of the neck.\u00a0Because it works using the Peltier effect, reversing the circuit effectively turns it into a warmer, which is why it can be used as a heater when it\u2019s cold.<\/p>\n
Therefore the vent that you see isn\u2019t there to blow air on you; it\u2019s to remove keep the internal circuitry from overheating. Both models also come with two different exhaust vents. One is the standard length, which works well for clothes like a t-shirt or even a crewneck sweater.<\/p>\n\nIf you wear shirts frequently, you\u2019ll want to switch to the extended length vent.<\/p>\n
Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
In the box, there\u2019s also an extended length vent for when you\u2019re wearing a shirt or a suit jacket, since the standard vent will likely get blocked, as shown above. And you definitely do not want this to happen, since the hot air from the vent will get trapped inside your clothes, negating any benefits of the cooler.<\/p>\n
While you can most likely get a much more pronounced cooling effect from neck fan-type coolers like the Torras Coolify range, those are very bulky and loud. The Reon Pocket Pro Plus, in comparison, hides under your clothes, and the fan is basically inaudible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In exchange for that subtlety and discreteness, the tradeoff is that you don\u2019t get the same level of cooling performance. But that\u2019s not to say that it doesn\u2019t work.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve had multiple opportunities to really put both models through some intensive stress testing, since the temperatures in Singapore and overseas have been skyrocketing recently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I was in Taiwan at the start of June 2026, the Reon Pocket 6 made it much more comfortable for me to walk around during the day, with a minimal amount of sweat and discomfort during an hour-long walk between 11am to 12pm.\u00a0<\/p>\n\nThe smaller vent is more appropriate for t-shirts.<\/p>\n
Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Back in Singapore, the 10-minute walk from the MRT station to the office which usually leaves me sweaty and massively grumpy from the heat was much more bearable thanks to the Reon Pocket Pro. However, I did realise that the cooler was less effective when it was particularly humid, like after a storm, since there\u2019s no airflow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A particular moment that stands out was when I was mixing some cocktails at home, in my kitchen, without any active airflow. I usually end up sweaty and even more in need of a cold, stiff drink, but with the Reon Pocket Pro, I made four cocktails consecutively (not all for me) without even breaking a sweat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And before you think it\u2019s only for cooling, both models can also be used as heaters. In the office, which can sometimes feel like a frozen wasteland thanks to the enthusiastic central cooling, the heating feature is a lifesaver.\u00a0<\/p>\n\nUnfortunately, running the cooler at max means you get condensation.<\/p>\n
Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The one downside I\u2019ve encountered is that if you\u2019re running the cooler at the maximum cooling setting, condensation will gather on the Peltier element and start trickling down your back. I\u2019ve wondered occasionally why I\u2019m sweating even when I\u2019m not feeling that warm, only to realise it was condensation from the cooler and not actual perspiration. As long as it\u2019s not on the max setting, this issue doesn\u2019t occur.<\/p>\n