Recently, the use of portable fans has become a trend. Not only because of the unpredictable weather, but JISULIFE branded fans are now a lifestyle trend. For those who don't know, since 2019 Sony has been involved with the portable cooler trend through the Reon Pocket. This year they have come with the fifth generation which is Reon Pocket 5 and I have tried using it. In this article I will share the experience of using this portable air conditioner.
SPECIFICATION AND DESIGN
You imagine a cooling fan for a smartphone that can give temperatures as cold as a refrigerator leaving traces of water, but for the human body. It is also small in size with the main part giving a cool effect is on the exposed iron pad on the Reon Pocket 5. There are also three ways of use either with two sizes of air mesh protector or without any protector. Sony also provides three automatic use modes, namely SMART COOL mode / SMART COOL⇔WARM mode / SMART WARM mode.
Reon Pocket 5 has 5 cold levels and 4 heating levels. The device is also attached with a special glue to keep the cold and warm temperatures under control. The Bluetooth system for connection to the device is Bluetooth 5.0 while the built-in battery is a Lithium type. The neck is protected with a type of silicone for a more comfortable grip and use. This portable air conditioner is also designed with a thin body that is slightly curved so that it can be easily hung around the neck and the cooling process can continue to spread to the user's body.
USAGE EXPERIENCE
All this time, the cooler I have been using is JISULIFE Portable Mini jet Fan 3600mAh which costs around RM109. It is a popular brand and focuses on turbo speed fans in a mini body. This fan has satisfied me not to mention this Sony portable air conditioner. The first time I used it was when I was wearing a black jacket with a rather thick T-shirt and I was very surprised when I didn't sweat at all during the 3 hours I wore this outfit.
For individuals who sweat easily again wearing layered clothes, Reon Pocket 5 is very helpful in cooling the body. The first time of use is also great because the cooling process happens very quickly which is around the first 10 seconds. As well as the process of heating to a warm temperature, it happens very quickly.
Changing the temperature from warm to cold and cold to warm if you are lazy doing work or watching a video can also feel as if someone is doing a prank by putting rocks or hot stones in the back of your shirt.
Sony also includes two different sizes of air vent protectors. The small one is for a regular T-shirt while the long one is for a t-shirt or dress with a higher collar. This protector works for the fan feature, which just rotates like a laptop fan without hot air. It's not cool enough compared to Cool mode.
The built-in neck brace has a silicone protector that provides extra grip and is comfortable against the skin. It is also light and easy to use when walking, praying, and various other activities. My one complaint is that the Reon Pocket 5 only comes in white, for individuals who sweat quickly, I'm worried that hiking dirt will stick easily compared to other darker colored offerings.
USE WHILE RIDING AN EV MOTORCYCLE
I also gave a colleague the Reon Pocket 5 to use when riding his BMW CE 04 scooter. For a short trip of less than 30 minutes, it gives a good feeling of coolness by wearing a thick jacket. It's just that due to the small cooling pad and the fast movement of the motor, the cold temperature does not spread very smoothly and the cold is often felt only in the upper part of the back.
REON TAG
This small tag is loaded with various sensors such as temperature and humidity sensors, ambient light sensors and even accelerometer sensors. The Reon Tag is a mandatory accessory to use Smart Climate Control because it can detect the user's movement to save more battery and determine the best temperature for the Reon Pocket 5. How to use it is easy because the Reon Pocket application will detect this tag quickly provided there are no other tags nearby. The selling price of this tag is RM159 but it is given free for the first purchase.
OTHER ACCESSORIES
Who would have thought that this Reon Pocket 5 has its own ecosystem of original accessories. Sony Malaysia also sells storage bags made of polyester and cushions. It is sold at a price of RM119. Sony also sells normal and small size replacement neck straps to suit different types of users at a price of RM109. Finally, a replacement Reon Tag if it is lost is also sold at a price of RM159.
BATTERY
The Reon Pocket 5 has all-day battery life. The use of Smart Climate Control can ensure cold level 4 is used for up to 7.5 hours. If using manual control, cold level 1 can last up to 17 hours. If warm mode is used, the battery will drain faster. The charging period is almost 3 hours for a full charge. In my tests, using the Reon Pocket 5 when the battery was around 35%, it had no problem lasting up to 3 hours as long as I used the Smart Climate Control mode.
CONTROL AND APPLICATION
Controls on the Reon Pocket 5 and Reon Tag are via a strange physical button. There is no shortcut to press twice instead each product can only be pressed once to turn on. Other controls are through applications or sensors that will determine whether the Reon Pocket 5 should be turned off or not.
Reon Pocket app is not as user friendly as Sony Headphones. The interface relies heavily on text and fibers to use. I who have been using Reon Pocket 5 for a few days also still feel confused with this application. I really hope that Sony can take Bravia Connect as an inspiration for the app interface design.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX
With every purchase of Sony Reon Pocket 5 you will receive;
1x Reon Pocket 5.
2x Air Vent Protector.
1x Short neck.
1x Reon Tag.
1x USB-A to USB-C Cable.
1x Set of guide and safety book
CONCLUSION
Sony Reon Pocket 5 is an interesting portable fan gadget. Sony uses the concept of a cooling fan that is usually released for gaming, turning it into a portable air conditioner. Sony may want to follow in the footsteps of Jisulife, which is a Chinese portable fan manufacturer that is quite popular now because it has been active since 2016 compared to the Reon series that just started in 2019.
For the price of RM799 it is quite expensive, even at this price you can buy a portable air conditioner at home. However for the concept of a portable air conditioner that can cool like ice in a shirt, and actually help me wear layers without sweating is an interesting thing. It's just that the high selling price makes it difficult to convince people to buy it.
PROS AND ADVANTAGES
Reon Pocket 5 cools quickly and can reduce sweat.
The thin and futuristic design is like a gadget for the modification of the human body.
Reon Tag is interesting because it can change the temperature according to the current situation.
Air grille vents are different sizes for different shirt collar sizes.
Short neck with a good grip, wear it when praying there is no problem.
Light and comfortable around the neck.
CONS AND DISADVANTAGES
The cold temperature slowly spreads throughout the body.
The fan power is not as strong as other portable fans on the market.
Reon Tag frequently disconnects causing the Auto Climate feature to not work frequently.
Selling price is quite expensive.