Sony's New Wearable Air Conditioner Fits in Your Pocket

With global warming increases temperatures everywhere a portable air conditioner seems like a good idea. Now Sony has unveiled a new model that fits right in your pocket.

Called the Reon Pocket, the innovative portable air conditioner is from the company's startup acceleration program. It consists of a small device that fits in a shirt pocket and can be turned on at the touch of a smartphone app. 

RELATED: HOW PEOPLE KEPT COOL BEFORE AIR CONDITIONERS

It keeps you warm too

The device can also keep you warm. It is both air conditioner and heater in one. The temperature is controlled through the app, which connects to the Reon Pocket via Bluetooth. 

The device is about the size of a card wallet and it slides into the back of a specially designed shirt at the neck. Sony’s product site states that the firm has conducted hundreds of simulations and the new invention can cool a user’s body temperature by 13 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit) or raise a user's temperature by about 8 degrees Celsius (about 14 degrees Fahrenheit).

The product supports both iOS and Android. It has a battery life of 24 hours and a charge time of 2 hours.

It comes in two versions: the Reon Pocket Standard and Reon Pocket Lite. The standard is more expensive because it lets you manually control the temperature and air volume.

It weighs a mere 85 grams (3 ounces) and one shirt costs around $130. Sadly, Sony plans to launch the Reon Pocket only in Japan for the time being.

The firm has begun crowdfunding the gadget. Should the project get fully funded, backers can expect to see their air conditioners/heaters around March 2020.