Sony's Wearable Air Conditioner Is Here So You Won't Sweat Through Your Clothes

The device will reportedly make you feel several degrees cooler.

Courtesy of Sony
Courtesy of Sony

While I wouldn't trade my rooftop happy hours and Washington Square Park picnics for the life of me, that's not to say summer in New York City isn't without its trials and tribulations. Namely, the sweltering heat that'll douse you in sweat before you've barely made it half block. 

The good news? Sony is looking to troubleshoot that dilemma, so you won't sweat through your entire outfit as soon as you step outside for the first time in days. The tech giant is debuting a wearable air conditioner, officially dubbed the Reon Pocket, along with a t-shirt that fits the device inside it. According to Gizmodo, the gadget uses the Peltier effect, which to get all scientific, transfers heat to change an external temperature. The device is said to make you feel as much as 23 degrees cooler. From the looks of it, this comfort may be centralized at the nape of your neck, but it's a start!

The Reon Pocket manages to stay cool to the touch by filtering out warm air away from the body through a small fan, the outlet reports. Here's the real kicker, though: you can control it all directly through your iOS and Android smartphone, allowing you to manually adjust or set on automatic mode to appropriately adjust the temperature for you. 

Courtesy of Sony

If you live in a climate that feels damn-near the frozen tundra (born and raised Chicagoan, current New Yorker speaking), early reports claim the technology can also make you feel up to 14 degrees warmer, should the need arise. The only caveat? Its internal battery only lasts between two and fours and it takes about two more to recharge. 

While it's currently only available in Japan -- through Sony's online store for about $120 and Amazon Japan for $160 -- rumors have already begun circulating about a subsequent US launch, Top Ten Reviews said. You'll have to keep sweating through those subway commutes for now, but just know, there's a light at the end of that overheated tunnel. 

h/t Gizmodo

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Megan Schaltegger is a staff writer at Thrillist.