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Image: Samsung
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring, launched mid-2024, arrived amid rising interest in wearable health devices that shrink in size and maximise comfort.
The core pitch: wearable health and biometric tracking (sleep, heart rate, motion, etc.) in a ring form factor, with the goal of being less obtrusive than a smartwatch yet more capable than basic fitness rings.
In reviews early on, the Galaxy Ring drew praise for its compact design, comfortable fit, and ability to remain relatively out of sight while still collecting continuous health metrics.
The touted specs, including a multi-day battery life (officially up to 7 days under light use), positioned it as a flagship entry into the smart ring category.
But as with many first-gen wearables, the promise often collides with real-world usage. Over the past several months, user reports (on Reddit, tech blogs, and social media) have surfaced raising serious concerns about battery degradation, rapid drain, thermal behaviour, and even battery swelling.
Let’s parse what we know so far: what’s working, what’s failing, and what this means for the future of ring wearables.
Before diving into faults, it’s worth acknowledging where the Galaxy Ring succeeds (or at least shows promise).
The ring concept is compelling: a health sensor around your finger is less intrusive than a watch, and more discreet. Early users praised how lightweight and unobtrusive it felt.
Samsung baked in a rich feature set: sleep analysis, activity detection, biometrics, etc. For users whose units have remained stable, these capabilities match what you'd expect from high-end smart rings.
In early testing and usage, many users were able to go multiple days, sometimes approaching the 5–7 day range between charges (though often in conservative usage scenarios). This allowed the ring to demonstrate its competitive potential.
The Galaxy Ring signalled that large OEMs see value in the smart ring niche. Its presence pushes the ecosystem forward and raises consumer awareness. Even if its execution isn’t flawless, its ambition catalyses innovation in miniaturised biosensors and wearables.
Still, all of those positives are now being overshadowed by an increasing body of anecdotal fault reports, which suggest deeper structural or design vulnerabilities.
User communities (primarily on Reddit and social media) have steadily documented a range of issues.
A. Rapid battery drain & degradation
One of the most common complaints: a ring that once lasted days now dies in hours.
On Reddit, a Samsung user reported:
“My galaxy ring worked fine for about a month, but as of 2 days ago, it started to drain battery like crazy; it drains like 30%/hr.” In that same thread, another user said that they “charged it to 100% and only in a couple of hours it was already down to 41%.”
This suggests either a software/firmware bug (e.g. Bluetooth always-on, sensor loops) or a hardware defect (e.g. cell degradation, leakage or parasitic draw). Users tried resets, re-pairing, etc., often with no resolution.
Another user in the Reddit/GalaxyRing community noted battery life falling to “a day or two” even without heavy usage.
These reports suggest that many units are not ageing gracefully, a major issue for a device whose value proposition depends heavily on sustained battery performance.
Battery swelling and physical deformation
Probably the most alarming class of reports: the ring’s battery physically expands while the ring is worn, causing the device to bind tighter to the finger or become stuck.
The most prominent, well-publicised case involves tech creator Daniel (Zone of TECH):
He posted on X (“Ahhh… this is… not good”) that while preparing to board a flight, the Galaxy Ring’s battery began swelling while still on his finger, tightening and causing pain.
Because the ring couldn’t be removed, he was denied boarding, then sent to the hospital, where medical staff used ice and medical lubricant to extract the ring.
The internal structure was visibly distorted, with parts of the battery pushing outwards.
Samsung responded by stating that the incident is “extremely rare,” that customer safety is a top priority, and that they have been in direct contact with the user for further investigation.
Poor support and replacements
Another trouble area is user experience with support, repair, or replacement.
In the rapid-drain thread on Reddit, some users say Samsung support proposed in-person store visits weeks away, causing frustration.
In the swelling case, the user claimed Samsung refunded his hotel, transported him, and collected the ring for investigation, but it remains unclear how broadly Samsung is handling similar reports, according to Android Authority.
In short, for many users, warranty or support fails to deliver a long-term fix, turning what should be a durable health device into a potential liability.
Understanding these faults requires looking under the hood and examining constraints in smart ring design.
Smart rings must squeeze electronics, sensors, a battery, and a radio into a very small form factor.
That leaves minimal headroom for thermal expansion, internal pressure changes, or mechanical misalignment. Any gas buildup in the cell has nowhere to go.
Lithium-ion batteries can degrade over time via mechanisms like gas generation (due to chemical reactions, overcharging, or cell stress). Batteries under stress or with manufacturing defects may swell internally. In larger devices, this swelling is often mechanical (bulging casings) or vented; in rings, it leads to deformation against the finger.
Users have speculated contributory factors like high heat (e.g. from tropical locations, or long flights) or saltwater exposure.
The rapid-drain cases hint at software-level or firmware-level issues: sensors or radios staying active when they shouldn’t, poor power management, memory/sleep mode bugs, or Bluetooth connectivity being held open.
One of the criticisms voiced by commenters: why didn’t Samsung design a mechanical pressure-release path (a seam or segment that yields outward) so that any swelling would push outward rather than inward?
Reddit users propose ideas such as micro-slits or breakpoints in the ring that could relieve internal pressure without injuring the finger.
Given these constraints, the Galaxy Ring’s design may be operating too close to the edge of physical viability. A single battery defect or stressor may push it over, resulting in the dramatic failure modes we’re now seeing.
Monitor battery performance closely. If you notice accelerating drain or warming, consider backing up data and discontinue use.
Avoid stressing the device under extreme heat or exposing it to corrosive elements (e.g. saltwater).
Do not force removal if the ring becomes tight. Try soaking the hand in cold water, using medical lubricant, or in severe cases, seek professional help (ambulance, cut-off by professionals along safe lines).
Document and report any swelling to Samsung (photos, timestamps) — multiple reports can help trigger an investigation.
If under warranty, push for replacement or refund, but verify that the replacement doesn't come from the same defective batch.