The Samsung Galaxy Ring is meant to keep you abreast of your health and is rated as one of the best smart rings, but a sticky malfunction forced one traveler to go to the hospital and miss a flight. The battery in the ring reportedly swelled so much that it became stuck on his finger, making it impossible for him to remove by himself.
The swollen ring was reported by YouTuber and tech influencer Daniel Rotar of ZoneofTech. He shared photos of the malfunctioning ring with a visible bulge and separating interior layer on his finger.
An initial post from Daniel revealed that the swelling began just before he boarded a flight from Hawaii. "Now I cannot take it off and this thing hurts," he wrote.
Rotar tagged multiple Samsung accounts with the Samsung UK one responding in the replies and asking to move the conversation to direct message.
A couple hours later, Rotar said that he was not allowed to board the flight and sent to the hospital where the ring was removed with assistance. In a reply, he said that ice and a medical lubricant were used to slide the ring off. Allegedly, lotions and soap at the airport seemed to make the swelling worse.
Later images with the ring removed show the internal area of the Galaxy Ring visibly distorted and separating from the case. Daniel summed his experience saying, "Won’t be wearing a smart ring ever again."
Swollen Galaxy Ring potential causes
Our first guess was that the ring got stuck because of travel by Rotar to Hawaii. He suggested in a reply that multiple flights, Hawaiian heat, salt water and a "previously problematic" battery all combined to cause his predicament.
The Galaxy Ring is rated to be salt water resistant for shallow swimming, but does need to be rinsed and thoroughly dried afterward.
"Disinfectants or salts in pool water or seawater may affect the waterproof performance. To maintain optimal performance, rinse with clean water after swimming, then thoroughly wipe with a soft, clean cloth before using again," the Samsung website suggests.
Tom's Guide has reached out to both Daniel Rotar for comment on the reportedly swollen Galaxy Ring. We will update when we hear back.
Samsung sent Tom's Guide a statement saying that cases like Rotar's are extremely rare.
"The safety of our customers is a top priority and we are in direct contact with our customer to learn more about their concerns. While experiences like this are extremely rare, there are a few ways to attempt removing a stuck ring, including soap and water – or submerging your hand in cold water," the statement reads.
We were also directed to an article on the Samsung website about removing stuck Galaxy Rings. Where a last-ditch option of having a professional cut the ring off is suggested
There is an orientation mark on the ring that you can cut, which avoids cutting into the battery.
"Consult a medical provider to cut the ring off. Do not attempt to do it yourself. The ring is an electronic device with an embedded battery. For safety, the ring must be cut along the indicator where the battery is not located."
We were not given any details or comments on why Rotar's Galaxy Ring might have swollen.
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