[German]There are certain events that make me think of the term "enshittification." A hip wearer of a Samsung Galaxy Ring was rushed to the emergency room of a hospital because of this accessory. The battery in the ring began to swell. It's kind of stupid when the ring is worn on the finger and the swelling battery has no way to expand radially outward.
The Samsung Galaxy Ring
First, a few words about the Samsung Galaxy Ring—I knew it existed, but I had no idea what it actually did. To make sure I didn't get anything wrong here, I checked with Samsung to find out what it can do.
It was a revelation, because the device is more than just a fashion statement, it said. It is the gateway to my personal health and fitness tracking. The ring can monitor vital signs and activity levels, make coffee, run a bath, and butter bread to improve my well-being—at least that's what I read. Okay, I cleaned my glasses. I think I misread the list of features. The little ring can't do quite as much as promised. But it currently costs a mere $230 to $299, depending on the model, if I read it correctly.
When the ring brings you to the hospital
While browsing the web one morning of last week, I came across an incredible story on X that I don't want to keep from my readers. YouTuber @ZONEofTECH, who runs a fairly successful channel, also bought a Samsung Galaxy Ring. Then he went on a trip, if I understood correctly.
At some point, things got out of hand. According to his own statement, the YouTuber had been traveling by plane for about 47 hours and was waiting to board his connecting flight. Suddenly, he noticed that his index finger was feeling "a little" constricted by the ring – see the photo below in the tweet above.
The ring's battery had apparently started to swell (clearly visible in the photos above), causing this problem. The flight attendants did not allow the YouTuber, who was stuck with his ring, to board the plane – he was apparently unable to pass through security because he couldn't get the ring off his finger.
The man was also unable to remove the ring himself with soap and water. Instead, he was taken to the hospital as an emergency case, where the ring was removed. Judging by the photos above, the hospital staff separated the ring from his finger, and the finger presumably remained attached to the man. It was said that the ring came off the finger with the help of a special cream.
The YouTuber writes that he has no idea why the battery suddenly swelled up, but suspects "the heat in Hawaii, salt water, or the two flights to get to Hawaii." Salt water is unlikely to have been the cause, as the ring is IP68 (waterproof) rated. However, the man also mentions something about a battery that was already "dead," as its capacity had been poor for months
The YouTuber says, "I'll never wear a smart ring like that again." At least this story got him an extra night in a hotel (at his own expense, of course). And now he can fly home (without the ring on his finger).
More cases – a Ring-gate?
Meanwhile, the following comment from another Ring owner has appeared on X:
He claims that the firmware also rendered the battery unusable and that the same thing happened to him (although it seems more about the battery). Another user writes that he's seen several reports of swelled batteries on the Samsung Ring.
This all immediately reminds me of the Samsung battery issue with the Galaxy Note 7 in 2016 (see Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Rückruf- und Akku-Infos).
