Samsung’s Galaxy Ring is causing quite a stir as the first product of its kind from a major tech manufacturer. Although smart rings have been seen before, none have had the ecosystem and brand recognition of a product from a company like Samsung.
For many people, it’s a fantastic product. Like any tech product, it has its pros and cons, but it meets the needs of many users. Smart rings are here to stay, at least until something even smaller and more discreet emerges to take their place.
Smart rings also have a unique characteristic: they are designed to be disposable. This isn’t because companies like Samsung or Oura intend to create products with short lifespans, but rather because there is no other feasible way to design them.
Picture a small circuit board, some sensors, a tiny battery, and plenty of epoxy, and you have the components required to construct a smart ring. Over at iFixit, they’ve dismantled a Galaxy Ring to illustrate this, highlighting why we appreciate iFixit. Their findings shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.
The Galaxy Ring cannot be serviced without destroying it. This isn’t unique to Samsung’s ring; every other model from any other company follows the same design. It’s impossible to include the necessary technology, battery power, and maintain serviceability without making it prohibitively expensive. No one would spend $800 on a smart ring, including myself.
This results in more electronic waste, but the real concern for us is the lithium battery that powers the device and its short lifespan.
The warranty for a Galaxy Ring is 12 months. I attempted to reach out to Samsung for further details, but the company did not respond by the time of publication. Once they do, I will update with any relevant information.
Twelve months is also roughly the lifespan of the small lithium battery inside the ring. Such batteries deteriorate after about 400 charging cycles, leading to reduced capacity and faster discharge. Thankfully, smart rings typically have good battery life, reducing the frequency of charges compared to Wear OS smartwatches.
Once you’ve charged your ring approximately 400 times, you can anticipate the battery no longer meeting your needs. It will still function, but for a limited time, and for a product meant to be worn to track various health metrics, wearing time takes precedence over charging time.
Once the battery’s capacity diminishes to the point where it’s inadequate for you, the only option is to dispose of it in a recycling bin and purchase a new one for $400.
The main issue here is that the disposability of a smart ring discourages the used or refurbished device market. It is not advisable to purchase a used smart ring unless you are aware of its usage history and duration.
A smart ring differs from a phone where you can save money by buying used and replacing the battery. When a smart ring’s battery fails, it’s either covered by the warranty or not. If it isn’t, your only recourse is to buy a replacement.
I’m not trying to deter anyone from buying a smart ring. For many people, investing a few hundred dollars every year in improving their health is a worthwhile expenditure.
I’m simply highlighting what the flashy advertisements won’t disclose: this innovative product was not engineered for longevity.
Don’t lose track of anything
The Samsung Galaxy Ring lasts up to a week per charge, 10ATM and IP68 protection via the titanium frame, an ultra-lightweight design, and a complimentary charging cradle for on-the-go charging. It tracks a bunch of heart rate and sleep data passively, while being much more comfortable than a smartwatch.
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