October 2, 2025, 11:30 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Smart rings are considered the next big trend in the wearable market–compact, discreet, and worn directly on the finger. However, a recent incident raises questions about their safety. Tech YouTuber ZONEofTECH reported that the battery of his Samsung Galaxy Ring swelled during the boarding of a flight.
Battery Swells During Boarding
On X, the content creator described that the defect occurred precisely during the boarding of a flight. The airline then prohibited him from traveling, and for safety reasons, he had to stay behind. For the YouTuber, this meant not only a missed flight and additional hotel costs but also a hospital visit: The ring had to be removed there because parts of the interior lining had already come loose.
When Small Batteries Become a Hazard
The incident highlights how critical defects in such compact devices can be. Lithium-ion batteries tend to swell, overheat, or even catch fire when damaged. Particularly problematic with a ring: It fits snugly on the finger and cannot be immediately removed in an emergency–a significantly higher risk than with a smartphone or smartwatch.
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Indications of Further Problems
ZONEofTECH’s experience might not be an isolated case. In social media forums on Reddit, similar issues with the Galaxy Ring have been reported for months–including swollen batteries and significantly reduced battery life. Why Samsung has not visibly responded remains unclear.
Samsung’s Statement
Samsung itself is withholding specific details. In an official statement, Samsung said: “The safety of our customers is our top priority. This is an unusual case, and we are already in direct contact with the affected customer to retrieve the product, examine it, and investigate a possible cause.”
Whether trust in the Galaxy Ring and smart rings in general will suffer as a result remains to be seen–but the safety discussion is likely to be reignited by this incident.