Samsung’s Galaxy Ring is back in the spotlight for an uncomfortable reason: battery swelling. The smart ring has already faced criticism after an earlier report claimed a unit expanded on someone’s finger right before a flight. Now, a separate case has surfaced where another Galaxy Ring reportedly swelled over time—though this time, the details suggest the situation likely stems from how the device was handled after it became defective rather than a clear manufacturing fault.
According to a recent Reddit post, a Galaxy Ring owner described a worrying experience that could have ended in injury. The user said they bought the Galaxy Ring around launch in July 2024. Roughly nine months later—around April 2025—the ring’s battery stopped holding a charge, effectively making the device nonfunctional.
Despite that, the owner continued wearing the ring daily because they had gotten used to the feel of it. The issue became alarming when they tried to place the ring into its charger and found it no longer fit. After taking a closer look, they realized the Galaxy Ring had gradually expanded, turning it into what they described as a “ticking time bomb.”
From what’s been shared, this particular incident doesn’t necessarily point to Samsung being directly at fault. A battery that stops holding a charge within the warranty window is typically something a user can address through a replacement or service request. More importantly, continuing to wear a device after its battery has failed adds risk, since damaged or degraded lithium-based batteries can swell and become hazardous.
The takeaway is a simple but important safety reminder for anyone using compact wearables like smart rings, smartwatches, earbuds, or fitness trackers: if a device stops charging properly, starts overheating, shows signs of distortion, or no longer fits its charging cradle as it used to, stop using it immediately and seek proper service. Battery swelling can worsen quietly over time, and the smaller the device, the closer that risk sits to your skin.
At the same time, Samsung’s next move in the smart ring market appears to be facing delays for an entirely different reason. The company’s ongoing legal battle with Oura—a leading name in smart rings—over alleged patent infringement is reportedly complicating or slowing plans for the Galaxy Ring 2. For now, it’s unclear when Samsung will be able to release the next-generation model.
