Smart Ring Troubles Lead to Airport Frustration

A British man has vowed never to wear a smart ring again after finding himself unable to board a flight due to the device getting stuck on his finger. Daniel Lothor recounted the embarrassing incident that left him feeling quite helpless.

Lothor was wearing a Samsung Galaxy Ring, which tracks various health metrics like sleep and heart rate, all while fitting snugly on a finger—unlike a bulky smartwatch. He had just returned from a long trip to Hawaii, which included multiple flights and lengthy layovers.

During his travels, the lithium-ion battery in the ring began to swell, ultimately trapping it on his finger. “This is… not good,” Lothor remarked in a video posted online. “The battery is starting to swell, and now I can’t get it off. It’s really hurting.” Follow-up photos from his post showed the ring stuck tightly, resembling a pair of handcuffs.

Despite reaching out to Samsung for assistance, Lothor was unable to get the ring off, which resulted in him missing his flight. “I’ve been traveling for about 47 hours, so this is just fantastic,” he lamented. To make matters worse, he faced additional expenses for a hotel stay and rebooking his flight for the next day.

Eventually, he did manage to get the ring removed after being sent to the hospital. “I will never wear a smart ring again,” he declared emphatically.

It’s unclear what caused the swelling of the battery, but some speculate that the heat in Hawaii could have played a role. He had been experiencing issues with the ring for months prior to this incident.

Lothor concluded that it’s crucial for any wearable technology with a battery to be easy to remove in the event of an emergency. The comment section on his posts was filled with sympathetic responses, with many agreeing that this kind of malfunction is a serious concern.

In a statement, Samsung acknowledged the issue and emphasized the importance of user safety. They also provided some suggestions for dealing with stuck rings, such as using soap and water or soaking hands in cold water. If those methods fail, they recommended consulting a professional to avoid risks associated with cutting the ring yourself.

This incident isn’t the first of its kind; there are numerous discussions online about similar experiences with the Galaxy Ring. While Samsung generally offers free replacements for such issues, many users have still faced the same frustrating problem.