A quarter of a century ago (seriously), Sonia and Selena sang that “When the heat comes, the boys fall in love.” Today we can add one more phrase to the song: your hands swell and, if you are wearing a ring, forget to take it out. If it is also a smart ring, with its sensors and lithium battery, we have a problem. This is what many users are discovering.
This is tight. If it is hot and we also start exercising, it is quite common for a small swelling to occur in the hands. That’s exactly what happened to him to this journalist when he went out for a route through the forest: shortly after starting, he felt how the ring began to tighten more than necessary and he had to take it off. In the case of a watch or bracelet there is no problem because we can loosen it, but the rings are completely rigid devices, often made of metal, and with a thicker design than a conventional ring so they end up being more annoying.
The effects of heat. When the temperature begins to rise, blood vessels dilate to release heat, causing more fluid to leak into the tissues. The areas where it usually ends up accumulating are hands and feet due to the effect of gravity. It is what is known as heat edema and it is quite common in the summer months or when we exercise.
Not only do the fingers swell. The battery can also expand due to a defect or heat itself, making the ring feel smaller. This Oura Ring user He noticed that as time went by his ring felt tighter and the battery also lasted much less. When he contacted the brand, they confirmed that it was a battery problem and they ended up changing the device. There is more similar cases on Reddit.
Miss a plane. The case of youtuber Daniel Rotar It is perhaps the most striking of all. The battery in his Galaxy Ring began to swell causing the ring to get completely stuck on his finger. It hurt and there was no way to get it off, not even with soap and water. As if that were not enough, Daniel was about to take a flight, but was denied boarding because the ring’s battery posed a security risk. He ended up missing his flight and had to go to the emergency room to have the ring removed using ice and lubricant.
What companies say. Samsung has a help page with tips on how to remove a Galaxy Ring in case it gets stuck on your finger. They suggest using soap and water, dipping your hand in cold water, or holding your hand up high. If none of this works, they recommend going to the emergency room and having them cut the ring, even indicating the points where to cut so as not to damage the battery and which could end up causing burns. In the case of Oura They also offer the same advice and a guide to know where to cut if necessary.
Rethink the design. Smart rings are sold as the solution to monitor our health with an ultra-compact design and more comfortable than a watch, until it gets stuck and you have to cut it off, of course. In this sense, perhaps the future of this product involves sacrificing that rigid and continuous aesthetic, giving way to open designs that can better adapt to these natural changes in the body. It is a path that the company has already started Movano with the Evie ring.
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