Samsung has recently ventured into the smart ring market with its new Galaxy Ring. Although it is advanced tech layered with features like none other, the device looks just as an ordinary ring would do. But a new teardown from iFixit has found things to be pretty grim when it comes to the device’s repairability.
More About the Samsung Galaxy RIng
According to the iFixit team, which recently took apart one of Samsung’s devices, a Galaxy Ring, it is quite literally “unrepairable.” The team had to melt away resin and plastic that encased its internal components, a process which in turn destroyed the device itself. This teardown leaked the new concept that unlike a modern electronic device, where design tends to be friendly, Galaxy Ring is more of a literal sense of a disposable world like Galaxy Buds3.
The battery and inductive coil are added to the circuit board using a push-on Galaxy Ring connector. Battery change was meant to be easier — and it is, relatively speaking when comparing other Apple products – but that can’t save the design of this ring. The inclusion of a press connector implies that Samsung is cutting costs in assembly, but thankfully this method involves less cost than soldering each part. This cost-saving separately also means that the ring is non-repairable.
However, the ring is easy to disassemble in comparison with other high-tech devices, iFixit said it was short on durability and long-term repairability. That design suggests it’s disposable, with a life expectancy of about two years. Once the ring encounters any issues, such as a dead battery or damage, users will likely have no option but to treat it as a regular piece of jewelry or discard it.
In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy Ring represents a significant advancement in wearable technology, but its repairability issues highlight the challenges of maintaining such high-tech, delicate devices. If the ring fails or becomes defective, users will need to accept that repair options are limited, potentially leading to the device’s disposal.
