Samsung Galaxy Ring Reportedly Unrepairable Due to Design Flaw
Samsung’s latest smart ring, Galaxy Ring, has been making headlines recently, but not for its innovative features or sleek design. According to a report by iFixit, the wearable device is reportedly unrepairable if it faces damage to one of its parts or the battery dies.
The design of the Galaxy Ring, which requires opening up the ring from the inside, is said to be the reason behind its lack of repairability. The wearable device’s circuit board’s internal connectivity is done in a way that attempting to disassemble the unit might result in rendering it useless.
One of the main culprits behind the lack of repairability is the lithium-ion battery, which offers 400 cycles of use. However, once the battery has disintegrated enough and died, it is reportedly not possible to fix the smart ring because “you can’t get to the battery without destroying the device in the process.”
A computed tomography (CT) scan of the Samsung Galaxy Ring revealed that the inner side of the smart ring is surrounded by an epoxy resin coating, which houses the lithium-ion battery and the rest of the circuitry. However, there is one issue – the circuit board is connected to the battery using a press connector.
A press connector is a solder-free solution used in cases where lack of space or the nature of the material makes it difficult to solder the parts. However, this gives rise to the problem that one cannot reach the circuit board without damaging the battery in the process.
If the teardown and analysis by the publication are true, the Galaxy Smart Ring might not be usable if the battery dies or if the internal circuit board gets damaged somehow. For a device that is meant to be worn throughout the day, such damages might be difficult to avoid.
The lack of repairability of the Galaxy Ring raises concerns about the sustainability and environmental impact of the device. As consumers become increasingly eco-conscious, manufacturers must take steps to ensure that their products are designed with repairability and sustainability in mind.
