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ZDNET Highlights
- Two Oura users reported their rings smoking and overheating.
- Smart rings are made from lithium-ion batteries.
- They may overheat if damaged or improperly charged.
Smart rings have gotten some bad press recently. Earlier this year, a user found the Samsung Galaxy Ring on his finger started swelling when he was about to board a flight. And last week, two Oura Ring users reported that their rings were overheating and smoking.
a user on ora ring reddit reported That during his morning walk, smoke started rising from his ring and his fingers started burning. The user felt a burning sensation on his finger, attempted to quickly remove the ring, and upon removing it developed a blister.
Too: This New $75 Smart Ring Helps You Remember Things You Might Forget
“My hands smell like electronic fire,” the user wrote. He said he had worn the smart ring for four to five months when he experienced the smoke ring. Another user, in a now deleted threadSaid the smart ring was defective upon purchase.
“We take any security-related reports seriously and are actively reviewing recent posts on a case-by-case basis. While Reddit discussion threads may create the impression of scale, the two reported cases appear to be isolated incidents rather than a widespread pattern, and we are conducting a thorough investigation – including third-party analysis – to understand exactly what happened and support the members involved,” a spokesperson for Oura said in an email to ZDNET. For context, Ora has sold more than 5.5 million rings since September this year.
Lithium-ion batteries power smart rings. These small and compact batteries are prone to thermal runaway, which can result in battery fire if damaged, overheated, overcharged, or degraded. However, recent advances and “stringent safety standards” have reduced the risks of lithium batteries to consumers, Relian wrote In 2024 blog post.
In September, YouTuber Daniel Rotter posted on Instagram that his Galaxy Ring was swollen around his finger before the flight. The smart ring’s battery had expanded, causing the ring’s internal construction around the rotor finger to break.
Too: An influencer’s Samsung smart ring had a swollen battery – here’s why
Rotter said the smart ring was unable to hold a charge for more than a day and had been malfunctioning for a few months. If your devices start to malfunction, it’s best to remove them, ZDNET’s Adrian Kingsley-Hughes advised in an article.
Despite these horror and major stories, rechargeable batteries are incredibly safe, Kingsley-Hughes wrote.
Ora users have also taken to Reddit to report problems with decreasing battery life this year. Customers who purchased the Ora Ring 4 less than a year ago are already reporting short battery life, despite advertised claims that the ring can last up to eight days.
The good news is that Oura has been responsive and generous with warranty and replacement requests.
Too: Why your Ora Ring’s battery is draining quickly – and what Ora is doing about it
“We are continuing to improve our software and features to help reduce battery aging. Most members continue to experience battery life between 5-8 days as expected. We encourage members to contact customer support, where we handle issues on a case-by-case basis, troubleshooting and replacing rings as needed,” an Ora spokesperson wrote to ZDNET.
