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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Two Oura users reported their rings smoking and overheating.
- Smart rings are built with lithium-ion batteries.
- They may overheat if damaged or improperly charged.
Smart rings have had some bad press recently. Earlier this year, a Samsung Galaxy Ring began swelling on a user’s finger as he was about to board a flight. And last week, two Oura Ring users reported their rings were overheating and smoking.
A user on the Oura Ring Reddit reported that their ring began smoking and burning their finger on a morning walk. The user felt a burn on their finger, attempted to get the ring off quickly, and developed a blister upon removal.
Also: This new $75 smart ring helps you remember the things you’d likely forget
“My hand smells like electronic fire,” the user wrote. They said they’d worn the smart ring for four to five months when they experienced the smoking ring. Another user, in a now-deleted thread, said the smart ring was defective upon purchase.
“We take any safety-related report seriously and are actively reviewing the recent posts on a case-by-case basis. While Reddit discussion threads can create the impression of scale, the two reported cases appear to be isolated incidents rather than a wider pattern, and we’re conducting thorough investigations — including third‑party analysis — to understand exactly what happened and support the members involved,” an Oura spokesperson said in an email to ZDNET. For context, Oura has sold over 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 a battery fire if damaged, overheated, overcharged, or defective. However, recent advancements and “stringent safety standards” lessen the risks lithium batteries pose to consumers, Relion wrote in a 2024 blog post.
In September, YouTuber Daniel Rotar posted on X that his Galaxy Ring had swollen around his finger before his flight. The battery on the smart ring had expanded, rupturing the internal build of the ring around Rotar’s finger.
Also: An influencer’s Samsung smart ring had a swollen battery – here’s why
Rotar said the smart ring had been unable to hold a charge for over a day and had been malfunctioning for a few months. If your devices begin malfunctioning, it’s best to take them off, ZDNET’s Adrian Kingsley-Hughes advised in an article.
Despite these scary and salient stories, rechargeable batteries are incredibly safe, Kingsley-Hughes wrote.
Oura users have also flocked to Reddit this year to report issues with depleting battery life. Customers who purchased an Oura Ring 4 less than a year ago are already reporting shortened battery life, notwithstanding the advertised claims that the ring can last up to eight days.
The good news is that Oura has been responsive to and generous with warranties and replacement requests.
Also: Why your Oura Ring battery is dying quicker – and what Oura is doing about it
“We are continuing to make improvements in our software and features to help reduce battery aging. Most members continue to experience between 5-8 days of battery life, 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 Oura spokesperson wrote to ZDNET.
