iFixit puts a Samsung Galaxy Ring in a landfill under a CT scanner

Any fix Samsung Galaxy Ring DisassemblyiFixit has examined the device’s components and written up its findings, which may make you think twice before buying the device. The site warns that the Galaxy Ring is “100% disposable,” meaning that once the battery dies, the device is completely useless. “The device is not designed to last more than two years,” iFixit warns.

To be fair, the site notes that “all smart rings like this” are disposable, as they can’t be opened without damaging them. It explains that lithium-ion batteries “have a shelf life,” and while they can be replaced in other devices, it’s not possible to disassemble a smart ring to do so without damaging the entire device. If the battery in your ring dies, you’ll have to throw it away.

The website that examined the Galaxy Ring through a CT scanner also found that Samsung used a compression connector to connect the battery to the circuit board. A compression connector, as the name suggests, connects components inside a device without soldering. iFixit said it generally likes compression connectors because they make it easier to replace individual parts. However, the connector inside the Galaxy Ring appears to be sealed and doesn’t make the device repairable. It said the company likely used a connector instead of soldering components to its advantage because the parts came from different manufacturing facilities.

We gave the Galaxy Ring an 80 in our review; we found it simple and expensive at $400 — $100 more than its competitor, the Oura Ring. However, Oura charges $6 a month to use its software, which adds up over time.