Samsung reportedly plans security chips for Galaxy batteries

Samsung may add authentication chips to batteries in some Galaxy phones starting next year, according to a report from The Elec cited by TechRadar. The chips could roll out to roughly 50 million devices, beginning with Samsung’s low-end and mid-range Galaxy A series. Samsung has not confirmed the report.

The chips would reportedly use Samsung Electronics’ 28-nanometer foundry process and VIA PUF technology to create a unique identity for each battery. Analog Devices (ADI) in the US and ICTK in South Korea are expected to share production of the authentication chips.

The reported aim is to distinguish genuine Samsung batteries from third-party replacements and help reduce battery-quality problems. The report also says authentication could let repairers review usage history and adapt lithium recycling to each battery’s condition.

The timing could overlap with EU rules taking effect in February 2027. Those rules will require phone makers to fit “readily removable” batteries, while the EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542 requires digital battery passports for industrial and electric-vehicle batteries. The latter does not currently cover smartphones.

Apple began using authentication chips with the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR in 2018. If confirmed, this would be Samsung’s first similar smartphone implementation. Samsung has not commented.