The Elec reports Samsung plans to add authentication chips to batteries for future Galaxy A phones, with about 50 million batteries targeted for 2027. The chips would block non-genuine replacements, but Samsung has not confirmed the plan.
The Elec says each chip would carry a unique signature created during manufacturing, allowing a phone to check whether a replacement battery is a genuine Samsung part. The report attributes the plan to safety concerns, saying cheaper unauthorized batteries can be poor quality and, in the worst cases, pose a fire risk.
Ricky Panesar, founder of repair firm iCorrect, says the approach echoes Apple's parts-pairing restrictions. He says it could benefit users if Samsung keeps genuine replacement batteries inexpensive, but higher prices could make the measure more costly for customers. Samsung has not announced repair pricing.
