Samsung Launches Smartphone with Quantum Chip for Security

Samsung has launched the Galaxy Quantum 5, a variant of its Galaxy A55 smartphone that features a quantum cybersecurity chip to make transactions such as online banking more secure.

The new model was developed in partnership with quantum cybersecurity company ID Quantique (IDQ) and network operator SK Telecom and is only available in the South Korean market.

The new model integrates an IDQ quantum random number generator (QRNG) chipset with the Samsung Knox security, authentication and encryption platform. Measuring just 0.1 inches on each side, IDQ claims it is the world’s smallest of its kind.

Samsung Galaxy Quantum 5 features a QRNG chip. Credit: ID Quantique

The QRNG chip generates unpredictable, genuinely random numbers to protect the login, authentication, payment, unlock and password generation procedures for phone functionality and apps.  This includes securing sensitive information such as face ID and fingerprints used for identification and screen unlocking, and data stored on-device or in external memory.

“The Galaxy Quantum 5 is the latest in the Quantum series, now with premium performance and AI features, further enhancing its completeness,” said Yoo Chul-joon, head of the SK Telecom Smart Device CT department.

“We aim to offer security and AI capabilities at a reasonable price through the Galaxy Quantum 5 and will continue our efforts to ensure our customers enjoy a convenient telecommunications experience.”

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Samsung Galaxy Quantum 5 also features a “quantum indicator” that informs whether the application they are using is a quantum-secured service. A message appears that indicates that apps are being protected with QRNG technology, which works even if the notification text is turned off.

When an app saves authentication information, such as fingerprints and facial images, the mobile phone is automatically secured. The QRNG chip generates random encryption keys and works with the phone’s keystore – a secure container on Android phones that stores cryptographic keys – to provide quantum-enhanced security every time a user logs in to the app.“Mobile phone users are more and more concerned that their data could get stolen. Our quantum chip provides powerful security for a large number of services used on the Galaxy Quantum 5, protecting customers' most valuable information,” said Grégoire Ribordy, CEO and co-founder of ID Quantique.