Rumor: Samsung, LG 2014 flagship smartphones may feature fingerprint scanners

A new report from Taiwan indicates that fingerprint scanner modules may be in tight supply in the first half of the year, as more companies are interested in including such sensors in upcoming devices.

Following Apple and HTC – each have a handset model incorporating the technology, the iPhone 5S and HTC One Max (image above), respectively – we could soon see Samsung and LG include fingerprint modules in their flagship devices.

Digitimes, which hasn’t always been accurate with its reports, says that Samsung and LG are planning to use fingerprint scanners from Validity and Swedish Fingerprint Cards, respectively, but only for high-end models.

While the report doesn’t specifically name the Galaxy S5 and the LG G3 as the next flagship devices coming from these two companies, it’s likely it refers to these yet-to-be-confirmed flagship handsets. This isn’t the first time we hear that at least Samsung will launch devices packing fingerprint technology this year, with a previous Reuters report suggesting that as many as two new 2014 Samsung devices may include such sensors.

But Samsung and LG will not be the only other companies interested in your fingerprints, as Chinese handset suppliers are reportedly looking into this particular smartphone feature as well, which could be found in high-end devices that retail for over $495 in the region. However, it’s not clear what handsets will pack such features.

The publication says that despite increased interest in the technology, the number of sensor suppliers is rather limited. Of all companies capable of producing such components, Apple owns its own fingerprint scanner company, AuthenTec, which it purchased back in 2012 for $356 million.