Anyone who travels a lot knows the moment. You reach the TSA line, your bag slides off your shoulder, your boarding pass is somewhere on your phone and your passport somehow sinks to the bottom of your carry-on. wants to make that routine less annoying.
The company has partnered with CLEAR to launch Samsung ID with CLEAR, a free digital ID inside Samsung Wallet. It uses information from a and lets eligible Galaxy users verify their identity at more than 250 TSA checkpoints that support digital IDs.
That sounds incredibly convenient. Still, this new feature also raises a bigger question. How much of your identity should live inside one app on your phone?
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Samsung ID with CLEAR is a mobile digital ID stored in Samsung Wallet. It is backed by information from your U.S. passport and verified by CLEAR.
Once approved, you can use it at supported TSA checkpoints by presenting your phone instead of digging out your physical ID. Samsung says travelers can present the ID with a tap or QR scan.
That could make a real difference when you are juggling a carry-on, laptop bag, coffee and impatient travelers behind you.
Woncheol Chai, EVP and Head of Digital Wallet Team, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics, said the feature is designed to make airport travel and “easier and frictionless” for users.
However, this feature does not mean you should leave your passport or REAL ID-compliant document at home. Keep a physical ID with you in case TSA needs it or a checkpoint does not support digital ID verification.
Right now, Samsung ID with CLEAR has a few important limits. Samsung says the feature is available to U.S. passport holders and works only at select TSA checkpoints that support digital ID verification.
Samsung Wallet itself requires a compatible Samsung smartphone, 9.0 or higher and a Samsung account. However, availability can still depend on your phone, airport and TSA reader support.
That means you should not assume every TSA lane will accept it. Look for a supported digital ID checkpoint before relying on your Galaxy phone.
Here’s how Samsung says you can add Samsung ID with CLEAR to Samsung Wallet:
CLEAR verifies U.S. passports added to Samsung Wallet, then Samsung Wallet stores the digital ID on your phone.
Once your Samsung ID with CLEAR is approved, you can use it at supported TSA checkpoints. Samsung and CLEAR say travelers can present the ID with a tap or QR scan.
That means you may be able to keep your physical passport in your bag while moving through . Still, Samsung notes the feature only works at select TSA checkpoints with compatible TSA reader machines. A boarding pass may also still be required for ID verification at the checkpoint.
So, the smart move is simple. Use the phone for convenience, but keep your backup ID close.
Samsung says Samsung Wallet now supports passports, travel, age 21+ checks and other government use cases through this CLEAR integration. The company also says Samsung ID with CLEAR can be used at select sporting arenas, including BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Samsung isnt the only tech company moving in this direction. also support passport-based digital IDs for domestic TSA checks at select airports. The difference here is that Samsung’s version uses CLEAR for identity verification and places the credential inside Samsung Wallet.
That could make venue entry and age checks faster. Instead of handing over your , you may be able to verify from your phone.
This is where the bigger digital wallet race gets interesting. Your phone already stores payment cards, tickets, boarding passes, keys and loyalty cards. Now identity is becoming part of that same experience.
Samsung says Samsung ID with CLEAR requires . The company also says Samsung Knox helps secure the digital ID on Galaxy devices and that ID information is
