Is the ACR39U Discontinued? Why We Recommend the ACR40U for New Deployments

The ACR39U smart card reader is obsolete. Here’s what that means, and why the ACR40U is the recommended replacement for new projects.

---

If you’re specifying an ACR39U for a new project, pause first: the ACR39U is obsolete. Independent reseller documentation lists it directly on an official “obsolete products and replacements” page, and ACS itself positions the ACR40U as its evolution. Here’s what that means in practice.

What changed

The ACR40U isn’t a different product line — it’s the same core category (a compact USB contact smart card reader with a full-size ISO 7816 slot) rebuilt with a newer design. Compared to the ACR39U, it’s:

• Smaller and lighter — 55 × 65 × 9.0 mm and 40 g, versus the ACR39U’s 72.2 × 69.0 × 14.5 mm and 65 g
• USB Type-A and Type-C, where the ACR39U is Type-A only
• iOS/iPadOS compatible, which isn’t listed in the ACR39U’s driver support
• Equipped with two status LEDs, firmware upgradability, and on-device user data storage — none of which the ACR39U’s documentation mentions

Does your existing ACR39U deployment need to change today?

No. Existing units keep working. The trigger points for switching are the same as with any end-of-life hardware: expanding a deployment, starting something new, or replacing a failed unit where genuine ACR39U stock is getting harder to source.

One thing to check before swapping hardware

The ACR39U and ACR40U use different Windows driver packages — the ACR39U runs on ACS’s older Unified Driver, the ACR40U on the newer CCID driver. Both are PC/SC compliant, so most applications built against PC/SC should port with little to no change — but if your integration installs drivers directly or references reader-specific utilities, test that path before a full rollout.

Two form factors to choose from

The ACR40U line actually comes in two shapes:

• ACR40U — full-size reader, same card format as the ACR39U, available in Standard and Premium (Premium adds a desk stand)
• ACR40T — a compact SIM-sized version with a sliding card slot, meant for embedded/kiosk integration rather than general desktop use

If you’re replacing a desktop ACR39U, the ACR40U is the direct match — not the ACR40T. Full detail in our ACR39U vs ACR40U comparison.

Quick answers

Is the ACR39U still available to buy? Limited stock may still exist through suppliers, but manufacturing has stopped — treat it as declining availability, not zero.

Will my existing integration break? No, not on its own. End-of-life affects future availability and support, not units already deployed.

What’s the direct replacement? The ACR40U for desktop use; the ACR40T if you specifically need a SIM-sized embedded reader (a different use case, not a drop-in swap).

---

Planning a migration from ACR39U to ACR40U, or need bulk pricing on either? Contact BSD InfoTech — we supply both across India.