Systems, methods, and devices for concealed chip-card readers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a chip-enabled card reader may include a card slot that receives a chip-enabled card; a carriage comprising a smart chip connector for contacting a chip on the chip-enabled card; and at least one carriage track disposed within the chassis that slideably engages the carriage and defines a path of movement for the carriage between a protected position and a reading position. The carriage may move along the path of movement to a reading position. The smart chip connector may contact the chip on the chip-enabled card when the chip-enabled card is in a fully-inserted position. The carriage is in the protected position when no card has been inserted into the card slot. In one embodiment, the smart chip connector has reduced accessibility through the opening.