NFC Forum introduced NFC Release 15, which expands the communication range for contactless NFC from 0.5 cm to 2 cm, enabling faster and more stable connections across a variety of applications such as payments, wearables, wireless charging, digital keys, and smart appliances.
Key Highlights of NFC Release 15
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Wider Operating Range: The contactless interaction range is increased, reducing the need for precise device alignment. This improvement enables faster and more consistent connections, particularly benefiting compact devices such as smartphones and wearable technology.
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Improved User Experience: A larger connection zone results in faster responses and fewer failed taps, simplifying NFC use. It also supports smoother interactions in public transport, automotive systems, and other tap-based scenarios.
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Maintains Proximity and Security: Despite the extended range, NFC remains proximity-based, preserving user intent and ensuring secure interactions essential for payments and access control.
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Support for Digital Product Passport (DPP): NFC Release 15 supports the emerging Digital Product Passport standard, allowing brands to store product lifecycle data using the NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF). This aligns with upcoming sustainability regulations and promotes circular economy initiatives.
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Certification and Compatibility: The release introduces updated technical specifications and certification processes to ensure seamless interoperability among all NFC-enabled devices. Compatibility with ISO/IEC 14443 standards is fully maintained while improving performance.
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Foundation for Future Use Cases: This update addresses the growing demand for unified NFC standards across sectors like Tap-to-Mobile payments and multi-purpose tap applications, laying the foundation for secure, flexible, and reliable contactless technology.
Availability
Starting today, NFC Release 15 Technical Specifications are available for download by NFC Forum members at Associate, Principal, and Sponsor levels. Public access and compliance certification will begin in Fall 2025 with the launch of Certification Release 15.
