NFC Is Getting a Range Boost — Here's Why That Matters

The NFC Forum has officially released NFC Release 15, marking a major milestone in contactless tech. This update, supported by top-tier members like Apple, Google, Sony, and Huawei, delivers a fourfold improvement in range, taking NFC from a narrow 0.5 cm to around 2 cm, while retaining its secure, proximity-based essence.

🚀 Why Extended Range Matters

• Easier, more reliable taps
  You no longer need pinpoint precision—devices can now connect faster and more consistently, even when decorative phone cases, motion, or gloves interfere. This is especially helpful for smaller devices like smartwatches and rings.

• Faster tap‑to‑pay
  With NFC 15, payment systems like Apple Pay initiate transactions more quickly—eliminating delays and failed attempts common in older systems.

• Supports complex use cases
  NFC Release 15 expands the baseline for interoperability, enabling multi-purpose taps: payments, loyalty collection, digital receipts, identity/authentication, contactless charging (~1 W), digital keys, and sustainable applications like the Digital Product Passport—all under a unified standard.

📱 Adoption by Major Phone Makers

• Apple and Google already onboard: Both companies, whose products include iPhones and Android devices, have early access to the NFC 15 spec and are actively integrating it into upcoming phone models .

• Certification starting this fall: While internal development is underway, public compliance certification and device rollouts will begin this autumn—making certified NFC 15-enabled devices widely available starting fall 2025 .

🛠️ What This Means for You

If your product relies on NFC—for smart mobility (e.g., bike-to-phone), retail transactions, access control, or embedded smart devices—it’s time to plan for NFC 15 integration:

• Enhance user experience with taps that don’t require perfect alignment.

• Enable new form factors such as wearables with confidence in reliable connectivity.

• Facilitate advanced use cases—from digital wallets to contactless wireless charging and sustainability tracking.

🔗 Learn More

For full technical details and member resources, visit the NFC Forum’s official announcement at the NFC Release 15 page.

And for expert commentary, including user-friendly breakdowns of the range boost and real-world impact, check out The Verge’s article, “NFC is getting a range boost” .

Whether you’re building consumer products, medical devices, or industrial machinery—NFC 15 opens the door to better, smoother, and more secure connections. Let us know if you’d like to integrate Product AI with seamless NFC‑15 experience for your customers.