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Next NFC Release Will Quadruple Range of Contactless Connections

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The NFC Forum has announced NFC Release 15, which extends the operating range of Near Field Communication interactions by up to four times and enables faster, more seamless experiences.

Apple-Tap-to-Pay-iPhone.jpeg

The NFC Forum is the global standards body responsible for Near Field Communication technology. NFC Release 15 increases the maximum operating range of NFC contactless connections from 0.5 centimeters to 2 centimeters. This fourfold increase in the NFC operating range reduces the need for precise alignment between devices during contactless transactions.

NFC Release 15 increases reliability and speed, resulting in fewer failed or repeated taps. It improves performance for smaller devices such as wearables, which contain smaller antennas. Support for devices like iPhones acting as NFC readers, such as during Tap to Pay on iPhone, will now support wider and more stable connection volumes.

Multi-purpose tap, allowing one tap to trigger multiple actions such as scanning a loyalty card at the same time as paying, is optimized. In addition, the new standard incorporates extended support for the NFC Digital Product Passport (DPP), a European Commission initiative designed to embed environmental and lifecycle data within physical products.

Apple is one of eight Board-level Principal Members of the NFC Forum, alongside companies including Google, Sony, and NXP. The iPhone and Apple Watch are both NFC-enabled, so the improvements with NFC Release 15 should materially improve performance and reliability on these devices in the future.

The Technical Specifications for NFC Release 15 are available today for NFC Forum Associate, Principal, and Sponsor-level member companies. Certification for NFC Release 15-compliant devices is expected to open later in 2025.

Article Link: Next NFC Release Will Quadruple Range of Contactless Connections
 
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https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/17/next-nfc-release-will-quadruple-range/
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turbineseaplane said:
Is this good?

I can't seem to think why I'd want this.
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I'm hoping it will avoid playing "hunt the contactless reader" on some pay machines or vending machines where the aerial isn't where you think it is and you end up waving your phone across the device to try and get it to read (I'm looking at you airport parking pay machines where the reader can be under the keypad, next to the keypad, on the side of the keypad depending on which version of the machine it is)
 
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Not sure why people seem to think they're making it so you can "tap" from literally feet away.

It's increasing 0.5 cm to 2 cm. That will make it easier to not have to find the exact right spot on the reader.
 
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2 cm? We’re worried about 2 centimeters? That’s not even yet 1 inch. My math is rusty, but that’s got to be around 3/4 of an inch. We aren’t talking miles of range here to worry about. We’re talking 2 cm… a distance likely to prevent us from waving these things around like magic wands. A good QOL change. Nothing more. Time to relax…
 
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If you think this will come to iPhone, think again. Apple operates at the lowest common denominator of NFC specifications in order to be compatible with the widest variety of payment terminals.

The 2cm range boost is much more about small antenna devices that currently require a physical touch in most cases. For those worried about folks stealing your payment info at 2cm, please keep in mind that Apple requires biometric auth in order to initiate any payment transaction.
 
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BuffaloTF said:
2 cm? We’re worried about 2 centimeters? That’s not even yet 1 inch. My math is rusty, but that’s got to be around 3/4 of an inch. We aren’t talking miles of range here to worry about. We’re talking 2 cm… a distance likely to prevent us from waving these things around like magic wands. A good QOL change. Nothing more. Time to relax…
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Agreed with the sentiment but in crowded cities, buses, subway stations, etc it can get packed pretty tight where side and back pockets are definitely less than 2cm away from other people’s side and back pockets.
I live in such a city (and I hate it just in case, I avoid like a madman peak hours and public transport other than bicycles in summer at least).

Think crowded pediestran intersections too, if the transaction charge is quick, just crossing by others could make it trigger.
 
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amartinez1660 said:
Agreed with the sentiment but in crowded cities, buses, subway stations, etc it can get packed pretty tight where side and back pockets are definitely less than 2cm away from other people’s side and back pockets.
I live in such a city (and I hate it just in case, I avoid like a madman peak hours and public transport other than bicycles in summer at least).

Think crowded pediestran intersections too, if the transaction charge is quick, just crossing by others could make it trigger.
Click to expand...
Fortunately iPhones (and Android) don't have payments always on and ready to go without your consent.

Contactless cards? Maybe. Easily blocked by RFID blocking wallets, though. Also unclear if an RFID card gets this range upgrade or not.
 
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AppleTO said:
My main concern wouldn’t be smartphones, as their NFC is only briefly active. It’s credit cards that would worry me. Malicious devices would be able to activate them from a longer range.
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Instead of Tap to pay, it’s going to be Walk by and pay 😂

Criminals already scan peoples pockets for NFC cards. This is going to make it easier. Use a wallet that has shielding.
 
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amartinez1660 said:
Agreed with the sentiment but in crowded cities, buses, subway stations, etc it can get packed pretty tight where side and back pockets are definitely less than 2cm away from other people’s side and back pockets.
I live in such a city (and I hate it just in case, I avoid like a madman peak hours and public transport other than bicycles in summer at least).

Think crowded pediestran intersections too, if the transaction charge is quick, just crossing by others could make it trigger.
Click to expand...
Can a transaction take place without your permission? If so, *that* is the real problem, not a wimpy 2cm.
 
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Wonder how this is going to play with credit card terminals when someone with a NFC enabled credit card tries to insert it and it picks up the tap. Or if two people are checking out on two different terminals and are in close proximity of each other, will their card register at the other terminal? I'm sure these scenario have been sorted by people much smarter than me.
 
russell_314 said:
Instead of Tap to pay, it’s going to be Walk by and pay 😂

Criminals already scan peoples pockets for NFC cards. This is going to make it easier. Use a wallet that has shielding.
Click to expand...
You need to interact with YOUR phone to make NFC active. They can't just scan your phone and steal info.
 
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