There are many differences between NFC and RFID chips, as follows:
Operating frequency
- NFC: Only operates in the high frequency spectrum of 13.56MHz.
- RFID: has a low frequency (125KHz to 135KHz), high frequency (13.56MHz) and ultra-high frequency (860MHz to 960MHz) and other operating frequencies.
Communication distance
- NFC: The communication distance is usually within 10 cm, generally about 4 cm, which can accurately judge the short-range interaction.
- RFID: The communication distance range is wide, ranging from a few centimeters to tens of meters, and UHF RFID can even reach hundreds of meters under ideal circumstances.
- Data read/write and communication mode
- NFC: Supports bidirectional communication, data can be read and written, and can be locked as read-only, and only one label can be scanned at a time. With multiple modes such as card reader, card simulation and point-to-point, data can be exchanged quickly between devices.
- RFID: Usually one-way communication, mainly readers to read label information, although there are two-way communication RFID systems, but not the mainstream. An RFID reader can identify multiple tags at the same time, which is suitable for batch identification scenarios.
Application scenario
- NFC: mainly used for mobile payment, intelligent access control, bus swipe card, fast data transmission and pairing between devices, such as mobile phone touch payment, mobile phone analog access control card.
- RFID: Often used in supply chain management, logistics tracking, inventory management, animal tracking, remote identification in access control, such as warehouse inventory, tracking the location of goods in logistics transportation.
Data storage capacity
- NFC: The chip storage capacity is relatively small, generally used to store a small amount of critical data, such as payment information, access rights, etc.
- RFID: Tags can usually store a large amount of data, which can contain the unique identification of the item, production date, shelf life, location information, etc.
security
- NFC: Short communication distance, using signal attenuation technology, high data transmission security, not easy to be stolen and interfered with.
- RFID: The communication distance is long, the signal strength is high, the potential security risks are relatively high, and security measures such as stricter encryption need to be taken.
- Hardware cost and popularity
- NFC: With the extensive integration of NFC functions in smart phones, the cost is reduced, the popularity is high, and it is widely used in consumer electronic devices.
- RFID: cost-effective in high-end large-scale application scenarios, but in some low-end small-scale applications, the tag cost may be high, which limits the popularity to a certain extent.