NFC Forum, the group that sets standards for NFC (Near Field Communication) has now announced its NFC Release 15. The release, unveiled today, addresses one of NFC's long-standing limitations – its short interaction distance.
NFC 15 takes this range up from 0.5 cm to 2 cm to improve user experience and open up new opportunities across sectors like mobile payments, transit, automotive, and sustainability. With the updated specification, NFC-enabled devices can now initiate communication with greater ease, reliability and speed, thereby reducing the need for precise alignment.
“This update redefines the baseline for contactless connections,” said Mike McCamon, Executive Director of the NFC Forum. Further, he adds, “By extending the range, we're not just improving usability—we're enabling a whole new class of applications.”
NFC 15 also brings new applications to the table, as phones can now act as payment terminals themselves. Besides, wearables and smart home devices will also be able to connect more easily.
There's also support for emerging use cases like DPP (Digital Product Passports), which require NFC tags to be read in more flexible scenarios. Built on the NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF), these features make it easier for products to link with cloud platforms for tracking and regulatory compliance.
There seems to be no compromise on the security front either as NFC 15 will use the same tap-to-pay and proximity sensing features.
Associate, Principal and Sponsor-level NFC Forum members can download the technical specifications document of the latest iteration right away. However, public release of NFC 15 is set for Fall of 2025.
