Summary
- NFC Release 15 quadruples the tap-to-pay range from 0.5 cm to 2 cm, improving reliability.
- Expanded NFC range allows for faster transactions, improved connections, and less stress aligning phones.
- NFC Forum is aiming to allow smartphone terminals and multi-purpose taps for payments, rewards, and access control.
Mobile payments are about to get a very nice upgrade, and if you're tired of fumbling with your phone at the checkout line, you're going to be happy about it. NFC Release 15 is increasing the tap-to-pay distance.
What Is NFC on Android, and How Can I Use It?
Your Android phone almost certainly has a handy feature called "NFC" built-in, but you might not know all of the cool stuff it can do. While NFC makes it possible to use Google Pay, there's a lot more to it.
What does that mean for you? Instead of needing to get your device within half a centimeter, you'll now have a much more generous 2cm of wiggle room. For those of us using imperial units, that’s just a smidge more than 3/4 of an inch. That might not sound like a huge leap on paper, but in practice, it should make a big difference. Connections will start sooner, they'll be more reliable, and you won't have to stress about aligning your phone perfectly. This is particularly beneficial for smaller gadgets like smartwatches, where hitting that tiny sweet spot can sometimes be frustrating.
The goal behind this expanded "operating volume" is to speed up transaction times and generally improve the reliability of all NFC-enabled interactions. The NFC Forum also envisions new possibilities, like using your smartphone as a payment terminal itself, or even multi-purpose taps that can handle payments, loyalty rewards, and access control all at once. That would be extremely convenient.
While some newer devices might already offer a slightly wider NFC range, this update ensures a consistent, improved experience across a wider range of NFC-enabled hardware. NFC Release 15 is already available to “high-level” NFC Forum members, including Apple, Google, Sony, and Huawei. However, it’s unclear if existing devices will be able to support the new standard.
Tired of Killing Your Potted Plants? Here's How NFC Tags Can Help
I love a good house plant. That is, until they start dying. It's not that I don't care about my pot plants, I just have a terrible memory and struggle to remember when each needs watering. That's why I decided to create a way to track when I water each plant and remind me when it's time to water them again.
