Faster Contactless: NFC Release 15 Expands Range
Get ready for a more convenient contactless future! A significant update to Near Field Communication (NFC), dubbed “Release 15,” is set to dramatically enhance how we use this popular technology for payments and device pairing. The upcoming changes will quadruple the connection distance, making interactions faster and less precise.
A Wider Reach for Seamless Connections
Currently, NFC connections typically require devices to be within 0.5cm of each other. With NFC Release 15, this range will expand to 2cm. This seemingly small increase translates to a much more forgiving user experience, meaning you won’t need to align your smartphone or wearable with a payment terminal or other NFC-enabled product as accurately as before.
This technological leap was announced by The NFC Forum, a non-profit industry association dedicated to promoting the adoption and use of NFC technology. According to The NFC Forum, “This innovation means that connections will start sooner and require less precise device alignment, making NFC quicker, more reliable, and easier to use than ever. Contactless connections will be more seamless, while retaining the critical need for user intent.”
New Baseline for Consumer Devices
While NFC has historically been capable of greater distances (up to 10cm) with specialized hardware, Release 15 aims to establish a new, broader “baseline” for all consumer devices. This initiative seeks to standardize and improve the user experience across a wider range of products.
The NFC Forum boasts representatives from leading tech giants, including Apple, Google, and Sony. These companies now have access to the new certifications, and the technology will be rolled out to other interested companies in Fall 2025.
It’s currently unclear exactly how this enhanced NFC range will impact existing devices. The NFC Forum hasn’t specified whether the change can be enabled via a software update for current smartphones and wearables, or if users will need to upgrade to new hardware to experience the improved connectivity. We’ll be keeping a close eye on further announcements to clarify how this significant update will reach consumers.
