NFC Forum Release 15 raises the specified operating volume for compliant NFC connections from 5 mm to up to 20 mm. The change is intended to make taps start with less precise alignment—but it does not mean every existing phone, tag, or payment terminal now works at 20 mm.
What changes in NFC Release 15?
Announced by the NFC Forum on 17 June 2025, Release 15 increases the specified operating volume from 5 mm to up to 20 mm—a fourfold increase for connections compliant with the updated specification. The Forum uses “operating volume” to describe the effective space in which a reader can connect with an NFC chip or tag. NFC Forum’s Release 15 announcement explains the change.
In practical terms, the aim is to make a connection less dependent on bringing two devices very close together and aligning them precisely. The Forum says this should help connections start sooner and make interactions more consistent, including on small devices such as wearables. These are expected benefits, not quantified results: the official materials do not report a measured improvement in transaction time or failed taps across devices already in use.
How does the range increase work?
A September 2025 NFC Forum webinar recap attributes the extension in part to raising permitted magnetic field intensity from 14.5 to 18 amperes per meter (A/m), measured with a Class 6 antenna. It also describes a slight adjustment to Load Modulation Amplitude reception for poller devices. These are specification details, not a claim that all NFC hardware has changed. The Forum’s webinar recap provides the measurement context.
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Does this mean my phone or NFC tags will work from 2 cm?
No—not automatically. Release 15 defines a compliance target; it does not upgrade existing hardware or software. Whether a connection reaches the extended operating volume depends on the implementation and the devices involved. The Forum’s announcements do not establish device-by-device adoption, backward-compatibility performance, or that every product using NFC will meet the new target.
If you are evaluating a product, distinguish a vendor’s range claim from NFC Forum compliance, and check whether the specific product has been certified under Certification Release 15 (CR15). Also consider the actual reader-and-tag combination and intended use. A specification-level change alone cannot establish how a particular pairing will behave.
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What is the difference between Release 15 and CR15?
NFC Release 15 is the technical specification. Certification Release 15, or CR15, is its companion testing program. On 22 October 2025, the NFC Forum announced that CR15 testing would support the extended 20 mm read range for generic device classes. The June announcement said member access to specifications would vary by membership tier and that public access and certification were planned for Fall 2025. Those announcements describe the program, not the certification status of any particular retail product. Read the CR15 announcement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which NFC uses could benefit?
The NFC Forum identifies a broad range of potential applications for NFC capabilities, including payments, access control, wearables, wireless charging, kitchen appliances, digital keys, phones used as payment terminals, and Digital Product Passports. Release 15’s less alignment-sensitive operating volume may be useful in these settings, especially where devices are small or awkward to position. The announcement does not establish that every product in these categories implements Release 15.
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- 【2-in-1 CAC & NFC Smart Card Reader】2-in-1 contact and contactless card reader equipped with integrated USB-A & USB-C dual-head cable. Supports CAC, PIV, military ID, chip credit/debit cards and NFC ID badges. Only one reading mode can be activated at a time to guarantee stable data reading. No extra adapter required for different device ports.
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Digital Product Passports are one example of NFC being used to share product information across a product’s lifecycle and support circular-economy data access. Their inclusion as a potential application is not evidence that a specific product already supports the new range.
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What the 20 mm figure does—and does not—tell you
- It does: describe the NFC Forum’s updated operating-volume target for compliant connections.
- It does not: promise that every existing NFC device, tag, or reader will connect at 20 mm.
- It does not: quantify a market-wide speed gain, reliability increase, or reduction in failed taps.
- For a product decision: check the stated measurement context, whether the claim is about specification compliance, CR15 certification status, and compatibility for your intended reader-and-tag pairing.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
