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Graduate
July 7, 2024
Solved

Advice for ST25 tag

  • July 7, 2024
  • 1 reply
  • 1043 views

Hello everyone,

I have a project in mind where I want to create a business card with an NFC tag that redirects to my portfolio page. My main concern is ensuring that the NFC tag URL redirect works on as many phones as possible. I've heard that Type 5 tags don't work on Android versions above 9. Is this true? Does anyone have any advice or recommendations on which NFC tag I should choose?

Btw the NFC tag must include an Energy Harvesting feature so I can show off some cool things.

Thanks in advance,

Hessel

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Best answer by JL. Lebon

    Hello, 

    As you understood, Androids version prior to 9 have difficulties to support type 5 tags with memory larger than 8kbits (1kBytes). This is the only limitation using type 5 with smartphones.
    Now, for an URL, you probably don't need that much memory, so it is not a problem.
    If you want to use energy harvesting, you can use the ST25DV04KC, which provides you 4kbits of memory for your URL (512 Bytes) and energy harvesting.
    Keep in mind that android 8 and below are quite old and today (2024) they represent less than 10% of the android smartphones in the field, quickly decreasing. So, using a type 5 tag with larger memory may not be such a big concern anyway.

    Best regards.

    1 reply

    Technical Moderator
    July 8, 2024

    Hi,

    I would recommend to have a look to Application Note AN4911

    Rgds

    BT

    Graduate
    July 8, 2024

    So what I got from that Application Note is that I should buy a tag with a memory less than 8 kBits. That's the only hardware requirement so that I can use it with every smartphone?

    Thanks in advance!

    JL. LebonAnswer
    ST Employee
    July 8, 2024

    Hello, 

    As you understood, Androids version prior to 9 have difficulties to support type 5 tags with memory larger than 8kbits (1kBytes). This is the only limitation using type 5 with smartphones.
    Now, for an URL, you probably don't need that much memory, so it is not a problem.
    If you want to use energy harvesting, you can use the ST25DV04KC, which provides you 4kbits of memory for your URL (512 Bytes) and energy harvesting.
    Keep in mind that android 8 and below are quite old and today (2024) they represent less than 10% of the android smartphones in the field, quickly decreasing. So, using a type 5 tag with larger memory may not be such a big concern anyway.

    Best regards.