The NFC (Near Field Communication) standard has just received an exciting upgrade with the introduction of version 15 by the NFC Forum. NFC 15 brings some significant improvements, most notably an extended communication range, which now reaches up to 2 cm, an increase from the previous 0.5 cm. 
This change has a major impact on tasks like contactless payments, making them faster and more stable.
With the new extended range, NFC 15 no longer requires precise alignment between devices. This means more reliable connections and smoother experiences in everyday uses, such as tapping for payments. The upgrade is particularly beneficial for compact devices like smartphones and wearables, which often struggled with alignment issues in earlier versions of NFC.
Thanks to the improved range, failed tap payments should be a thing of the past, and the user experience with NFC technology will be much smoother overall. For example, public transport systems can now handle NFC interactions more easily, while digital key access and wireless charging alignment will also be significantly enhanced.
Despite these improvements, the NFC Forum reassures that the new standard doesn’t compromise security. NFC 15 remains a proximity-based technology, ensuring that contactless payments and other sensitive transactions continue to be secure.
Another exciting addition is the support for Digital Product Passport (DPP). This feature allows brands to store valuable product lifecycle data using the NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF), opening up new possibilities for product tracking and consumer transparency.
The technical specifications for NFC 15 are already available, and the public access and compliance certification process is set to begin this fall.