NFC is a short-range wireless protocol enabling contactless transactions, card emulation, and quick pairing. Payment systems like Apple Pay and Google Wallet rely on NFC.
NFC range and speeds: ~4 cm (1.6 inches) typical effective range, up to 10 cm with optimal alignment. Data rates: 106, 212, or 424 kbps (slow compared to Bluetooth, fine for card payments).
NFC use cases: Contactless payments: tap phone to terminal, encrypted payment token sent (phone never transmits card number directly). Card emulation: phone acts as a transit card, loyalty card, or hotel key. Data sharing: quickly pair Bluetooth devices by tapping (NFC hands off pairing info to Bluetooth). URL launch: scan NFC tag on poster to open website.
NFC security: transaction encrypted end-to-end, requires device authentication (Face ID, fingerprint). Contactless limit (usually ~$50 or ~€50) without PIN entry for fraud protection.
Availability: standard on all flagship phones (iPhone 6+, Android 4.4+). Notable exceptions: some budget phones still lack NFC.
Adoption in US: Apple Pay (2014) and Google Pay (2015) drove adoption. Physical card readers widely support NFC now (coffee shops, transit, retail).
In other regions: Europe/Asia ahead of US — contactless payments ubiquitous in UK, Germany, Japan, Australia. China uses QR codes (Alipay, WeChat Pay) instead.
Buying implication: NFC is standard on flagships and increasingly mid-range. Useful for convenience if your region supports contactless payments; less critical in QR-code-dominated markets.