Develop Bugs

Samsung Galaxy S4 - NFC Tags Compatibility

Hey Gang,
Just want to make sure all the S4 owners know that Mifare Classic Tags are NOT fully compatible with the new Galaxy S4 since it used the Broadcom NFC Chip. Mifare Classics are the most affordable and inexpensive and are compatible with previous Galaxy models (S3, Note, Note 2) but are NOT fully compatible with this new S4.
NTAG203 tags are fully compatible with ALL NFC phones including the new Galaxy S4!
Any NFC Tag that adheres to the NFC Forum protocols will be fully compatible so stick to those. Of those, the most popular and affordable are NTAG203 Tags which work great and have about 137 bytes of usable memory. This will be enough for almost any NFC App EXCEPT the official Tectile App which uses way more memory than it should. I'd suggest not using the Tectile app - there are many better NFC apps!
The 137 bytes on the NTAG203 tags is also enough to create a basic contact sharing tag with Name/Business/Email/Phone, but if you're wanting a full business card with name/business name/street address/website/email/phone/etc then 137 bytes probably won't cut it. (TIP: Install the NFC by MOO app - type in all the info you want on the tag and see how many bytes you need BEFORE buying).
Another tag that is gaining popularity is the Topaz 512 which is also fully compatible with ALL NFC phones and has 512 bytes of actual memory and about 480 bytes of usable memory. This should suffice for the Samsung Tectile app as well as holding all your business info. However, these are more expensive than the NTAG203 tags and will be overkill for most applications as the NTAG203's have plenty of memory for most task launchers or basic contact info.
There are other NFC Chip formats out there - any that adhere to the NFC Forums Type 1 or Type 2 compatibility protocols will work with the Galaxy S4. But based on what's readily available and popular the main thing to remember is that Mifare Classic Tags are NOT compatible with the S4; NTAG203 Tags and Topaz 512 Tags ARE fully compatible!
Hope this info proves helpful and keeps some people from wasting money on tags that aren't compatible.

Can anyone post some links (ebay or amazon) for NFC tags that they have purchased and had good luck with?

yah id love that tooo

hollywoodfrodo said:
Hey Gang,
Just want to make sure all the S4 owners know that Mifare Classic Tags are NOT fully compatible with the new Galaxy S4 since it used the Broadcom NFC Chip. Mifare Classics are the most affordable and inexpensive and are compatible with previous Galaxy models (S3, Note, Note 2) but are NOT fully compatible with this new S4.
NTAG203 tags are fully compatible with ALL NFC phones including the new Galaxy S4!
Any NFC Tag that adheres to the NFC Forum protocols will be fully compatible so stick to those. Of those, the most popular and affordable are NTAG203 Tags which work great and have about 137 bytes of usable memory. This will be enough for almost any NFC App EXCEPT the official Tectile App which uses way more memory than it should. I'd suggest not using the Tectile app - there are many better NFC apps!
The 137 bytes on the NTAG203 tags is also enough to create a basic contact sharing tag with Name/Business/Email/Phone, but if you're wanting a full business card with name/business name/street address/website/email/phone/etc then 137 bytes probably won't cut it. (TIP: Install the NFC by MOO app - type in all the info you want on the tag and see how many bytes you need BEFORE buying).
Another tag that is gaining popularity is the Topaz 512 which is also fully compatible with ALL NFC phones and has 512 bytes of actual memory and about 480 bytes of usable memory. This should suffice for the Samsung Tectile app as well as holding all your business info. However, these are more expensive than the NTAG203 tags and will be overkill for most applications as the NTAG203's have plenty of memory for most task launchers or basic contact info.
There are other NFC Chip formats out there - any that adhere to the NFC Forums Type 1 or Type 2 compatibility protocols will work with the Galaxy S4. But based on what's readily available and popular the main thing to remember is that Mifare Classic Tags are NOT compatible with the S4; NTAG203 Tags and Topaz 512 Tags ARE fully compatible!
Hope this info proves helpful and keeps some people from wasting money on tags that aren't compatible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tested Topaz compatibility with the S4? We're getting reports that they don't work. Samsung has already mucked with the NFC service on the S4 to remove *any* support for the Classic 1Ks (it will not even pass them to an app to use a UUID as the N4/10 do using the same Broadcom controller).

ajizle123 said:
Can anyone post some links (ebay or amazon) for NFC tags that they have purchased and had good luck with?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These are the NTAG203 nfc tags I purchased from eBay.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/370819531212?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
I had these shipped to Canada, where I live, and had them in a week. They work very well with my S4. I use NFC Task Launcher & these tags work flawlessly with the app.

larger memory
hollywoodfrodo said:
Hey Gang,
Just want to make sure all the S4 owners know that Mifare Classic Tags are NOT fully compatible with the new Galaxy S4 since it used the Broadcom NFC Chip. Mifare Classics are the most affordable and inexpensive and are compatible with previous Galaxy models (S3, Note, Note 2) but are NOT fully compatible with this new S4.
NTAG203 tags are fully compatible with ALL NFC phones including the new Galaxy S4!
Any NFC Tag that adheres to the NFC Forum protocols will be fully compatible so stick to those. Of those, the most popular and affordable are NTAG203 Tags which work great and have about 137 bytes of usable memory. This will be enough for almost any NFC App EXCEPT the official Tectile App which uses way more memory than it should. I'd suggest not using the Tectile app - there are many better NFC apps!
The 137 bytes on the NTAG203 tags is also enough to create a basic contact sharing tag with Name/Business/Email/Phone, but if you're wanting a full business card with name/business name/street address/website/email/phone/etc then 137 bytes probably won't cut it. (TIP: Install the NFC by MOO app - type in all the info you want on the tag and see how many bytes you need BEFORE buying).
Another tag that is gaining popularity is the Topaz 512 which is also fully compatible with ALL NFC phones and has 512 bytes of actual memory and about 480 bytes of usable memory. This should suffice for the Samsung Tectile app as well as holding all your business info. However, these are more expensive than the NTAG203 tags and will be overkill for most applications as the NTAG203's have plenty of memory for most task launchers or basic contact info.
There are other NFC Chip formats out there - any that adhere to the NFC Forums Type 1 or Type 2 compatibility protocols will work with the Galaxy S4. But based on what's readily available and popular the main thing to remember is that Mifare Classic Tags are NOT compatible with the S4; NTAG203 Tags and Topaz 512 Tags ARE fully compatible!
Hope this info proves helpful and keeps some people from wasting money on tags that aren't compatible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dear friends,
I want to buy nfc tags with larger memory size. What type of nfc tag can i buy?
Mifare S70 or desfire nfc tag?

I have the Mifare Classic 1Ks at home and at work, and didn't think to try them before I saw this post and can confirm that when I pull up an NFC tag reader, it reports "Tag not supported" where on my old S2, they worked perfectly. Depressing really. Looks like I have to hold off on selling my S2 until I can copy over the tags to supported models.

how good or bad are the official Samsung tectile NFC tags? I have a few from my previous phone.

krohnjw said:
Have you tested Topaz compatibility with the S4? We're getting reports that they don't work. Samsung has already mucked with the NFC service on the S4 to remove *any* support for the Classic 1Ks (it will not even pass them to an app to use a UUID as the N4/10 do using the same Broadcom controller).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Topaz 512 definitely works across the board universally with any NFC enabled device.

HKSpeed said:
how good or bad are the official Samsung tectile NFC tags? I have a few from my previous phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they wont work. I had a few left from when i bought the s3 and it says its incompatible

I bought these from Amazon. They work well. http://www.amazon.com/Kamor%C2%AE-Waterproof-Stickers-Samsung-Enabled/dp/B00DRDZ08E/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1376591686&sr=8-6&keywords=nfc+tags

EMcTx said:
I bought these from Amazon. They work well. http://www.amazon.com/Kamor%C2%AE-Waterproof-Stickers-Samsung-Enabled/dp/B00DRDZ08E/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1376591686&sr=8-6&keywords=nfc+tags
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you should consider browsing our website at Tagger. It's in my signature.

TaggerNFC said:
I think you should consider browsing our website at Tagger. It's in my signature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If/when I buy more tags, I'll buy them from Tagger. I just need to think of more scenarios with which to use them . Thanks!

--

Look here for compatible NFC Tags for S4
ZipNFC specialise in NXP NTAG203 variations of tags, hang tags, key fobs etc, which are compatible with the S4 and all other models of phone. We also provide a software and services to clients worldwide, so we use our own products that we sell for client projects, so we know they work, are reliable and very robust. You can find us on eBay and Amazon, but also at our own online shop: zipnfc.com/shop
We ship thousands of tags each week worldwide and provide custom tags in very large volumes 10,000+ on a regular basis.

Ugh. So confused.

So I was under the impression that NFC tags could be written and read by all devices. I bought Mini S20 PVC Cards from buynfctags and, if I could post the picture I would show you what my phone reads them as. But it says: "MifareClassic, NfcA, NDEFFormattable is what my phone reads them as. Went to write them on my HTC EVO 4G LTE and I keep getting errors saying it cannot write on the card. Really upsetting. Anyone know what I Can do???

Your phone most likely uses a broadcom NFC chipset that can't access NXP's MiFare Classic tags. Same goes for many newer smartphones like some Samsung models, aswel as Nexus 4,5,7,10.
Look for NTAG 203 or Topaz 512 tags.

Shadow_2k said:
Your phone most likely uses a broadcom NFC chipset that can't access NXP's MiFare Classic tags. Same goes for many newer smartphones like some Samsung models, aswel as Nexus 4,5,7,10.
Look for NTAG 203 or Topaz 512 tags.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any recommendations on where to get those at? Looking for fairly cheap.

Reading RFID chip with NFC on S4

Is it possible for the s4 to read a rfid chip using its NFC technology, I just want the phone to register that a chip has been scanned i have been trying but with no success(using various NFC apps, turning NFC on holding chip to phone, nothing happens), Can anyone give me some advice if this is possible and if so what apps they used. thanks.
**Info i found elsewhere online:
"RFID chips operate at several different frequencies whereas NFC tags all operate at 13.56MHz. There is a type of RFID chip that also works at this frequency but I still don't think it will work with an NFC reader"
Can any one verify if the above is correct

ronanbrowne88 said:
Is it possible for the s4 to read a rfid chip using its NFC technology, I just want the phone to register that a chip has been scanned i have been trying but with no success(using various NFC apps, turning NFC on holding chip to phone, nothing happens), Can anyone give me some advice if this is possible and if so what apps they used. thanks.
**Info i found elsewhere online:
"RFID chips operate at several different frequencies whereas NFC tags all operate at 13.56MHz. There is a type of RFID chip that also works at this frequency but I still don't think it will work with an NFC reader"
Can any one verify if the above is correct
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NXP-based NFC controllers can read 13.56 MHz RFIDs that are MIFARE compliant and compliant with a few other standards such as NFC and ISO 14443.
Other NFC controllers can read NFC and ISO 14443 tags, but not MIFARE RFIDs. Many RFID cards (such as some products from HID Global) are 14443 compliant but not all.
I can read (to a limited degree due to security features) an access card that is used along with one of HID's access systems using NXP's TagInfo app.

Entropy512 said:
NXP-based NFC controllers can read 13.56 MHz RFIDs that are MIFARE compliant and compliant with a few other standards such as NFC and ISO 14443.
Other NFC controllers can read NFC and ISO 14443 tags, but not MIFARE RFIDs. Many RFID cards (such as some products from HID Global) are 14443 compliant but not all.
I can read (to a limited degree due to security features) an access card that is used along with one of HID's access systems using NXP's TagInfo app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My rfid chips are 125khz frequncy, so im correcting in saying nfc on a 4 can not read that frequency

[Q] Can galaxy S4 with Broadcom NFC chip read 14443-typeB chip?

Hi i am trying to use build a reader app, do you know if the Samsung galaxy S4(ATT) with the new BroadCom chip (instead of NXP chip) can read 14443 Type B tag? If it is, could you suggest any App could show the reading result?
Thanks!

yukinzhaoyi said:
Hi i am trying to use build a reader app, do you know if the Samsung galaxy S4(ATT) with the new BroadCom chip (instead of NXP chip) can read 14443 Type B tag? If it is, could you suggest any App could show the reading result?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey, I'm not sure about the type b tag, but broadcom had a quarrel with nxp/didn't pay for the licenses, so some cards from nxp are not supported by broadcom--->nothing you can do

What is the NFC chip inside the OnePlus 3 ?

Hello there,
I used a lot my NFC chip on my samsung galaxy S3 to write mifare classic tags. The S3 is equipped with a NFC device from the NXP manufacturer, and is mifare classic compatible. On the Galaxy S4, and following models samsung puts a crappy Bradcom NFC chip which can't write mifare. I'm done with Samsung, and look for a new phone. I like the OnePlus 3, but I can't find detailed specs and the most important; the NFC chip they included : NXP or Broadcom ?
Does anyone knows ? Anyone here wrote on mifare classic tags 1k ?
Thanks !

I haven't gotten my OP3 yet but I assume it should be a NFC chip from NXP - which would mean it should support Mifare 1k cards. (there are a few OP3 teardowns online which reveal multiple different NXP chips for audio and other stuff inside - none mentions the specific NFC chip, but i guess they would not use Broadcom for the NFC chip and use NXP for everything else)

Thanks for your answer, your reasoning seems logic, but you never know for sure OnePlus wouldn't choose Broadcom NFC over NXP chips if they made a better offer than NXP ... Has anyone here tested reading and writing on mifare classic 1k tags with the OP3 ?

It looks like it isn't "crappy Broadcom" that is the problem but "NXP created the Mifare Classic 1K Chip specifically to be compatible with it's hardware and not necessarily to adhere to the protocols" http://www.andytags.com/nfc-tags-compatibility-issues.html#.WAC3KugrLzc. Chips and the "standard" achieved are at http://nfc-forum.org/our-work/compliance/certification-program/certification-register/

Alrigh then, does the OP3 can write on NXP's mifare classic 1k ?

Well, I guess I'll try and find out for myseflf then...

I finally got my OP3 and I can confirm that it can read and write to Mifare Classic 1k cards.
I have issues writing to sector 0/UID - but i think this is because I have the wrong Chinese cards and not an issue of the phone.

I got mine as well and can confirm writing on mifare 1k works. But, it is difficult to find a position which keeps a stable connexion between the phone and the chip. The nfc keeps connecting and disconnecting very quickly, even when I remove the flip cover and keep the chip touching the phone right on the photo lens. It keeps beebing, but sometimes it last long enought to complete the writing. Anyone else has this kind of issue ?

Does work
Well, a little late for this one but can confirm writing to MIFARE classic / ultralight works fine to block 0 too.
Even the card emulator app works fine - with root you can set the uid of the phone instead of having a random one so for access systems that pickup phones and only relie on the UID it's perfect.
No problems with detecting tho