What NFC chip types are used in business cards?
The most common NFC chips in business cards are NXP's NTAG213 (144 bytes user memory) and NTAG216 (888 bytes user memory). For URL-based business cards, NTAG213 is sufficient. NTAG216 is useful if you want to store longer URLs or more complex data directly on the chip.
NTAG213: the standard choice
NTAG213 chips store 144 bytes of user memory. A standard URL like 'https://radiusnfc.com/p/username' is about 35–40 bytes, so NTAG213 handles any reasonable profile URL with room to spare. Most NFC business card platforms use NTAG213 because the cost is low, compatibility is universal, and 144 bytes is more than enough for a URL.
NTAG216: when more memory matters
NTAG216 has 888 bytes — about 6x more. This only matters if you're encoding something larger than a URL, like a full vCard with all contact fields and a photo (though photos rarely fit even in 888 bytes). For standard URL-based profiles, NTAG216 offers no practical advantage over NTAG213.
Can I check which chip my NFC card has?
Some platforms specify it in their product details. You can also read it with an NFC writer app — apps like NFC Tools show chip type, memory size, and stored data.
Does a better chip mean a faster tap?
Marginally. The read speed difference between NTAG213 and NTAG216 is imperceptible in normal use — both read in under a second.
Are there business cards with other chip types?
Yes — some premium cards use MIFARE chips (often used in payment and access control) or chips with cryptographic security features. These are rare in standard business card use.