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Apple iPhone SE 2020 NFC

Does the Apple iPhone SE 2020 have NFC ?

Yes. This phone normally has NFC functionality.

Can the iPhone SE 2020 scan NFC Tags ?

Yes, but it requires an App. See important note below for specific information on the iPhone SE 2020 and iOS 14. Read our how to read NFC tags with an iPhone tutorial or watch our videos :

VERY IMPORTANT : For iPhone 7,8 and X users, an upgrade to iOS 14 will add a built-in NFC tag reader into the Control Center. At the time of writing (November 2020) this feature is not enabled on the iPhone SE 2020. The icon will not appear. iPhone SE 2020 users can still encode NFC tags and read NFC tags but need to download an App (NXP Tagwriter or NFC Tools) to do so.

To be clear, this is not expected behaviour. This leaves the iPhone SE 2020 as the only iPhone younger than the very old iPhone 6 that cannot natively (without an App) read NFC tags. Seritag are not sure at this stage whether this is a bug that will be corrected or something more fundanmental regarding the chipset and functionality of the iPhone SE.

As with all iPhone versions, the Apple iPhone SE 2020 does need to be running at least iOS11 to be able to scan NFC tags. With iOS11, there is a limited functionality. The phone can only read tags with an NDEF payload (ie, a web address). It cannot access other parts of the tag memory such as the UID (unique ID) or perform more advanced fucntions.

With iOS 11, the iPhone SE 2020's reading ability is limited to just the main memory section of the tag which is commonly referred to as the 'NDEF' memory space. For example, the phone can read the URL/web address stored on an NFC tag. It cannot read from other memory locations on the tag such as the tag's UID (unique ID). It also cannot interact with the tag to access other features such as reading the tag scan counter.

However, with the latest release of iOS 13, Apple changed this and added most of the missing functionality. With iOS 13, the iPhone SE 2020 can read the UID of the tags and interact using more advanced methods. Essentially, the functionality is now the same with the latest iOS 13 on the iPhone SE 2020 as it is with Android phones.

Not sure what an NFC tag is ? Read our article on What is an NFC Tag.

Can the iPhone SE 2020 write and encode NFC tags ?

Yes, providing the latest iOS 14 (or iOS 13) is installed.

With iOS 14, Apple have added the functionality required to both write and lock NFC tags. Prior to iOS 13, the iPhone SE 2020 could only read NFC tags.

Seritag have put together a quick step by step tutorial on encoding NFC tags with an iPhone. You can also watch our 90 second encoding NFC tags with an iPhone tutorial on youtube.

Which NFC tags can be used with the Apple iPhone SE 2020 ?

The iPhone SE 2020 can read all standard NFC chips including the popular NTAG series and iCode SLIX tags. As with Android, Seritag recommended avoiding the larger memory NTAG216 chips.

The iPhone SE 2020 has a relatively small and focused NFC antenna. As a result, many users have commented that scan performance with some of the smaller NFC tags is not great. Conversely, the use of very large tags (credit card size for example) can result in very poor or failed performance. Seritag recommend the use of standard 20-40mm tags for the most reliable and consistent performance. However, also bear in mind positioning of the tags. Avoid placing too much material and distance between the tag and the user. Try and ensure that the hotspot is clearly indicated so the user can position the iPhone SE 2020 correctly to read the tag.

Where is the NFC antenna on the iPhone SE 2020 ?

The NFC antenna on the iPhone SE 2020 is located on the top edge.

How do I turn on NFC on the iPhone SE 2020 ?

NFC is always enabled on the iPhone SE 2020 and cannot be turned off. There is no on/off setting.

NFC Tags For The Apple iPhone SE 2020

The table below illustrates the available NFC tags and their compatibility with your phone. As phone specifications can change without notice and also vary from region to region, we strongly advise testing tags before any purchase.

Manufacturer	NFC Chip	Compatible
NXP	NTAG210µ	Yes
NXP	NTAG210	Yes
NXP	NTAG213	Yes
NXP	NTAG215	Yes
NXP	NTAG216 (Not Recommended)	Yes
NXP	NTAG424 DNA	Yes
NXP	NTAG223	Yes
NXP	NTAG224	Yes
NXP	MIFARE Ultralight® EV1	Yes
NXP	ICODE SLIX	Yes
NXP	ICODE SLIX2	Yes
NXP	ICODE 3	Yes
ST	ST25TN01K (TN01K)	Yes
ST	ST25TN512 (TN512)	Yes

Note for iPhone users: The ICODE SLIX and ICODE SLIX2 tags need to have already been encoded (have NDEF data) before some iPhone Apps will be able to encode them. We suggest using the NFC Tools app with these chips for encoding or ask Seritag to encode something onto the tags without locking.

How much memory do I need ?

Depending on what information you need to store on your NFC tags, you will have different memory requirements. NFC Tags have a very limited memory so getting a tag that will store everything you need is important. Seritag have put together some information on how much memory you will need in your NFC Tag.