NFC Q&A
Is it bad to leave NFC enabled on your phone all the time?

Is it bad to leave NFC enabled on your phone all the time?

Is it like Bluetooth where leaving it on drains the battery, also how do I turn it off if that's the case?
Reader - 11 Dec 2023

Answers

No. NFC operates over a very short range, typically a couple of centimetres/an inch or less, and only transfers data when it’s actively authorised and connected to another device. NFC uses a tiny amount of power compared to all the other phone systems and it will have negligible effect on battery consumption.

Apple Pay and Google Pay both use NFC technology, and some phones can even process payments when the battery appears "dead." That’s because a small reserve of power is kept for essential NFC functions - handy if you need to catch the bus home !

Since NFC consumes very little power, you’re unlikely to notice any battery drain at all unless you’re frequently scanning tags or making payments. Even then, the power consumption to scan an NFC tag is tiny compared to even browsing a web page or similar. Because it’s integral to services like Apple Pay and Google Pay, it’s generally best to keep it on. In fact, iPhones don’t allow you to disable NFC, but Android devices typically include an NFC toggle under Settings - Wireless and Network

Seritag - 28 Nov 2024