What is the best RFID MIFARE chip to use? Does MIFARE S50 work? What is it? What is ultralight C?

Electronic tags are primarily composed of RFID chips. RFID chips are at the core of the entire RFID system. There are four main components of the tag chip: a radio frequency front end, an analog front end, a memory unit, and a baseband (digital).

RFID chips have frequency bands of 2.45 GHz, 860-960 MHz, 433 MHz, 13.56 MHz, 125 kHz, etc. Conventional frequency bands are 860-960 MHz (ultra-high frequency) and 13.56 MHz (high frequency).

MIFARE stands for Mikron Fare Collection System, a prominent contactless solution from NXP. The versatility of MIFARE makes it a popular choice among organizations and corporations.

Have you ever been to an organization where some employees have access cards to private areas? Many of these places are restricted, and only those with cards are allowed entry.

These cards contain RFID chips that contain the employee's information. The system also contains an RFID reader that checks the data on the card within a distance of 4 inches. Employees can enter information if the system reads it as accurate and correct.

A RFID MIFARE chip is the best option for your organization if you want the best results. The reason for this is that ordinary chips have a lot to offer.

Classic MIFARE

MIFARE Classic was the first contactless smart ticket to integrate a circuit. In addition to the ISO 14443 standards, it has a frequency range of 13.56 MHz and a complete read/write capability. MIFARE Classic pioneered the contactless movement by setting the standard for many applications in universities, organizations, and corporations.

MIFARE Classic comes with either a 7-byte unique identifier or a 4-byte non-unique identifier. MIFARE IC 1K has 1KB divided into 16 parts, while MIFARE IC 4K has 4KB divided into 40 parts. A configurable memory feature is also included.

MIFARE classic chips are among the most reliable and inexpensive on the market today. Due to this, more people and organizations are relying on it. With the increased use of MIFARE classic chips, security lapses became apparent as a result.

In response, NXP developed the MIFARE Classic EV1, which is suitable for security-related applications.

Classic EV1 MIFARE

MIFARE Classic EV1 is an enhanced version of the first classic chip. There are 2 types of EEPROM memory: 4K (Mifare S70) and 1K (Mifare S50). This ensures flexibility, which is great. MIFARE Classic EV1 represents the ultimate metamorphosis of the MIFARE Classic family.

The MIFARE Classic EV1 has a robust electrostatic discharge that allows easy use of the integrated circuit during card production and inlay. Among its features are an NXP-enabled originality check function and upgraded ESD features.

In the public transportation sector, the MIFARE Classic EV1 has been used for access control and time tracking.

DESFire MIFARE

The MIFARE DESFire family consists of the MIFARE DESFire EV1, MIFARE DESFire EV2, and the MIFARE DESFire light contactless integrated circuit. Developers who build dependable, consistent, and extensible contactless solutions should consider the MIFARE DESFire.

MIFARE DESFire is a leader in smart car solutions, transport schemes, and small-scale payment transactions. The MIFARE DESFire IC product meets the standards for prompt and well-secured data and information transmission.

In addition, the MIFARE DESFire provides adjustable memory handling and is compatible with conventional contactless systems. Aside from meeting the four ISO/IEC 14443A levels, the MIFARE DESFire meets the global standards for cryptography and air interface. The MIFARE DESFire IC products are fully NFC compatible.

In addition to an on-chip backup management network, the MIFARE DESFire IC products also support three-pass authentication. The MIFARE DESFire smart card can contain around 28 different applications, each containing 32 files.MIFARE DESFire is an ideal and flexible product group because each file's size is fixed at its creation.

A limitless number of applications can be accommodated by the MIFARE DESFire EV2 that is limited only by the memory size of each family member. Once the card is in the market, new applications can be integrated. For improved compatibility, two or more applications can share a purse.

All file types are equipped with an automated anti-tear system that ensures smooth and reliable data processing. With MIFARE DESFire ICs, you can process data at up to 848 Kbit/s, which is fast, smooth, and secure.

MIFARE DESFire is one of the best products on the market if you are looking for clients-friendly designs that give reliability and security.

Plus MIFARE

Contactless applications benefit from Advanced Encryption System security provided by the MIFARE Plus product group. MIFARE Plus allows for a smooth and easy upgrade of MIFARE Classic products and services.

With this feature, issue cards might work well with MIFARE Classic, where there are prevalent system environments before security infrastructure upgrades. After the security upgrade, MIFARE Plus products use AES authentication, along with other features like encryption and data integrity.

Ultralight MIFARE

With three members in the MIFARE Ultralight family, system integrators have full flexibility and proficiency to run complete system solutions. In addition, these features are not limited to zones, times, or single-use tickets.

Due to the fact that these tickets cannot be reloaded, integrators will have a lot to gain from them. Thus, with the OTP (One-Time-Programmable) Memory in line with the UID (ISO Unique Identifier), a secure infrastructure is provided.

MIFARE Ultralight product tickets are perfect for low-cost and high-volume applications such as loyalty cards, public transportation, and event tickets. MIFARE Ultralight product tickets are the ideal contactless alternative to barcodes and magnetic stripes. As a result, full systems are being replaced by entirely contactless ones.

Since the introduction of MIFARE Ultralight Integrated Circuits, fewer systems have been installed and maintenance costs have been reduced. MIFARE Ultralight products can easily be integrated into running schemes, and paper-ticket vending tools can be seamlessly upgraded.

Hotel rooms and places requiring access authorization can also use the MIFARE Ultralight chip family.

How do they differ?

When NXP developed the MIFARE Classic Chip, stringent security measures were not incorporated. As a result, security was enhanced when other families of chips were developed.

Chips with recent security features, password protection, and other state-of-the-art data protection features are available. The MIFARE Classic Version must not be used for applications that require sophisticated security.

The memory range for the MIFARE family is 40-32K bytes. There are 32K bytes of memory in the MIFARE DESFire EV3. Additionally, the Ultralight chip has an average memory of 100 bytes.

MIFARE family communication speeds range from 106kbps to 848kbps. The MIFARE DESFire has the fastest speed, which is interesting.

There is a 7-byte Unique Identifier in the MIFARE Ultralight; a 7-byte Unique Identifier and a Random Identifier in the DESFire. Choosing the right RFID MIFARE-chip depends on taking into account its essential features and peculiarities. The Plus and Classic have a 7-byte UID, a 4-byte NUID and a Random ID.

The verdict is in

The beauty of RFID MIFARE-chips is that they are easy to manage and use. Several organizations and corporate bodies around the world are relieved by this news. RFID system chips can read and write data using this technology. Ticketing and corporate access are effortless.

RFID MIFARE technology has been incorporated into many sectors, if you look closely. Among them are the transportation sector, education, logistics, and so on. When you purchase the right chip, you'll be able to take advantage of these top-notch and efficient cards to the fullest extent.

If you purchase a MIFARE Classic card to handle data that requires top-level security, you are making a mistake.Because of their enhanced security features, MIFARE Ultralight or DESFire are the best choices in this situation.

You should read this guide before choosing an RFID MIFARE chip.