HF 13.56 MHzNXP

NXP MIFARE DUOX

Name: NXP NXP MIFARE DUOX
Brand: NXP

The NXP NXP MIFARE DUOX is an HF 13.56 MHz RFID tag IC, with 2 KB / 4 KB / 8 KB user memory (EEPROM), operating at 13.56 MHz, under ISO/IEC 14443-A, NFC Forum Type 4 Tag MIFARE protocol.

Next-generation contactless smart card IC supporting MIFARE and enhanced cryptographic security for transit and access control.

Frequency

13.56 MHz

Protocol

ISO/IEC 14443-A, NFC Forum Type 4 Tag, MIFARE protocol

Memory

2 KB / 4 KB / 8 KB user memory (EEPROM)

Interface

RF (contactless)

Temp Range

-25°C to +85°C

Form Factor

wafer, MOA4 module, 8-inch sawn wafer on frame

Full Specifications

Manufacturer	NXP
Frequency Category	HF 13.56 MHz
Frequency	13.56 MHz
Protocol	ISO/IEC 14443-A, NFC Forum Type 4 Tag, MIFARE protocol
Memory	2 KB / 4 KB / 8 KB user memory (EEPROM)
Interface	RF (contactless)
Temperature Range	-25°C to +85°C
Form Factor	wafer, MOA4 module, 8-inch sawn wafer on frame
Security	AES-128, ECC-256 (asymmetric authentication), originality signature, mutual 3-pass authentication, secure messaging, diversified keys

Engineering Brief

MIFARE DUOX is NXP's next-generation contactless smart card IC that layers elliptic-curve (ECC) asymmetric cryptography on top of established AES-128 symmetric authentication, enabling stronger mutual authentication and card-not-present verification for transit and access control deployments. It operates at 13.56 MHz per ISO/IEC 14443-A and is backward-compatible with existing MIFARE infrastructure, easing migration from MIFARE Classic/Plus/DESFire deployments. Available in multiple memory sizes (2K/4K/8K bytes) and wafer/module form factors, it targets high-security, high-throughput applications like metro gates and enterprise badges. Engineers should evaluate ECC-based key provisioning and diversification workflows when integrating DUOX into existing backend systems.

How the NXP MIFARE DUOX Works

MIFARE DUOX communicates over the 13.56 MHz HF band per ISO/IEC 14443 Type A, using load modulation and the standard's bit-oriented anti-collision scheme for singulation in multi-card fields. Once selected, the chip switches to the ISO/IEC 14443-4 half-duplex block protocol, exposing itself to readers as an NFC Forum Type 4 Tag that exchanges APDUs over ISO-DEP. On top of this transport, DUOX layers the native MIFARE protocol for legacy-compatible 3-pass mutual authentication using AES-128, plus a new ECC-256 asymmetric authentication scheme that allows a reader or backend to verify chip authenticity without sharing a symmetric secret. EEPROM user memory (2/4/8 KB) is organized into application/file structures accessed via authenticated, optionally encrypted secure messaging, with diversified keys derived per-card to limit the blast radius of any single key compromise. An embedded originality signature lets integrators cryptographically confirm genuine NXP silicon during provisioning or in the field.

Typical Applications

Standards & Compliance

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes MIFARE DUOX different from MIFARE DESFire EV3?

MIFARE DUOX adds ECC-256 asymmetric cryptography alongside AES-128, enabling card-not-present-style authentication in addition to the mutual 3-pass authentication used in prior MIFARE generations.

Is MIFARE DUOX backward compatible with existing MIFARE infrastructure?

Yes, MIFARE DUOX is designed to be backward-compatible with MIFARE Classic, Plus, and DESFire deployments, easing migration of existing transit and access-control readers.

What memory sizes are available for MIFARE DUOX?

MIFARE DUOX is offered in 2 KB, 4 KB, and 8 KB user EEPROM memory configurations to support varying application data requirements.

What security features does MIFARE DUOX support?

It supports AES-128 symmetric encryption, ECC-256 asymmetric authentication, originality signature verification, mutual 3-pass authentication, secure messaging, and key diversification.

What RF standard and protocol does MIFARE DUOX use?

MIFARE DUOX operates at 13.56 MHz using ISO/IEC 14443-A and is compliant with NFC Forum Type 4 Tag, alongside the proprietary MIFARE protocol.

What applications is MIFARE DUOX designed for?

It targets high-security, high-throughput deployments such as metro/transit gates and enterprise access control badges.

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