EM4423 vs RF430F5978

EM4423 offers NFC/UHF retail logistics with 240-byte NFC memory and EPC Gen2. RF430F5978 provides LF/Sub-1GHz active comms with 16KB Flash and AES-128 for livestock tracking.

Side-by-side specs

Frequency

EM4423: 13.56 MHz (HF/NFC) and 860-960 MHz (UHF) / 125 kHz LF
RF430F5978: 134.2 kHz (LF) / Sub-1 GHz (315 MHz, 433 MHz, 868 MHz, 915 MHz)

Protocol

EM4423: ISO/IEC 14443 Type A, NFC Forum Type 2, ISO/IEC 18000-63, EPC Gen2 V2
RF430F5978: ISO 11784/11785 (FDX-B), Proprietary Sub-1 GHz

Memory

EM4423: 1920-bit (240 bytes) NFC user memory; 128-bit or 224-bit EPC; 160-bit or 64-bit USER memory; 96-bit TID; 32-bit Access/Kill passwords
RF430F5978: 16 KB Flash, 1 KB RAM

Interface

EM4423: RF (contactless dual-frequency: HF 13.56 MHz, UHF 860-960 MHz)
RF430F5978: RF (contactless 134.2 kHz transponder), SPI, UART, I2C, GPIO

Temp Range

EM4423: -40°C to +85°C
RF430F5978: -40°C to +85°C

Form Factor

EM4423: Sawn wafer, 3/6-mil thickness, gold bumps, die size 853 × 790 μm
RF430F5978: RGZ (VQFN-48)

Security

EM4423: 32-bit Access password, 32-bit Kill password, 4-byte and 2-byte LOGIN passwords, optional security timeout, PACK authentication, 32-byte digital signature support, anti-tearing…
RF430F5978: AES-128, hardware encryption accelerator

Spec	EM4423	RF430F5978
Frequency	13.56 MHz (HF/NFC) and 860-960 MHz (UHF) / 125 kHz LF	134.2 kHz (LF) / Sub-1 GHz (315 MHz, 433 MHz, 868 MHz, 915 MHz)
Protocol	ISO/IEC 14443 Type A, NFC Forum Type 2, ISO/IEC 18000-63, EPC Gen2 V2	ISO 11784/11785 (FDX-B), Proprietary Sub-1 GHz
Memory	1920-bit (240 bytes) NFC user memory; 128-bit or 224-bit EPC; 160-bit or 64-bit USER memory; 96-bit TID; 32-bit Access/Kill passwords	16 KB Flash, 1 KB RAM
Interface	RF (contactless dual-frequency: HF 13.56 MHz, UHF 860-960 MHz)	RF (contactless 134.2 kHz transponder), SPI, UART, I2C, GPIO
Temp Range	-40°C to +85°C	-40°C to +85°C
Form Factor	Sawn wafer, 3/6-mil thickness, gold bumps, die size 853 × 790 μm	RGZ (VQFN-48)
Security	32-bit Access password, 32-bit Kill password, 4-byte and 2-byte LOGIN passwords, optional security timeout, PACK authentication, 32-byte digital signature support, anti-tearing…	AES-128, hardware encryption accelerator

Verdict

Choose the EM4423 if you need passive dual-frequency operation for retail, supply chain, or consumer-facing applications where items must be read by both NFC smartphones (13.56 MHz ISO 14443 Type A) and long-range UHF readers (860-960 MHz EPC Gen2 V2). This chip provides 240 bytes of NFC user memory, 128-bit or 224-bit EPC, and supports NFC Forum Type 2 for smartphone compatibility. Security includes 32-bit Access and Kill passwords, PACK authentication, and 32-byte digital signature support with anti-tearing protection for safe memory updates. The EM4423 operates entirely on harvested RF energy from readers at both frequencies, requiring no battery, making it ideal for tagging products, documents, or items where you want the flexibility of close-range smartphone interaction and warehouse-distance UHF scanning in a single tag. Choose the RF430F5978 if you need an active microcontroller system for livestock tracking, asset management, or telemetry applications requiring LF animal identification combined with longer-range active Sub-1 GHz communication. This device integrates a 134.2 kHz ISO 11784/11785 FDX-B transponder (standard for animal RFID) with a Sub-1 GHz radio (315/433/868/915 MHz) and includes 16 KB Flash and 1 KB RAM for application code. It offers SPI, UART, I2C, and GPIO interfaces for connecting sensors or peripherals, plus AES-128 hardware encryption for secure data transmission. Unlike the passive EM4423, the RF430F5978 functions as a programmable microcontroller that can actively transmit data, process sensor inputs, and execute custom firmware, typically requiring battery power. This makes it suited for livestock ear tags, active asset trackers, or environmental monitors where you need both passive LF identification and active wireless telemetry with cryptographic security.

FAQ

Can the EM4423 be read by smartphones?

Yes, the EM4423 supports ISO 14443 Type A and NFC Forum Type 2 protocols at 13.56 MHz, making it readable by NFC-enabled smartphones. It provides 240 bytes of NFC user memory accessible via standard NFC apps.

Does the RF430F5978 require a battery?

Yes, the RF430F5978 is a microcontroller with active Sub-1 GHz radio transmission capabilities and requires external power (typically a battery) for operation. Only the 134.2 kHz LF transponder function can harvest energy passively from LF readers.

Which chip supports EPC Gen2 for warehouse logistics?

The EM4423 supports ISO 18000-63 and EPC Gen2 V2 at 860-960 MHz UHF, providing 128-bit or 224-bit EPC memory for standard warehouse and retail RFID systems. The RF430F5978 does not support EPC Gen2.

Sourcing EM4423 or RF430F5978 in volume?

Roxtron builds custom RFID and NFC products around both EM4423 and RF430F5978. Tell us your project — quantities, form factor, timeline — and we'll come back within 24 hours with pricing and lead times.