MIFARE Ultralight AES vs ST25TV02K

Choose MIFARE Ultralight AES if you require strong cryptographic authentication and work within the ISO/IEC 14443-3 Type A ecosystem. This chip provides AES-128 mutual authentication with CMAC, an ECC-based originality signature using secp192r1, and Random ID capability for enhanced privacy. With 144 bytes of user memory across 60 pages, it delivers adequate storage for limited-use applications like transit tickets, event passes, or hotel key cards where authentication is critical. The three 24-bit one-way counters and failed authentication limit provide additional security against cloning and brute-force attacks. Operating at 106 kbit/s on 13.56 MHz, it is NFC Forum Tag 2 Type compliant, ensuring compatibility with the vast majority of NFC-enabled smartphones. The 32-bit OTP area allows for permanent configuration data storage. Choose ST25TV02K if you need ISO/IEC 15693 protocol compatibility, longer read range, or energy harvesting functionality. This chip provides 256 bytes of EEPROM organized in 64 blocks of 4 bytes, offering 112 bytes more total memory than the MIFARE Ultralight AES user area. The ISO 15693 protocol typically supports read ranges up to 1.5 meters compared to the shorter range of ISO 14443A, making it suitable for item-level tagging, inventory management, or library applications. The energy harvesting output allows the tag to power external sensors or circuitry from the RF field. Security is limited to 32-bit password protection and lock bits rather than cryptographic authentication, making it appropriate for applications where basic access control suffices. The AFI byte enables application-specific filtering during inventory scans. Operating on 13.56 MHz as an NFC Forum Type 5 tag, it maintains NFC smartphone compatibility while supporting dedicated ISO 15693 readers.