M1 Classic High Security EV3 NFC Cards ISO/IEC 14443A

• Security: MIFARE Classic uses older, weaker encryption that can be hacked more easily. DESFire has much stronger security with advanced encryption like AES and 3DES, making it much safer.
• Storage: Classic cards store less data (1KB or 4KB), while DESFire cards can store more (2KB, 4KB, or 8KB) and handle many apps on one card.
• Functionality: Classic usually supports just one simple application. DESFire supports multiple applications and has a flexible file system for complex uses.
• Speed: Classic reads data fast but with less security. DESFire can be a bit slower because of stronger security but supports faster data transfer overall.
• Cost: Classic cards cost less and are good for simple uses like basic access or small transit systems. DESFire cards cost more but are better for big, secure systems like city transit, payments, and ID cards.
• Compatibility: Classic is older and widely used but less secure. DESFire is newer, more secure, and designed to work with modern systems and standards.

The MIFARE DESFire series illustrates NXP’s iterative approach to balancing security, flexibility, and backward compatibility.

DESFire EV1 established a foundation with robust encryption and multi-application support, while EV2 and EV3 expanded these capabilities to address smart cities’ scalability demands.

EV1: The first version. It’s secure and can handle many apps but has some limits on how many apps it can store. Used a lot in transit and schools.

EV2: A newer version with stronger security and no limits on the number of apps. It’s faster and better for big systems like cities that need many services on one card.

EV3: The latest version. It has the best security, can manage apps better, and stops hacking attempts more easily. It also works better with new phones and smart devices.

In short, MIFARE Plus is a newer, safer, and more flexible version of MIFARE Classic.

• Security: MIFARE Classic uses older, weaker security that can be hacked more easily. MIFARE Plus has stronger, modern security that keeps your data safer.
• Storage: Classic cards store less data (1K or 4K), while Plus cards can store more (1K, 2K, or 4K) and handle bigger, more complex info.
• Compatibility: MIFARE Plus works with systems made for Classic cards, so it’s easy to upgrade without changing everything.
• Use: Classic is good for simple things like basic access or bus cards. Plus is better for important stuff like secure ID cards or payment systems.
• Cost: Classic cards are cheaper, but Plus cards cost more because they offer better security and features.

MIFARE 4K has a higher memory capacity than MIFARE 1K.

MIFARE 1K cards have 1,024 bytes of memory split into 16 sectors, while MIFARE 4K cards have 4,096 bytes split into 40 sectors (32 like 1K plus 8 larger ones), offering more storage for complex data.

Yes, these cards are printable.

We can provide custom-printed Mifare® NFC cards in various textures with any design you provide.

Yes, MIFARE cards can be written to. They have read/write memory that allows data to be stored, modified, and managed securely for various applications like access control, public transport, and payment systems.

Some MIFARE cards also include write-protection features to prevent unauthorized rewriting after initial programming.

MIFARE cards can generally be rewritten after initial programming only if you have the correct access keys and the card’s access conditions allow writing.

However, if the card’s access bits or permissions are set to permanently block rewriting (for example, by misconfiguring access bits or locking keys), then that sector or block cannot be rewritten anymore.

MIFARE and NTAG are both NFC chip families from NXP but serve different purposes:

MIFARE chips (like MIFARE Classic, Ultralight, DESFire) are mainly designed for secure applications such as access control, public transportation, and electronic wallets, offering stronger security features, multi-application support, and higher write cycle endurance.

NTAG chips are optimized for universal compatibility with NFC-enabled smartphones and are commonly used for simpler, read/write applications like smart advertising, product tagging, business cards, and mobile app launching, with easier interoperability but generally less complex security than MIFARE.

In short, MIFARE is preferred for secure, multi-use systems, while NTAG is ideal for simple, smartphone-friendly NFC tags.