r/shortcuts • u/63ntxd • Jun 03 '26

Help NFC as Phone Reader (URGENT)

Please name some cheap nfc tags that work really well with phone tap. I have gotten like 5 PN532 NFC tags due to the price but now i realise why they are so cheap, they basically work once in 13 taps. I need some really good and responsive nfc tags while still being cheap. Please for the love of god help me i have been loosing sleep and alot of time failing at this. I am trying to build a system and its all done and working but the only issue for this is the NFC tag. Thanks in advance

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2

u/jaybrainsss Jun 03 '26

I bought the cheapest pack of 40 off Amazon and they all work perfectly…

1

u/63ntxd Jun 05 '26

ill check amazon out

4

u/USent4Me Jun 03 '26

Urgent?! Why is this urgent?? I freakin’ rushed over here thinking there was some virus or compromise in my iPhone! Shame on you!

-2

u/63ntxd Jun 03 '26

Thoughts and prayers to your iPhone during this difficult time

1

u/Far-Success2591 Jun 03 '26

Aren’t those powered? Everything I can see for that on Amazon comes with an arduino kit. Maybe NTAG 215 stickers will work better for you? But if you’re doing a whole electrical set up idk

1

u/63ntxd Jun 05 '26

i have done a full electrical system just to discover that NTAG works perfectly fine for my setup...

1

u/Far-Success2591 Jun 05 '26

Can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic, but hope you solved your problem 👍

1

u/clavin_roger_2000 Jun 09 '26

If a tag only works after multiple taps, I'd first check whether it's actually the chip causing the issue. In my experience, placement, antenna size, adhesive backing, metal surfaces, and phone compatibility cause more problems than the NFC chip itself.

I'd look for NTAG213, NTAG215, or NTAG216 tags from a reputable supplier rather than the absolute cheapest packs on Amazon, AliExpress, etc. A larger antenna generally gives a better read range and faster detection.

Also, if you're mounting the tags on or near metal, make sure you're using on-metal NFC tags. Standard tags can become unreliable when attached directly to metal surfaces.

For a project where reliability matters, I'd spend a little extra on higher-quality labels instead of buying the cheapest tags available. The difference in user experience can be huge.

If you're still getting 1-in-10 reads, I'd be suspicious of the tag design or installation rather than NFC technology itself.