MIFARE Ultralight EV1 vs ST25DV
MIFARE Ultralight EV1 offers 128 bytes memory with 32-bit password security, making it ideal for limited-use transit tickets, loyalty tokens. ST25DV provides 4-64 Kbit with 64-bit password + configurable areas security, suited for IoT sensors, smart labels, energy harvesting, BLE pairing.
MIFARE Ultralight EV1
ST25DV
MIFARE Ultralight EV1 vs ST25DV
MIFARE Ultralight EV1 is a simple, low-cost NFC transit token. ST25DV is a dual-interface NFC/I2C dynamic tag with energy harvesting capability from ST Microelectronics. They share the 13.56 MHz carrier frequency but serve completely different engineering roles in entirely different application domains.
Overview
MIFARE Ultralight EV1: ISO 14443-3A, NFC ForumNFC ForumIndustry body developing NFC standards, specifications, and certifications since 2004View full → Type 2, 48–128 bytes, 32-bit password, 24-bit monotonic counter. Single-interface NFC chip for disposable transit tokens. Readable by all NFC phones natively via NDEF. Designed for operators who control both the tag stock and the reader infrastructure.
ST25DV: ISO 15693 RF interface (NFC-V) plus a wired I2C interface to an embedded microcontroller. An MCU can read and write ST25DV's memory via I2C between NFC reads, enabling real-time sensor data, status flags, or configuration parameters to be retrieved by any passing NFC readerNFC readerActive device generating RF field to initiate communication with tagsView full →. The VOUT pin harvests up to 1 mA at 3.3 V from the reader's RF field, enabling MCU wake-up or sensor powering. Available in 4, 16, and 64 Kbit variants (512 bytes to 8 KB).
Key Differences
- I2C interface: ST25DV has a wired I2C interface — the defining architectural difference. An MCU can update ST25DV memory continuously via I2C. Ultralight EV1 has no wired interface — memory changes only via NFC RF write commands.
- Energy harvesting: ST25DV's VOUT pin provides up to 1 mA from the reader's RF field. Ultralight EV1 harvests energy only to power its own chip — no external VOUT.
- Counter: Ultralight EV1 has a hardware 24-bit monotonic counter for transit use-limit enforcement. ST25DV has no counter.
- RF protocol: Ultralight EV1 is NFC-A (ISO 14443ISO 14443Standard for contactless smart cards at 13.56 MHz (Types A and B)View full →-3A) — universally supported on all NFC phones with native NDEF UX. ST25DV is NFC-V (ISO 15693ISO 15693Standard for vicinity-range smart cards, 1+ meter read rangeView full →) — requires Android 7+ / iOS 14+ with no native tap-to-URL experience.
- Dynamic data: ST25DV memory can be updated by an MCU via I2C at any time — a temperature sensor node can write fresh readings every 30 seconds. Ultralight EV1 data changes only when an NFC reader writes to it.
- Security: ST25DV uses 64-bit passwords per configurable area. Ultralight EV1 uses a 32-bit password. Neither provides AES-grade security.
- Data retentionData retentionEEPROMEEPROMNon-volatile memory technology retaining data without powerView full → data storage guarantee period (typically 10 years)View full →: ST25DV is rated for 40 years vs Ultralight EV1's 10 years.
Technical Comparison
| Parameter | MIFARE Ultralight EV1 | ST25DV-04K / 16K / 64K |
|---|---|---|
| RF protocol | ISO 14443-3A (NFC-A) | ISO 15693 (NFC-V) |
| Wired interface | None | I2C (up to 1 MHz) |
| Energy harvesting | No | Yes (VOUT, up to 1 mA at 3.3 V) |
| RF interrupt to MCU | No | Yes (GPIO interrupt pin) |
| User memoryUser memoryTag memory portion available for user data storageView full → | 48 or 128 bytes | 512 B / 2 KB / 8 KB |
| Security | 32-bit password | 64-bit password + area segmentation |
| Monotonic counter | Yes (24-bit) | No |
| Dynamic data update | NFC only | I2C (MCU) or NFC |
| Smartphone support | All NFC phones | Android 7+ / iOS 14+ |
| Data retention | 10 years | 40 years |
| Write endurance | 100,000 writes | 1,000,000 writes |
| Unit cost (volume) | $0.05–$0.12 | $0.40–$1.20 |
Use Cases
MIFARE Ultralight EV1 is appropriate for disposable transit tokens, event wristbands, and limited-use tickets where the NFC-A counter mechanism is the primary control, NFC-A reader infrastructure is in place, and cost per tag drives all decisions.
ST25DV is appropriate for IoT smart sensor labels (MCU writes sensor readings via I2C, NFC reader retrieves them), BLE pairing bootstraps (NFC field interrupt wakes BLE MCU), energy harvesting sensor nodes where the MCU is powered entirely by the NFC reader's RF field, and field configuration of embedded devices via NFC.
Verdict
Ultralight EV1 is the correct choice for disposable transit tokens in controlled NFC-A reader environments where cost is the primary constraint. ST25DV is the correct choice when an MCU must bridge real-time sensor or status data to NFC readers, when energy harvesting from the RF field is needed to power external circuitry, or when NFC must trigger BLE pairing or MCU wake-up. These are orthogonal use cases in completely different application domains with no meaningful overlap.
अनुशंसा
Choose MIFARE Ultralight EV1 when you need improved Ultralight with password protection; choose ST25DV when you need dual-interface (NFC + I2C) with energy harvesting.