Genuine NXP NTAG Chip: How to Check for Fakes

Not every NFC card marked NTAG215 uses a genuine NXP NTAG215 chip. Some sellers use compatible chips that behave differently or fail. This guide shows how to check whether an NFC chip is genuine before you accept a bulk order.

Genuine NXP chip vs compatible chip

A genuine NTAG chip is made by NXP and carries NXP’s identity in its data. A compatible chip is made by another manufacturer to mimic an NTAG chip. Compatible chips often work for basic tapping, but they may differ in memory, locking behaviour and reliability, and they cannot prove they are genuine.

How to check an NTAG chip with NXP TagInfo

1. Install the free NFC TagInfo by NXP app on an Android phone or iPhone.
2. Open the app, tap Read tag and hold the card to the back of the phone.
3. Check the IC type. It should say NTAG213, NTAG215 or NTAG216 to match what you ordered.
4. Check the memory size: 144 bytes for NTAG213, 504 for NTAG215, 888 for NTAG216.
5. Check the manufacturer. NXP tags have a UID starting with 04.
6. If available, run the originality check. Genuine NTAG21x chips carry an NXP originality signature that TagInfo can verify.

Warning signs of fake or mislabelled chips

• The reported chip type or memory does not match the listing.
• The UID does not start with 04 on a chip sold as NXP.
• The card reads but fails to save data, or loses it after locking.
• The price is far below other suppliers for the same chip.

How we grade chips

Our Grade A and Grade B products use genuine NXP chips and can be verified this way. Grade C products use NTAG-compatible chips and are sold as such, not as NXP. See the grade comparison on the price list.

Questions about NFC chip authenticity

Compare the chips in our NTAG213 vs NTAG215 vs NTAG216 guide.