Guide
How long does an NFC business card last?
By Parichy · Published · 3 min read
How long does the chip itself last?
An NFC chip has no battery to run down: it is powered by the phone each time it is read. Parichy's cards use an NTAG216 chip. Its maker, NXP, specifies the NTAG21x family for about 10 years of data retention and 100,000 write cycles — figures from the chip's datasheet, not a promise from us; check the datasheet for the exact conditions.
You will never come near the write limit. A business card is written once, when the link is stored, and read many times.
What wears out first?
The card body. A PVC card that lives in a wallet gets scratched and can bend; a card left on a car dashboard can warp in heat. Metal cards are more resistant to wear. A cracked card can break the antenna even if the chip is fine, which is why the tap stops working before anything else fails.
Why does my tap sometimes not work?
Most of the time the card is fine and something is in the way:
- NFC is switched off on the phone, or the screen is locked.
- A thick case, a metal plate or a wallet with other cards stacked behind the tag blocks or confuses the signal.
- The phone's NFC antenna sits in a different place on different models; move it slowly across the card.
- The phone model doesn't read tags in the way you expect. This is why every Smart Profile has a QR code as a fallback.
How do I make a card last?
Keep it flat, away from heat and out of a tight back pocket. Avoid strong magnets and don't bend it. If you carry several, keep the NFC card at the front of the stack so nothing sits behind it. And treat the QR code on the card as part of the design: it keeps the profile reachable even on a phone that can't tap.
What if my details change?
Nothing needs replacing. The chip stores a link to your Smart Profile, so you update the profile from your dashboard and the next tap shows the new details. A new card is only needed if the card is physically damaged or lost.
Frequently asked questions
Do NFC business cards need charging?
No. The chip has no battery; it is powered for a moment by the phone that reads it.
Do metal cards work as well as PVC?
Metal blocks radio signals, so a metal NFC card has to be built so the antenna can still work. Parichy's metal cards carry an NTAG216 chip and a QR code fallback; a case or metal plate on the phone can still interfere.
What if my card stops working?
Try the QR code first, which opens the same profile. If the tap fails on several phones, contact us: manufacturing defects, including a chip that fails to read, are covered by the warranty in our returns policy.
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