RFID & NFC Modules by ELECHOUSE
ELECHOUSE designs and manufactures a range of RFID and NFC modules for makers, engineers, and system integrators. Our modules support all major NFC and RFID protocols and are compatible with Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi, and Linux platforms.
Module Selection Matrix
Quick overview of all current modules — see linked comparison and documentation pages for full details.
| Module | Chip | Interface | ISO 14443A/B | ISO 15693 | Best Platform | Antenna |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PN532 V4 | NXP PN532 | SPI / I2C / UART | ✓ | — | Arduino, ESP32 | On-board |
| PN5321 MINI | NXP PN532 | SPI / I2C / UART | ✓ | — | Arduino, ESP32 (compact) | On-board |
| PN532 USB Type-C | NXP PN532 | USB | ✓ | — | PC, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi | On-board |
| PN532 External Antenna | NXP PN532 | SPI / I2C / UART | ✓ | — | Enclosure / panel mount | External |
| PN532 Evolution V1 | NXP PN532 | SPI / I2C / UART | ✓ | — | Arduino / ESP32; large-format reader | External 102 × 160 mm antenna |
| PN7160 | NXP PN7160 | I2C | ✓ | ✓ | Linux, Raspberry Pi, ESP32 | On-board |
| PN7161 family | NXP PN7161 | I2C or SPI (by module) | ✓ | ✓ | Linux, Raspberry Pi, ESP32 | On-board or external (by module) |
| ST25R3916 | ST ST25R3916 | SPI | ✓ | ✓ | ESP32, STM32, high performance | On-board |
Protocol Support Detail
| Module | MIFARE Classic | NTAG / Ultralight | DESFire | FeliCa | ISO 15693 | NCI 2.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PN532 family | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| PN7160 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PN7161 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ST25R3916 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
Choose By Platform
- Arduino (UNO, Nano, Mega): PN532 V4 — best library support and documentation
- ESP32: PN532 V4 (SPI/I2C) or PN7160 (multi-protocol)
- Raspberry Pi / Linux (GPIO): PN7160 (NCI 2.0 native) or PN532 V4 (UART/SPI)
- PC / Mac / Linux (USB): PN532 USB Type-C — plug-and-play, libnfc / nfcpy
- STM32 / embedded MCU: ST25R3916 (SPI, highest RF performance)
- Compact / space-constrained: PN5321 MINI
- Enclosure / panel mount: PN532 External Antenna
Choose By Application
- Access control / door lock: NFC for Access Control guide
- IoT / smart home automation: NFC for IoT & Smart Home guide
- Tag reading / writing (NTAG, MIFARE): How to Read and Write NFC Tags
- Industrial / ISO 15693 labels: PN7160 or ST25R3916
- Desktop enrollment / kiosk: USB NFC Reader guide
Comparison Pages
- PN532 vs PN7160 vs ST25R3916 — Full Comparison
- PN532 USB Type-C vs PN532 V4
- PN532 V4 vs PN532 Evolution V1
- PN7160 vs PN7161
- On-board vs External Antenna
Documentation
- PN532 V4 Documentation
- PN5321 MINI Documentation
- PN532 USB Type-C Documentation
- PN532 External Antenna Documentation
- PN532 Evolution V1 Documentation
- PN7160 Documentation
- PN7161 Documentation
- ST25R3916 Documentation
OEM / ODM
For custom hardware, firmware adaptation, or volume production, see ELECHOUSE OEM / ODM services.
PN7160 / PN7161 RF Supply Note
PN7160 and PN7161 modules support either 3.3 V or 5 V on VANT when the software PMU/TXLDO preset matches the physical RF supply. VDD remains the host-I/O logic supply and must not be connected to 5 V. See the PN7160 / PN7161 I2C documentation or PN7161 family documentation for wiring and library settings.