The ST25TV family gathers the vicinity-type NFC chips from STMicroelectronics, designed for product identification and protection: anti-counterfeiting, consumer engagement (interactive posters, gaming, physical web), logistics, inventory and asset management. Compliant with the ISO/IEC 15693 standard (known as vicinity) and certified NFC Forum Type 5, its nine references range from 64 bytes to 8 kB of user memory, with a common foundation: password-protected areas, a kill mode and, depending on the reference, the TruST25 digital signature, the untraceable and EAS modes or the Augmented NDEF. All of them can be read and written by the vast majority of recent NFC smartphones as well as by long-range RFID readers.
Information
| Manufacturer | STMicroelectronics |
| Family | ST25TV |
| References | ST25TV512, ST25TV02K, ST25TV512C, ST25TV02KC, ST25TV04K-P, ST25TV16K, ST25TV64K, ST25TV16KC and ST25TV64KC |
| Standard | ISO/IEC 15693 (vicinity cards) |
| NFC Forum type | Certified Type 5 Tag |
| Operating frequency | 13.56 MHz |
| Data rate | Up to 53 kbit/s (fast mode) |
| Unique identifier (UID) | 8 bytes (64 bits), factory programmed |
| Operating distance | Long range with a dedicated RFID reader; a few centimeters with a smartphone |
| Data retention | From 40 to 60 years depending on the reference |
| Write endurance | From 100,000 to 1,000,000 cycles depending on the reference |
| User memory | From 64 bytes to 8 kB depending on the reference |
The references of the family
The ST25TV family comes in two generations (the original and the C generation) and several capacities, with every reference sharing the same protocol and the same security foundation:
| Reference | User memory | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| ST25TV512 | 64 bytes | Original generation: kill, untraceable, EAS, counter, TruST25 |
| ST25TV02K | 256 bytes | Identical to the ST25TV512, four times the memory |
| ST25TV512C | 64 bytes | C generation: Augmented NDEF, password recovery |
| ST25TV02KC | 320 bytes (2.5 Kbits) | C generation; tamper detection on the -T variant |
| ST25TV04K-P | 512 bytes (4 Kbits) | Intermediate capacity, password-protected areas |
| ST25TV16K | 2 kB | High density: up to four areas, three 64-bit passwords |
| ST25TV64K | 8 kB | The largest memory of the family |
| ST25TV16KC | 2 kB | High density in the C generation |
| ST25TV64KC | 8 kB | Maximum high density in the C generation |
Every reference works as an NFC Forum Type 5 tag: the NDEF message represents a URL of around 50 characters on the ST25TV512, several hundred on the 02K and 02KC, and several thousand characters on the high-density versions. The choice is therefore driven first by the data volume, then by the features (Augmented NDEF, tamper detection, anti-theft) specific to each reference.
Features & security
- Password-protected areas: the whole family organizes its memory into areas (two or three on the smaller references, up to four on the 16K and 64K), lockable in read and/or write with 32-bit or 64-bit passwords; on the ST25TV512 and 02K, the password is transmitted encrypted (cover coding) thanks to a random number generated by the chip.
- Kill and untraceable modes: every reference can be permanently deactivated with the password-protected Kill command, with the 16K and 64K also offering an "error" mode that lets the chip respond without ever executing commands; on the original and C generations, the untraceable mode (reversible by password) silences it temporarily to protect privacy.
- TruST25 digital signature: the product-protection references (ST25TV512, ST25TV02K and the C generation) embed a unique digital signature, generated by STMicroelectronics during production, which makes it possible to verify the authenticity of the silicon and detect clones.
- Augmented NDEF (C generation): the C versions respond with a dynamic, contextual NDEF message, composed automatically without rewriting the EEPROM, and add a password recovery feature after a field cut during writing.
- EAS and counter: the ST25TV512 and 02K include the EAS anti-theft feature (a configurable telegram of 32 to 256 bits, with an identifier for selective alarm) as well as a 16-bit event counter fitted with an anti-tearing mechanism.
- Tamper detection and inventory: some variants (suffixes -AD and -T) connect a conductive loop to the chip to signal the opening of a label or a package; proprietary inventory commands and fast modes at 53 kbit/s speed up bulk tag reading on a logistics line.
Data retention reaches 60 years on the ST25TV512 and 02K, and 40 years on the 16K and 64K, whose endurance climbs in return to one million cycles. On delivery, the areas are unprotected and all passwords are set to zero.
Compatibility
The ST25TV chips use NFC-V technology (ISO/IEC 15693), supported by the vast majority of recent NFC smartphones. On Android, reading and writing work natively with NFC Tools, without any particular restriction. On iPhone, automatic background reading is available from the iPhone XS and XR onwards; models from the iPhone 7 can read and write these chips via NFC Tools on iOS 15.6 or later, by starting the scan manually from the app.
With NFC Tools, the ST25TV chips support reading technical information, writing records, erasing and locking. The passwords, the areas and the kill or untraceable modes are managed through each chip's dedicated commands. The list of compatible models is available in the article on compatibility.
ST25TV vs ICODE
| Family | User memory | Security | Positioning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST25TV (STMicroelectronics) | 64 bytes to 8 kB | Passwords, TruST25, kill and untraceable | Product protection and consumer engagement |
| ICODE (NXP) | 32 to 316 bytes | Passwords, AES on ICODE DNA | Logistics, libraries, long range |
Both families share the ISO/IEC 15693 standard and the NFC Forum Type 5 format: the choice comes down to memory (the ST25TV go much higher), the product-protection features (TruST25, Augmented NDEF) versus the ICODE specialties (library-grade EAS, AES on the DNA). For a consumer NFC tag using NFC-A technology, the NTAG213 remains the universal reference.
Frequently asked questions
Which ST25TV reference should I choose?
For a short link or identification, the ST25TV512 or ST25TV512C are enough; for richer NDEF content, the ST25TV02K and 02KC take over; for large data volumes, the 16K and 64K offer 2 and 8 kB. The C generation is the way to go as soon as the message must be dynamic (Augmented NDEF) or tamper detection is required.
What is the difference between the original generation and the C generation?
The C generation adds the Augmented NDEF (a message composed dynamically at each read, without rewriting the memory), password recovery after a field cut, and raises the ST25TV02KC to 2.5 Kbits; tamper detection there is reserved for the -T variant. The protocol, the areas and the kill and untraceable modes remain common.
Are the ST25TV chips compatible with iPhones?
Yes. Background reading works from the iPhone XS and XR onwards, and both reading and writing are possible via NFC Tools from the iPhone 7 on iOS 15.6 or later.
Can an ST25TV chip be protected against rewriting?
Yes: the first blocks (the Capability Container) can be permanently locked, each area can require a password for writing (a reversible protection), and one configuration can even permanently forbid any writing in an area.
Useful links
