The best phones with NFC: What are your options?

If you’re in the market for an NFC-enabled smartphone, you’ve come to the right place. There are many options available these days, so we’ve taken it upon ourselves to find the best phones with NFC so that you don’t have to do all the hard work. This list mostly includes high-end devices, but we’ve also added a few great mid-rangers to the mix.

What is NFC, anyway?

This may sound like alien technology to those who haven’t played much with this feature. The short answer is that NFC stands for Near Field Communications. The longer one is a bit more complex.

NFC is a technology that allows close-up communications between devices or tags. It can be used to make payments, for example. Have you ever seen people pay with their phones using something like Google Pay? It can be done thanks to NFC.

You can also use NFC to do things like automate settings. Want to share your Wi-Fi password with others? Program an NFC tag and have people tap their phones on it. You can also program your smart home devices; imagine tapping your phone on an NFC tag by the door and having all lights go on.

In addition, NFC can be found on cameras, smart appliances, and even monitors. It’s become an invaluable tool for the modern smartphone user. Most high-end phones have NFC on board these days, while the same can’t be said for mid-range and budget handsets which is surprising but true. As such, it is sometimes tricky to find a phone with NFC and the features you want at a price that fits your budget.

The best phones with NFC

Editor’s note: We’ll regularly update this list of the best phones with NFC as new devices launch.

Samsung Galaxy S23 series

Samsung is back at it in 2023, launching what are all but guaranteed to be some of the hottest smartphones of the year. The Samsung Galaxy S23 series comprises the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus, and Galaxy S23 Ultra. All come with outstanding performance, gorgeous screens, capable cameras, and an overall fantastic experience.

All devices come with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, at least 8GB of RAM (Ultra can have 12GB), and Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support. The smallest one is the Galaxy S23 at 6.1 inches, while the Galaxy S22 Plus upgrades to a 6.6-inch panel.

Of course, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the beefiest of the bunch, both in size and specs. It has a massive 6.8-inch display with a QHD+ resolution, while the other two stick to Full HD+. It also comes with an S Pen, which will bring added functionality to the smartphone experience.

Galaxy S23 specs:

Galaxy S23 Plus specs:

Galaxy S23 Ultra specs:

Apple iPhone 14 family

We may be an Android-centric website, but it’s not easy to simply brush the iPhone 14 series under the rug. Apple’s iPhone 14 family includes four models: the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The iPhone 14 and 14 Pro look very similar, each with a 6.1-inch display. Of course, there are some differences in specs and the number of rear cameras. The Pro versions also come with the new Dynamic Island. You’ll only find two rear cameras on the 14 and 14 Plus, while the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max models sport triple camera arrays. No matter which device you choose, all four are excellent phones with NFC to meet your wireless needs.

You may not look forward to moving from Android to iOS, but it’s easier than ever to switch. Apple offers a near rainbow of options, and we won’t judge you for changing. In fact, we have a guide to help you find the best iPhone for your needs!

iPhone 14 specs:

iPhone 14 Plus specs:

iPhone 14 Pro specs:

iPhone 14 Pro Max specs:

OnePlus 11

The OnePlus 11 was first released in China and has since been launched globally, including in North America, and it’s definitely among the best phones with NFC you can get.

The OnePlus 11 features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and as much as 16GB of RAM, which means it can handle just about any task you throw at it. The screen comes in at 6.7 inches and looks incredible thanks to the LTPO3 Fluid AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. Other specs and features include a triple-camera Hasselblad system at the back, and a 5,000mAh battery with as much as 100W charging (80W in the USA).

Pricing is actually pretty fair for a device with this much power, but some sacrifices were made. It has no wireless charging, the camera isn’t very good, and it only has an IP64 rating.

OnePlus 11 specs:

Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro marked a new era for Google, with a unique design language, premium build, and specs that compete with the best of the best. It was a stunning step in the right direction, and the search giant continued the trend with the newer Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. These devices also keep prices very reasonable compared to other high-end handsets.

Just look at them. Their designs are clean and simple, but their internals sure aren’t. These come with Google’s new Tensor G2 chipset and 8/12GB of RAM, ensuring speedy performance. The displays are also stunning, with the Pixel 7 featuring a Full HD+ AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate, while the Pixel 7 Pro upgrades you to a QHD+ panel with 120Hz.

Of course, both phones with NFC will take care of all your short-distance connectivity needs.

Google Pixel 7 specs:

Google Pixel 7 Pro specs:

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 isn’t just one of the best NFC phones around. This device is truly unique and special. It’s arguably the best foldable phone to get right now, offering the functionality of a larger tablet screen, and the pocketability and one-handed nature of a regular smartphone. It has an external 6.2-inch display, but the handset can be folded out to showcase a 7.6-inch panel with a 1,812 x 2,176p AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1,200 nits of brightness.

You’ll get everything you can expect from a high-end flagship, too. Specs include a powerful Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, 12GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. There’s also a triple-camera setup onboard. We wish the 4,400mAh battery were larger, especially considering that screen must really eat up the battery, but having a foldable handset has its downsides.

If you prefer something smaller that still falls in the realm of the best NFC phones, there is also the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4. It’s a regular-sized smartphone that folds in half to be easily stored in any pocket. We weren’t fans of its noticeable crease, and the battery isn’t as good as we would wish, but it is still a solid high-end performer with a great design, a useful cover display, and a solid primary camera.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 specs:

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 specs:

ASUS ROG Phone 6 series

The ROG Phone 6 series consist of two phones. The first is the ROG Phone 6 Pro, which is the best of the two. It has everything a gamer needs, including a large 6.78-inch display with a 165Hz refresh rate, a massive 6,000mAh battery with 65W charging, and outstanding performance thanks to Snapdragon’s latest chipset paired with 18GB of RAM. Of course, it also has NFC.

The device comes with ultrasonic Airtriggers that are fully customizable in terms of sensitivity and button mapping. To level up your gaming experience, you can also get various accessories like ASUS’ Aero Active Cooler 6, which does a great job cooling down the handset when playing games for a long time, or the Kunai 3 controller, which makes the gaming experience more enjoyable for most people.

The second device in the series is the ROG Phone 6, which is more or less identical to the Pro model. The only two differences are that it tops out at 16GB of RAM instead of 18GB and that it lacks a secondary rear display, which is capable of displaying the time, text messages, logos, and other simple things.

ROG Phone 6 specs:

ROG Phone 6 Pro specs:

Sony Xperia 1 IV and Xperia 5 IV

Albeit a bit overlooked, Sony makes some of the best devices in the market, as well as some of the best phones with NFC. They’re also one of the few that still label the location of the NFC chip right on the device’s back.

NFC aside, the Sony Xperia 1 IV is nothing short of spectacular. It has powerful specs, an amazing camera system with mirrorless camera-quality autofocusing, an elegant design, and a stunning 4K display. All of that will cost you, though, as the Sony Xperia 1 IV is also one of the most expensive smartphones in existence.

If you’re looking for something nearly as premium, but much less expensive (yet not cheap), the Sony Xperia 5 IV might be a more suitable option. It still comes with powerful specs like a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, 8GB of RAM, and an OLED display. It also has a triple-camera system and a large 5,000mAh battery.

Xperia 1 IV specs:

Xperia 5 IV specs:

Samsung Galaxy A54

Are you looking for a device that is affordable, smaller, capable, good-looking, and on top of everything is also one of the best phones with NFC? The Samsung Galaxy A54 is definitely up your alley.

You’d be surprised how much a mid-tier device can get you nowadays. The Galaxy A53 comes with the Exynos 1380 under the hood, a 6.4-inch crisp 120Hz Super AMOLED display, and a pretty good camera system. We also appreciate the flagship-level update commitment, as the A54 will get four years of Android updates and five years of security patches.

Best of all, the handset is priced very comfortably at $449 MSRP.

Galaxy A54 specs:

Apple iPhone SE 2022

If you want an iPhone, but the 14 series is just a bit too much, the iPhone SE 2022 is also one of the best phones with NFC. Its $429 MSRP is much more welcoming, and the phone does very well against most of its competition.

For starters, you can’t complain about performance, as it comes with a beefy Apple A15 Bionic processor. This is the same chip you’ll find in all the iPhone 13 series and the non-Pro iPhone 14 handsets. The design might be a bit dated, but you get wireless charging, a sleek look, and a more manageable smaller size. And while it only has one camera, it’s a pretty good one.

iPhone SE 2022 specs:

Google Pixel 6a

If you like Google devices but still find the Pixel 7 series a bit pricey, you may also want to take a look at the Google Pixel 6a. Google’s A-Series smartphones are known for optimizing for the maximum bang per buck. These value handsets keep prices very low, and the Pixel 6a is no exception.

The $449 MSRP is very light on the wallet, at least compared to its competitors. Aside from 5G compatibility, the device comes with an OLED panel that won’t disappoint. There’s also a powerful Google Tensor chipset and 6GB of RAM onboard. More than enough to keep casual users happy. And we can’t forget about the camera system. Like every other modern Pixel, this device can take images that compete with devices that cost more than twice the price.

This is certainly one of the best phones with NFC if you’re on a budget.

Pixel 6a specs:

Are you still not convinced by these options? You can also check out our lists of the best overall Android phones and the best budget devices. Most of these will also come with an NFC chip, but double-check, just in case.