NFC, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Beyond: A Guide to Short-Range Wireless

Our world is connected by invisible threads of technology. Short-range wireless protocols are the magic that lets our devices talk to each other without cables. But how do they differ? Let's compare the most common ones. [1, 5]

NFC (Near Field Communication)

NFC is the master of the simple, secure tap. Its extremely short range is a feature, not a bug, preventing accidental interactions. [3] It's perfect for exchanging small bits of data, like a URL or contact card from your NFC business card.

• Range: < 10 cm
• Speed: Low (~424 Kbps) [8]
• Power: Very Low (passive tags need no battery)
• Best For: Contactless payments, access keys, digital business cards.

Bluetooth & BLE

Bluetooth is the king of wireless peripherals. It excels at creating a stable, short-range connection between a host (like your phone) and a device (like headphones or a speaker). Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is a variant designed for IoT devices that need to sip power over long periods. [9, 16]

• Range: ~10-100 m [2]
• Speed: Moderate (~2 Mbps) [8]
• Power: Low (Very low for BLE)
• Best For: Wireless audio, keyboards, mice, fitness trackers.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is all about speed and data. It's designed to replace a wired ethernet connection, providing high-bandwidth internet access to multiple devices in a local area. This high performance comes at the cost of higher power consumption. [15]

• Range: ~100 m [12]
• Speed: Very High (Gbps) [8]
• Power: High
• Best For: Internet browsing, streaming video, local networking.

Zigbee & Z-Wave

These two are the workhorses of the smart home. They are low-power, low-data-rate protocols designed to create a robust mesh networks, where devices can relay signals to each other, extending the network's range and reliability. [2, 9]

• Range: ~100 m (extendable with mesh) [2]
• Speed: Low (~250 Kbps) [8]
• Power: Very Low
• Best For: Smart lights, sensors, thermostats, and home automation.

UWB (Ultra-Wideband)

UWB is a rising star that offers highly precise location tracking. By measuring the 'time of flight' of radio signals, it can pinpoint a device's location with centimeter-level accuracy. This makes it more secure for applications like digital car keys. [10, 14]

• Range: ~10 m [8]
• Speed: Very High (Gbps) [8]
• Power: Low
• Best For: Secure digital keys, indoor navigation, finding tagged items.

Conclusion

Each technology has a distinct role. You wouldn't use Wi-Fi for a payment, and you wouldn't use NFC to stream a movie. For the instant, secure, and battery-free exchange of information that defines a modern business card, NFC remains the undisputed champion.