Both NFC chips and smartcards are electronic authentication devices that enable wireless communication between devices, but differ in form factor, range, and application areas.
NFC chips are small silicon devices or integrated circuits (ICs) that can be used in different ways depending on the target application. When used in conjunction with a suitable antenna, an NFC chip enables wireless communication between two devices over short distances. NFC is typically used for proximity-based applications such as contactless payments, data transfer between devices in close proximity, and access control systems.
Smartcards, on the other hand, are physical electronic authentication devices used to control access to a resource. They are typically a plastic card the size of a credit card with an integrated chip that enables personal identification, authentication, data storage, and application processing.
In summary, NFC chips are mainly used to transmit data over short distances, while smartcards are mainly used to transmit authentication data such as certificates or passwords.