13.56 MHz contactless reads at 2-4 inches with standard antennas. Long-range UHF readers (433 MHz, 900 MHz) read at 5-30 feet and are common in parking, vehicle ingress, and hands-free entry applications. The tradeoff is security — longer-range reads create larger opportunities for relay attacks. Match read range to the use case and confirm reader-credential pairing before mass-issuing credentials.

Multi-format readers (HID multiCLASS SE, ASSA OSDP multi-tech) support 125 kHz, 13.56 MHz, and mobile credentials simultaneously. They cost roughly 30-50% more than single-format readers but eliminate the credential-migration cliff. For organizations issuing mobile credentials alongside cards or transitioning from legacy prox, multi-format is almost always the right choice.

Both are encrypted 13.56 MHz contactless standards used in modern access control. HID iCLASS Seos is HID's proprietary platform — broad reader ecosystem, mobile credential support via HID Mobile Access. Mifare DESFire EV2/EV3 is an open NXP standard used by many independent vendors and transit systems. Choose based on which controller/reader ecosystem you've committed to; performance is comparable.

Physical cards last 5-7 years under normal pocket-and-purse use. Key fobs typically last longer, 7-10 years. Battery-powered active credentials (UHF tags) are limited by battery life, often 3-5 years. Mobile credentials don't have physical wear but require active phone OS support. Build credential replacement into annual budget; lost-card replacement runs $5-25 per card depending on technology.

Modern fingerprint and facial recognition readers achieve very low false-reject rates (under 1% with good enrollment) and false-accept rates well below 1 in 100,000. They're reliable enough for primary entry in most commercial applications, with two important caveats: lighting and angle requirements for facial readers are strict, and a small minority of users have fingerprints that don't enroll reliably. Always pair biometrics with a credential fallback path.