HF Legacy 
LEGIC prime
For existing LEGIC access control systems.
Security Proprietary
Memory 256 / 1,024 B
LEGIC advant: Technical Data, Security and Use
LEGIC advant is a 13.56 MHz RFID technology from LEGIC Identsystems for access control, employee ID cards and multi-application cards. The current smart card IC generation works with ISO/IEC 14443 Type A, among others. The ATC4096-MP311 provides 4,096 bytes of memory and supports up to 127 applications. In addition, there are older advant variants with ISO/IEC 15693 and other memory sizes.
LEGIC advant is particularly suitable for systems based on the LEGIC security platform and Master-Token System-Control (MTSC). We recommend LEGIC advant for secure access control and multi-application solutions.
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | LEGIC Identsystems AG |
| Product family | LEGIC advant |
| Current type designations | ATC4096-MP311, ATC4096-MP313; further advant variants available |
| RFID class | HF |
| Frequency | 13.56 MHz |
| RF standard | ISO/IEC 14443 Type A for current ATC4096 variants; older variants partly ISO/IEC 15693 |
| Data rate | Up to 424 kbit/s for ATC4096-MP311/-MP313; up to 26.48 kbit/s for older ISO/IEC 15693 variants |
| Memory | ATC4096-MP311: 4,096 bytes; ATC4096-MP313: 4,096 bytes advant + 3,520 bytes DESFire EV3; legacy variants: 224 or 944 bytes |
| Memory structure | Dynamic segmentation with variable application segment size |
| Max. applications | Up to 127 for ATC4096-MP311; MP313 additionally DESFire applications |
| Authentication / key management | LEGIC Master-Token System-Control (MTSC), application-specific key management |
| Transmission encryption | ATC4096-MP311: 3DES; ATC4096-MP313: 3DES / AES-128 depending on the technology |
| Data storage encryption | AES-128/256, 3DES, DES and LEGIC encryption |
| UID | 7 bytes for ATC4096-MP311; depending on variant |
| Anti-collision | Yes, according to the respective RF standard |
| Read range | ATC4096-MP311: up to 8 cm; ATC4096-MP313: up to 10 cm; depending on reader, antenna and environment |
| Write cycles | At least 500,000 for the ATC4096-MP311 |
| Data retention | At least 10 years for the ATC4096-MP311 |
| Smartphone NFC | Not as a freely readable NFC tag; mobile credentials via dedicated LEGIC infrastructure |
| Product status at LEGIC | Active |
| Typical media | RFID card, key fob, wristband, tag, sticker and other identification media |
| Security rating | High |
| Recommendation | For secure access control and multi-application solutions, especially with LEGIC infrastructure |
For current pure LEGIC advant applications, the ATC4096-MP311 is particularly relevant. It communicates via ISO/IEC 14443 Type A at up to 424 kbit/s, offers 4,096 bytes of memory and supports up to 127 dynamically segmentable applications. LEGIC specifies a range of up to 8 cm for this IC; earlier manufacturer documents stated up to 10 cm. The actual distance depends on the reader, antenna and environment.
The family includes, or included, further variants. The ATC1024-MV110 operates via ISO/IEC 15693 and, according to the current LEGIC overview, offers 944 bytes of memory. The ATC256-MV410, also listed as legacy, provides 224 bytes. The current ATC4096-MP313 combines 4,096 bytes for LEGIC advant with 3,520 bytes for MIFARE DESFire EV3.
Typical Applications
LEGIC positions its smart card ICs for contactless identification and credential applications in which several separate functions can be combined on one medium. Up to 127 applications are possible on current 4 KB advant ICs.
Typical applications are:
- Access control
- Time recording
- Company and employee ID cards
- Closed-loop payment and canteen applications
- Follow-me printing and printer management
- E-ticketing
- Campus and institutional multi-application ID cards
LEGIC names smart cards, key fobs, tags, stickers, wristbands and watches as possible passive identification media. For classic company ID cards, the RFID card is the obvious choice; for access control applications, key fobs or wristbands can also be used.
Security
Security level: High
LEGIC advant is designed for applications with higher security requirements. The specific chip variant is important here: with the current ATC4096-MP311, data transmission is protected with 3DES. For the encryption of stored data, LEGIC supports AES with 128 or 256 bits, 3DES, DES and LEGIC encryption. The hardware platform of the MP311 is certified to Common Criteria EAL4+.
Key and authorization management takes place within the LEGIC platform via Master-Token System-Control. Applications can be managed separately and given their own authorizations. This is particularly relevant for ID cards on which, for example, access control, time recording and payment applications are operated in parallel.
Not every LEGIC advant IC encrypts all communication with AES-128. For the ATC4096-MP311, LEGIC explicitly specifies 3DES for data transmission.
For a new system, the cryptographic method of the transponder is not the only decisive factor. Readers, key management, personalization and backend must fit the LEGIC architecture. If no LEGIC infrastructure is specified, it should therefore also be checked whether another current smart card technology meets the requirements.
Advantages and Disadvantages of LEGIC advant
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Current cryptographic methods such as AES and 3DES available | Readers and infrastructure must explicitly support LEGIC advant |
| Up to 127 separate applications on current 4 KB ICs | Technical properties differ significantly between the advant variants |
| Dynamically segmentable memory for multi-application use | Physical cards cannot be freely used by smartphone like simple NFC tags |
| Key and authorization management via LEGIC MTSC | Higher price than simple HF and NFC chips |
| Current variants with certified hardware platform available | In existing systems, chip variant, readers and key structure must be precisely matched |
Alternatives to LEGIC advant
Depending on the existing infrastructure, security requirements and planned smartphone use, other chip types may be better suited.
HF / NFC Recommendation 
MIFARE DESFire EV3
For secure company ID cards and multi-application cards.
Security AES-128
Memory 2 / 4 / 8 / 16 KB
HF / NFC Recommendation 
NTAG 213 / 215 / 216
For NFC marketing, business cards and smartphone applications.
Security PWD
Memory 144–888 B
Frequently Asked Questions about LEGIC advant
Which LEGIC advant chips are available?
The product family comprises several generations and variants. LEGIC currently lists, among others, the ATC4096-MP311 with 4,096 bytes for LEGIC advant and the ATC4096-MP313, which combines LEGIC advant and MIFARE DESFire EV3 on one IC. As legacy products, LEGIC lists ATC256-MV410 and ATC1024-MV110, among others. These operate via ISO/IEC 15693 and, according to the current manufacturer overview, offer 224 and 944 bytes of memory respectively. The exact type designation is therefore more important for checking compatibility than the mere specification “LEGIC advant”.
How much memory does LEGIC advant have?
That depends on the specific transponder IC. The current ATC4096-MP311 has 4,096 bytes of memory for LEGIC advant. The dual-technology chip ATC4096-MP313 also offers 4,096 bytes for advant plus an additional 3,520 bytes for MIFARE DESFire EV3. LEGIC currently specifies the older ATC1024-MV110 and ATC256-MV410 with 944 and 224 bytes respectively. A blanket memory specification for the entire LEGIC advant family is therefore technically inaccurate.
What is the difference between ATC4096-MP311 and ATC4096-MP313?
Both support LEGIC advant and ISO/IEC 14443 Type A. The ATC4096-MP311 provides 4,096 bytes for advant and uses 3DES for transmission encryption. The MP313 combines 4,096 bytes of LEGIC advant memory with 3,520 bytes for MIFARE DESFire EV3. It supports 3DES or AES-128 for data transmission and is certified to Common Criteria EAL5+; the MP311 is certified to EAL4+. The MP313 is therefore particularly interesting for projects in which both technologies are needed on one medium.
How secure is LEGIC advant?
LEGIC advant supports current cryptographic methods, although the feature set depends on the chip variant. The ATC4096-MP311 uses 3DES for encrypted data transmission and supports AES-128/256 and 3DES, among others, for stored data. Its hardware platform is certified to Common Criteria EAL4+. Application authorizations are managed via LEGIC MTSC. For the security of a real access control system, the reader configuration, key management, personalization and backend are also relevant.
Which readers support LEGIC advant?
A reader must explicitly support LEGIC advant. The radio frequency of 13.56 MHz or support for ISO/IEC 14443 A alone is not sufficient, as LEGIC application and key management must also be taken into account. Current LEGIC security modules of the 4000 and 6000 series support advant alongside other smart card technologies. For existing access control systems, the reader model, firmware, security module and existing key structure should be checked before ordering new media.
Can a LEGIC advant card be read with a smartphone?
A physical LEGIC advant card should not be equated with a freely readable NFC tag. Although current variants operate at 13.56 MHz and partly with ISO/IEC 14443 A, applications and data are cryptographically protected and integrated into the LEGIC security architecture. LEGIC supports smartphones via its own mobile credential solutions such as LEGIC Connect or LEGIC neon and corresponding readers. If a smartphone is to replace the physical ID card, the entire access control system must therefore support mobile credentials.
What is the difference between LEGIC advant and LEGIC prime?
LEGIC prime is the older LEGIC technology and today is mainly relevant for existing LEGIC access control systems. LEGIC advant offers a more modern security architecture, supports stronger cryptographic methods and is designed for current access control and multi-application solutions. Despite the shared LEGIC infrastructure, the technologies should not be regarded as freely interchangeable. For migrations, there are CTC transponders, among others, that can combine advant and prime on one medium.
What is the read range of LEGIC advant?
The read range depends heavily on the variant. For the current ATC4096-MP311 with ISO/IEC 14443 A, LEGIC specifies up to 8 cm. For the ATC4096-MP313, up to 10 cm is stated. Older ISO/IEC 15693 variants are designed for greater distances; LEGIC currently lists ATC256-MV410 and ATC1024-MV110 with up to 20 cm. Earlier documents even stated up to 70 cm for the ATC1024-MV110 under certain conditions. Read ranges should therefore always be assessed for the specific combination of IC, antenna and reader.
When does LEGIC advant make sense?
LEGIC advant makes particular sense if a LEGIC infrastructure already exists or a new system is specifically built on the LEGIC security platform. Typical cases are company ID cards, access control, time recording and cards on which several separate applications are to be combined. For an existing LEGIC prime system, on the other hand, a migration solution may be relevant first. If no LEGIC infrastructure is required, readers, key management, desired applications and alternative smart card technologies should be compared before making a decision.
Technical sources
Data as of: September 2026
The technical information is based on the current LEGIC product page “LEGIC Smartcard ICs” and the manufacturer flyer “ATC-MP311, ATC-MP313 and CTC4096-MP/MM410”, edition fly_25.07.061.en_v1. For technical properties of older advant variants, the LEGIC flyer on ATC1024-MV110 and ATC4096-MP311 was also used. Information on MTSC and smartphone integration is based on the official LEGIC documentation on Master-Token System-Control and the current LEGIC Security Modules.
Trademark notice
LEGIC, LEGIC advant and the LEGIC product names mentioned are trademarks or product names of LEGIC Identsystems AG.