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Chameleon, Proxmark3

Chameleon Ultra vs Proxmark3

Posted on by Wilson
04
Mar

When it comes to RFID tools, the Chameleon Ultra and Proxmark3 are two of the most popular devices on the market. Both have unique strengths and cater to different use cases. This article provides a detailed comparison of their features, including design, hardware, frequency support, protocol compatibility, and emulation capabilities, to help you decide which tool is best for your RFID needs.

Design and Portability

FeatureChameleon UltraProxmark3 RDV4
Form FactorCompact, Coin (25x40x5mm)Credit-card-sized, bulkier build
PortabilityHighly portable, ideal for on-the-go useLess portable, requires USB connectivity
User InterfaceMinimalist (LED indicators, button controls)Physical buttons, four LEDs, USB interface
Power SourceRechargeable battery or USB-CNo built-in battery

Hardware Specifications

FeatureChameleon UltraProxmark3 RDV4.01
ProcessorARM Cortex-M4 (NRF52840)ARM CPU + Xilinx Spartan-II FPGA
Memory1MB Flash, 256KB RAM512KB Flash, 64KB RAM
RF CircuitsSingle integrated RF circuit (HF-focused)Dual independent RF circuits (LF + HF)
ConnectivityUSB-C
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)		Micro-USB
Chameleon Ultra and Proxmark3 Socket

Supported Frequencies

FrequencyChameleon UltraProxmark3 RDV4.01
Low Frequency (LF)✔ 125kHz (EM4100)✔ 125kHz, 134kHz (e.g., EM410x, HID Prox)
High Frequency (HF)✔ 13.56MHz (ISO14443A, MIFARE, NFC)✔ 13.56MHz (ISO14443A/B, ISO15693, MIFARE, ICLASS)
Ultra-High (UHF)❌ Not supported❌ Not supported

Read/Write Protocol Support

ProtocolChameleon UltraProxmark3 RDV4.01
LF Protocols✔ EM4100✔ EM410x, HID Prox, Indala, T55xx
HF Protocols✔ ISO14443A, MIFARE Classic, MIFARE Ultralight✔ ISO14443A/B, ISO15693, MIFARE, ICLASS, LEGIC
Specialized❌✔ EMV, DESFire, FeliCa (via plugins)

Emulation Capabilities

EmulationChameleon UltraProxmark3 RDV4.01
LF Tags✔ EM4100✔ EM410x, HID, T55xx
HF Tags✔ MIFARE Classic, MIFARE Ultralight✔ MIFARE, ISO14443A/B, ICLASS, LEGIC
Storage✔ 8 HF cards + 8 LF cards❌ Limited standalone storage
Ease of Use✔ Plug-and-play simplicity❌ Requires firmware updates, less user-friendly

Price Comparison

DevicePrice
Chameleon Ultra$120
Proxmark3 RDV4.01$300

Use Cases

  • Chameleon Ultra: Best for NFC penetration testing, contactless payment analysis, and portable tag emulation. Its ability to store and emulate multiple cards (MIFARE Classic, MIFARE Ultralight, and EM4100) makes it ideal for quick, on-the-go operations.
  • Proxmark3: Ideal for RFID research, legacy system analysis, and advanced attacks (e.g., nested authentication, PRNG exploits). Its support for a wide range of LF and HF protocols, including 134kHz and ISO15693, makes it a versatile tool for in-depth analysis.
MTools BLE with ChameleonUltra

Final Verdict

  • Choose Chameleon Ultra if you prioritize portability, ease of use, standalone emulation, and affordability.
  • Choose Proxmark3 if you need a versatile tool for RFID research, sniffing NFC communication, and analyzing a wide range of protocols, including 134kHz LF and ISO15693 HF.
Wilson

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