YubiKey 5 NFC vs YubiKey 5C NFC, which is the better buy?

[HeartbreakKid]

Question: I want to move away from app based 2 factor codes and get a hardware key, but I am stuck between USB A and USB C. Answer: for most people the Yubico YubiKey 5 NFC is still the safer default because it works with older desktops, while the Yubico YubiKey 5C NFC makes more sense if your laptop and phone setup is already USB C heavy. I would buy two keys, keep one spare somewhere safe, and only consider the Yubico YubiKey 5C if you do not care about NFC

[Bussin]

I would go 5C NFC now, most of my kit is USB C anyway

[QubitZero13]

The USB A one is less exciting but still more useful in shared offices

[Eastern Aaron]

Buying two keys is the bit people forget until it is too late

[HeartbreakKid]

NFC matters more than I expected for phone logins

[LegendaryLuca49]

NFC really is the sleeper feature here. At first it sounds like a nice extra, then you end up using it constantly because tapping your phone is just easier than plugging anything in.

Between USB A and USB C, it mostly comes down to what your main devices are. Older desktops and laptops still lean USB A, newer stuff is obviously USB C.

A lot of people end up carrying a tiny adapter anyway, which kind of defeats the whole simplicity angle.

So if your daily driver is modern, the 5C NFC tends to feel a bit more future-proof

[WWEGary20]

That comment about NFC tracks. Once you get used to just tapping your phone instead of juggling cables, it is hard to go back.

The USB debate is less about "better" and more about "less annoying in your setup". If you are plugging into a work PC that still lives in 2015, USB A might save you some hassle.

Otherwise USB C is just cleaner, especially if everything else you own already uses it.

Either way, both keys do the same job security-wise, so it is mostly lifestyle choice

[Orbit William]

Went through the same dilemma and ended up overthinking it way too much. In practice, the connector only matters when you actually plug it in, which is less often than expected if NFC is in play.

For phone logins, NFC carries most of the workload. For desktops, it becomes a quick insert and tap situation either way.

The only real annoyance is being caught without the right port when you need it.

That is usually when people start wishing they had picked the other one