ID-SL15 UHF RFID Sled Reader – 15m Range Bluetooth Handheld for Phones & Tablets

The ID-SL15 is IDentium's in-house UHF RFID sled reader — an all-day, clip-on handheld that turns any smartphone or tablet into a 15-metre RFID scanner. Built on the ID_N710 UHF reader IC and paired with a 3 dBi circularly-polarised antenna on a 180° rotating hinge, it delivers B-class read performance without the cost or lock-in of a dedicated handheld terminal. Made in India · WPC-ETA · BIS Registered · ISO 9001:2015.

At a glance: 15 m read range · 200+ tags/second · 33 dBm RF output · 6,500 mAh all-day battery · Bluetooth 5.2 · IP54 sealing.

Why a Sled?

A dedicated handheld locks you into one vendor's screen, OS and refresh cycle. A sled doesn't. The phone your team already carries becomes the terminal — your own app, your own MDM, your own upgrade path — and the ID-SL15 supplies only the RFID physics. When the phone is replaced, the reader stays.

Fits Any Phone or Tablet

• Clips on like a case; pairs over Bluetooth 5.2 to Android and iOS
• Fits phones 68–88 mm wide and tablets 110–130 mm wide (4–8 inch)
• Spring-loaded back clip — pick phone clip or tablet clip at order
• Wired options: USB Type-C (convertible to RS232 / RS485)

RFID Performance (built on ID_N710)

• Air protocols: EPCglobal Class 1 Gen 2 · ISO 18000-6C · ISO 18000-6B
• Frequency (set at order): 865–868 MHz (India / EU) · 902–928 MHz (US / FCC) · 920–925 MHz (China / SE Asia)
• RF output: 0 to 33 dBm, software adjustable (±1 dB accuracy, ±0.2 dB flatness)
• Receive sensitivity: better than −85 dBm
• Antenna: 3 dBi circularly polarised, internal, 180° rotatable hinge (0° / 90° / 180°)
• Read range: up to 16 m; 15 m stable outdoors on B-class power tags
• Read rate: more than 200 tags per second

180° Rotating Antenna

The antenna wing folds flat against the phone for transport and rotates through 180° in use, so the operator can aim the beam at a shelf, a pallet face or the floor without changing grip or posture.

Optional 1D / 2D Scan Engine

An optional imager sits alongside the UHF antenna for sites that still run barcodes. It reads both 1D and 2D symbologies from a 640×480 CMOS sensor with white illumination and a 625 nm red aiming dot, and tolerates full 360° rotation with ±55° tilt and skew. A 1 W flashlight is built in for dark aisles and plant rooms.

• 2D symbologies: PDF417 · QR Code · DataMatrix
• 1D symbologies: Code 128 · EAN-13 · EAN-8 · Code 39 · UPC-A · UPC-E · Codabar · ITF · Code 93
• Resolution: ≥ 5 mil · Depth of field: EAN-13 at 13 mil, 45–269 mm

Power & Endurance

A single 6,500 mAh 3.8 V cell with over-charge, over-discharge and short-circuit protection powers the reader — and can top up the host phone through the Type-C port.

• UHF RFID reading: 2.6–3.4 h continuous · 1D/2D scanning: 24 h
• Standby (Bluetooth only): 346 h · Powered off (shipping): 160,000 h
• Charging: Type-C, 5.0 ± 0.25 V — full charge in under 5 hours
• Output to host phone: 5.0 ± 0.25 V
• Charge temperature: 10 to 45 °C

Mechanical & Environmental

• Dimensions: 159 × 79 × 18–44 mm (body 23.5 mm, antenna 40.5 mm, clip 13.5 mm)
• Housing: Flame-retardant ABS + PC, silicone, acrylic and aluminium alloy
• Interfaces: Bluetooth 5.2; USB Type-C (convertible to RS232 / RS485)
• Indicators: 5-LED battery gauge, 4-LED function bank, buzzer
• Controls: Four physical buttons
• Sealing: IP54
• Operating temperature: −25 to +60 °C · Storage: −40 to +70 °C
• Humidity: 5% to 95% RH, non-condensing

Software & Integration

Ships with an Android and iOS SDK plus a ready-to-run demo app, so an in-house team can add long-range RFID to an existing app without touching reader firmware. IDentium can also pre-integrate the reader with our platforms, shortening a deployment from months to weeks.

• SDK — Android and iOS libraries; inventory, single-tag read, write, lock and kill; power and session control
• Demo app — ready-to-run for bench evaluation and site trials
• ReaderSense — IDentium reader-management platform: device health, configuration, event routing
• Asset Management — IDentium platform: templates, locations, movements, audits, reports
• Data out — HTTP POST, WebSocket or direct database write

Typical Applications

• Utility & meter audits — verify meters, transformers and poles on the phone the lineman already carries
• Warehouse cycle counting — count a rack face from the aisle at 10–15 m instead of touching every carton
• Fixed-asset verification — annual physical verification across offices and plants, with no fleet of dedicated handhelds to maintain
• Retail stock-take — fast floor and back-room counts; staff use their own store phones
• Logistics gate-in / gate-out — read pallet and case tags at the dock door without a fixed portal
• Field service & maintenance — identify equipment, pull its history and log the job from one device

Ordering Variants

• ID-SL15-IN — India / EU band, 865–868 MHz
• ID-SL15-US — FCC band, 902–928 MHz
• ID-SL15-CN — China / SE Asia band, 920–925 MHz
• ID-SL15-xx-2D — any band, with the 1D / 2D scan engine fitted

In the Box

• ID-SL15 sled reader
• Phone clip or tablet clip (specify at order)
• 5 V 2 A charger
• USB Type-C cable
• User manual
• SDK and demo app for Android and iOS supplied on request

Specifications are subject to change without notice. Read range figures are measured under IDentium's test conditions and vary with tag type, mounting surface, orientation and RF environment. Regulatory approvals apply to the band variant supplied.

Frequently asked questions

How far does the ID-SL15 sled reader read UHF tags?

The ID-SL15 reads up to 15 m and captures more than 200 tags per second. It uses 33 dBm RF output with a 3 dBi circularly polarised antenna mounted on a 180 degree rotating hinge, so the beam can be aimed at racking above or stock below without twisting your wrist.

Does the sled work with my existing phone or tablet?

Yes, the ID-SL15 clips onto a smartphone or tablet and connects over Bluetooth 5.2, turning the device your team already carries into a UHF RFID scanner. Because the terminal is your own phone, you are not locked into one vendor screen, operating system or hardware refresh cycle.

Is the ID-SL15 approved for use in India?

Yes, the ID-SL15 is made in India, is WPC-ETA approved and BIS registered, and is built under an ISO 9001:2015 quality system. India uses the 865 to 867 MHz UHF band, which is licence-free within the notified limits, so the reader can be deployed without applying for a separate radio licence.

How long does the battery last and how rugged is it?

The ID-SL15 carries a 6,500 mAh battery for all-day scanning and is sealed to IP54, so dust and splashes on a warehouse floor or an open yard are not a problem. It is built as a clip-on handheld for full shifts of continuous stock counting and asset verification.

Related guides & resources

• Browse all RFID Handheld Readers
• Read: handheld reader buyer guide
• Read: how to choose the right RFID reader
• BIS certified RFID readers: BIS certified RFID readers