Which Android smartphone was the first to support NFC?

The Nexus S was the first Android smartphone to support NFC in both hardware and software.

Google and Samsung developed the Nexus S for release in 2010, adding a near-field communication chip to the phone. It supported NFC at the hardware level and included Android software capable of using the technology, making it the first Android device recognized for full NFC support. The U.S. version became available on December 16, 2010.

NFC allows devices to exchange small amounts of data over very short distances. On the Nexus S, it enabled reading NFC tags and laid groundwork for later uses such as contactless payments, transit passes, pairing accessories, and sharing information between nearby devices.

The Nexus S is often confused with the Samsung Galaxy S because the two phones shared much of their hardware design. The key distinction is that the Nexus S added NFC and launched with Android 2.3 Gingerbread. It was also the first smartphone to run Gingerbread and was followed by the Galaxy Nexus.