1. Model 1 QR Code (The Ancestor)
Model 1 is the original specification created in 1994 by Denso Wave.
- Appearance:It looks similar to modern codes but lacks the small “alignment pattern” squares inside the grid.
- Capacity:It can store up to 1,167 numerals.
- Status: You will rarely encounter this type today. It struggled with scanning distortion and was replaced because modern cameras needed better reference points to read codes printed on non-flat surfaces.
2. Model 2 QR Code (The Global Standard)
When you use a free online generator or scan a menu, you are using Model 2. It is the enhanced version of Model 1 and is the industry standard worldwide.
- Improvement:It introduced “Alignment Patterns” to fix distortion issues and improved data density.
- Versions:Model 2 isn’t just one size. It has roughly 40 different “Versions” (sizes). Version 1 is a tiny 21×21 grid; Version 40 is a massive 177×177 grid capable of holding huge amounts of data.
- Max Capacity:7,089 numbers or 4,296 alphanumeric characters.
- Use Case:Almost everything—URLs, Payments, Marketing, Inventory.
3. Micro QR Code (The Space Saver)
Standard QR codes require three large “Finder Patterns” (corners). For tiny items like printed circuit boards (PCBs) or surgical instruments, those three squares take up too much room. The Micro QR Code solves this.
- Appearance: It has only one finder pattern in the top-left corner.
- Versions: There are four sizes (M1 to M4). The smallest (M1) is only 11×11 modules, making it microscopic.
- Capacity: It is limited. The largest Micro QR can only hold 35 numbers or 21 alphanumeric characters.
- Use Case: Electronic components, small pharmaceutical vials, and high-precision machinery labeling where millimeters matter.
4. iQR Code (The Shape Shifter)
One of the biggest limitations of standard QR codes is that they must be square. This is a nightmare for marking cylindrical objects (like test tubes, cables, or cans) where a square wraps around the curve and becomes unreadable.
- Innovation:The iQR code can be generated as a rectangle.
- Capacity:It is an absolute powerhouse, holding 80% more data than a standard QR code of the same size. It can manage up to 40,000 characters.
- Use Case:Industrial manufacturing, specifically for labeling cables, pipes, and the spines of magazines or books.
5. SQRC (Secure QR Code)
Visually, an SQRC looks exactly like a standard Model 2 code. However, it functions like a digital safe with two compartments.
- Public Layer:Data that any smartphone can read (e.g., a product serial number).
- Private Layer:Data that is encrypted and invisible to standard scanners. It can only be unlocked by a dedicated scanner equipped with a cryptographic key.
- Use Case:Authentication (spotting fake luxury goods), medical records, company ID badges, and secure event ticketing.
6. Frame QR
This is a “vanity” or “branding” variation. In a standard QR code, if you paste a logo in the middle, you are actually “damaging” the data and relying on Error Correction to fix it. FrameQR creates a dedicated “Canvas Area” inside the code where the data is intentionally routed around the image.
- Benefit:You can insert larger, clearer logos or images without risking scan failures.
- Use Case:Marketing campaigns, brand-heavy packaging, and creative advertisements.
7. rMQR Code (Rectangular Micro QR)
The newest addition to the family (approved by ISO in 2022). The rMQR is a hybrid of the Micro QR and the iQR. It is designed to be extremely narrow and long, like a slit.
- Appearance:Looking like a thin barcode strip rather than a box.
- Capacity:It holds much more data than a Micro QR (up to 361 numbers) but fits in spaces as short as 2mm high.
- Use Case:Test tubes, very thin margins on tickets, and electronic bezels.