Thanks all!
So I presume for a novice user like myself, the app support of the should outweigh any potential missed features of the xNT.
For context, I want to use an implant for access to my vehicle and some custom hidden storage safes and so these will likely be custom arduino projects anyway. The main reason for wanting to wait for the Apex is for the security features, as my understanding is it would be possible to read the UID from the xNT and use this to create a cloned card (more likely to smash the window but hey ho).