Aspects disclosed herein relate to improving acquisition for NFC load modulation. In one example, a communications device is equipped to monitor at least a complex component of load modulation of a carrier signal, detect, using a NFC technology type specific peak detection scheme, a peak associated with at least the complex component, and determine a presence of a packet beginning pattern based on the detected peak. In an aspect, the packet beginning pattern may be associated with a reception of a packet from a target NFC device.