Ledger is by far the most known manufacturer of crypto hardware wallets. Its most known models are Ledger Nano S and Nano X but they have launched another one (Nano S Plus) recently.
Ledger wallets keep getting better, and the company adds new features all the time. All Ledger wallets can store NFTs, you can buy and swap coins directly from their Ledger Live app, staking of certain coins is also enabled directly from the app, access to DeFi directly through Ledger Live etc.
So which Ledger model is the best for you?
Let’s lay out some facts about each of them to figure out which is the best one for you.
What are the top hardware wallet models made by Ledger?
Ledger Nano X
Your private keys are safest when kept in an offline, ‘cold storage’, not connected to the internet device like the Ledger Nano X hardware wallet.
Ledger Nano X at first glance is a USB stick with a screen on the front; it looks like a rotating USB stick with a small screen. The Ledger Wallet app allows you to create your own unique PIN code that can be used as an extra layer of protection for your coins. You can use this to make sure nobody else has access to them but you.
We strongly recommend you get your Nano X from Ledger directly. Any other source can be vulnerable. Although there appears to be a legitimate Ledger shop selling the Nano X on Amazon, we still strongly advise ordering via Ledger. Since Amazon offers free shipping, there is little to gain from making a purchase from them, and a significant amount of risk is involved.
Your Ledger Nano X will guide you through downloading the Ledger Live companion app when it first arrives. I tested it on Linux, but versions are available for almost any OS. When you connect the Nano X after installing the app, the app will ask you questions to ensure your device wasn’t tampered with in transit. Stop and get in touch with Ledger if something appears odd.
Biggest difference over other Ledger models is that Nano X has a much bigger memory of 1.8 MB and can store 100 cryptos simultaneously. It can also connect to your computer or mobile phone via bluetooth.
It costs $219, much more than Ledger Nano S which comes at only $59 and Nano S Plus which costs $79.
Ledger Nano S
High-level security is provided by the Ledger Nano S hardware cryptocurrency wallet, thanks to a secure chip and a custom operating system. It costs only $59 and due to its small memory of only 160kB, it can support only 3 apps (wallets) concurrently (you can create many more wallets for over 1500 tokens and coins, but you will have to delete everything but 5 wallets at a time. This deletion won’t lead to loss of your funds, it just means you will have to re-import the seed phrases for that wallet again on Ledger when you want to use it).
On the Ledger Nano S, investors can store more than 1,100 coins and tokens, with 23 supported directly by Ledger and the remainder supported by third-party applications that can be separately installed and connected with Ledger.
The Ledger Nano S gadget and a micro USB-B connector are both included in the box. Additionally, packages may include a neck strap and pages on which to record your 24-word recovery phrase. Ledger provides a box of three devices that can save you up to 21%.
Ledger Nano S has no bluetooth support and has to be cable-connected to your laptop.
Ledger Nano S Plus
The most recent hardware wallet from Ledger is the Nano S Plus.
A CC EAL5+-certified chip, 1.5MB of storage, and support for up to 100 crypto applications are all included in the Ledger Nano S Plus. If the latter sounds like nonsense to you, it just means that the Nano S Plus is secure according to Common Criteria.
Modern Secure Element chips, which offer top-notch security measures to safeguard sensitive data, are used in Ledger hardware wallets. Therefore, the CC EAL5+ certification guarantees that the chip in the Nano S Plus complies with a particular security standard.
The new hardware wallet is available for purchase on Ledger’s official website. Although you can buy the Nano S Plus on Amazon, Ledger advises doing so since you’ll get a genuine, untainted hardware wallet.
Ledger Blue (deprecated model)
The Ledger Blue is a high-end hardware wallet introduced in November 2016 and intended to make storing cryptocurrencies secure and convenient.
The Ledger Blue, once hailed as the most cutting-edge hardware security equipment available, offers enterprise-grade security, a sizable LED display, and durable construction made to survive continuous use.
Due to its screen size, this is one of the largest bitcoin hardware wallets available, measuring 97mm x 68mm x 10mm. The device was strong enough to carry in a backpack or pocket without fearing that it will break, and its weight of 90g gives it a comforting heft.
The Ledger Blue included just a single button and a micro USB connector as it only distinguishes outward characteristics outside of its sizable screen. The Ledger Blue isn’t the most portable hardware wallet—roughly, it’s double the size of the KeepKey wallet—but it is far less fussy than some of the smaller wallets.
Ledger stopped producing this wallet once they launched their flagship model Nano X.
Main differences between Nano X vs. Nano S vs. Nano S Plus
The Ledger Nano S and Ledger Nano X are secure hardware wallets that store cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and over 1500 of other tokens and coins.
All Ledger products support the Ledger Live mobile wallet, which allows users to view account balance information, send/receive funds, and perform transactions. However, the Nano S requires a computer running Windows, Linux, or macOS, while the Nano X works with computers running Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android.
The Ledger Nano S is a small hardware wallet that lets you store maximum 3 wallet apps at the same time due to its small memory size.
The Nano S costs $59.00 and comes with a USB Type B connector. This makes it compatible with most computers running Windows 10, macOS, and Linux operating systems. However, if you’re looking to transfer funds to another device, you’ll need an adapter because the Nano S doesn’t come with a standard micro USB port.
In comparison, the Ledger Nano X is a larger hardware wallet that stores many different cryptocurrencies. It’s similar to the Nano S, except it comes with a USB Type C connector instead of USB B. With the Nano X, you can add up to 100 cryptocurrency wallets at the same time and connect it to desktop or mobile device via Bluetooth technology. It costs $219.00 and ships with a USB-C to Lightning Cable.
The Nano X features a battery that can last for around 8 hours, compared to the Nano S Plus’s lack of a battery. The Nano X model features Bluetooth. However, the Nano S Plus model does not.
Nano S Plus is significantly less expensive than Nano X since it’s priced at $79. However, it’s still more expensive than Nano S. It has a bigger screen and more memory (can store 100 wallets at the same time, just like Nano X) but it has no bluetooth and can be connected to a device only via cable.
Other popular crypto hardware wallets include Trezor T, Safepal S1, BitBox 02, Ellipal Titan, NGRAVE KeepKey, and Secux.
FAQs
Yes, Ledger is a good wallet. In conjunction with the Ledger Live app, the Ledger hardware wallet is the ideal method for managing, storing, and protecting your cryptocurrency assets. Because of their industry-leading security features, your cryptocurrency and NFTs are always secure with Ledger hardware wallets.
The Ledger Nano X is the best for storing more than three currencies and having access to your money from any device with an Internet connection.
Ledger, a maker of bitcoin hardware wallets, experienced a server hack in July 2020. One million email addresses were among the approximately 272,000 clients whose data was compromised. According to the company, personal data, including first and last names, postal addresses, and other information, was compromised. The wallet itself was never hacked.
Ledger is compatible with over 50 wallets, including MetaMask.
Ledger Nano S or Nano S Plus are the safest Ledger wallets since they don’t use bluetooth (potential vector attack on Nano X that does use it). Nano S has a very small memory size which is a feature (no place for malware or virus to be installed on it).
In theory, Ledger wallets can last forever. In praxis, a technological device can always malfunction at some point in time. However, that is not a problem since you only need to keep your seed words that Ledger generated for you on the first initialization. With these words, you can access your funds on a new Ledger or any other kind of crypto wallet.
Ledger is much safe than Coinbase since it grants you the rights to control your own coins, it stores private keys within the device and never exposes them to the internet. Coinbase on the other hand is a platform whose servers are always connected to the internet, making them a potential target for hackers.
If you lose your Ledger, all of the encrypted information (your seed phrases) can be recovered by simply entering your 24 words into a new hardware wallet.
Yes, Ledger wallets are still the safest option for storing your cryptos.
No, it is nearly impossible for your Bitcoin to be stolen from Ledger if you do proper maintainence of your private keys and seed phrases.
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