Ledger Nano X vs. S Plus — What's the Best Crypto Hardware Wallet for You?
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The Ledger Nano X and Ledger Nano S Plus are among the most popular cryptocurrency wallets today, and for good reason. These devices provide a highly secure way of storing cryptocurrency, and support a truly impressive range of different crypto assets. If you hold a significant amount of value in cryptocurrency, getting a hardware wallet is almost a no-brainer.
In this article, we’ll compare the Ledger Nano X vs. S Plus to help you decide which hardware wallet is the right choice for you. We’ll compare the devices in terms of security, cost, connectivity and other characteristics which play an important role in choosing a hardware wallet. Perhaps most importantly, we’ll focus on whether the Ledger Nano X is worth its higher price tag compared to the Ledger Nano S Plus.
Ledger Nano X vs. S Plus — Side-by-side comparison
The Ledger Nano X and S Plus are similar in many ways, but there’s also some differences between the two that can make a big difference to certain users. Let’s quickly see how these two hardware wallets stack up against each other with a side-by-side comparison.
| Ledger Nano X | Ledger Nano S Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149 | $79 |
| Security |
|
|
| Connectivity |
|
USB |
| Supported cryptocurrencies | More than 500 coins (via Ledger Live, more coins are supported when using third-party wallets) |
More than 500 coins (via Ledger Live, more coins are supported when using third-party wallets) |
| Ledger Live mobile app |
|
Android |
| Dimensions | 72mm / 18.6mm / 11.7mm | 62.3mm / 17.4mm / 8.2mm |
Is the Ledger Nano X worth it?
Due to the Ledger Nano X’s higher price point, many crypto investors who are in the market for a hardware wallet are wondering whether the Nano X is worth the money. The Ledger Nano X is worth it if the following describes you.
✅ You’re planning to use your hardware wallet primarily with your iOS mobile device
✅ You value the convenience of not requiring a cable when using your hardware wallet with your mobile device
Who should choose the Ledger Nano S Plus?
The Ledger Nano S Plus is likely the better pick for the majority of crypto users and investors. If the following describes you, the higher price of the Nano X is probably not worth it, as the Nano S Plus will do the job just fine.
✅ You don’t plan to use your hardware wallet with an iOS mobile device
✅ You’re planning to use your hardware wallet primarily with your personal computer
✅ You’re looking to improve the security of your crypto without spending too much
Price point
When comparing the Ledger Nano X vs. Nano S Plus, it quickly becomes apparent that the two devices are identical in many aspects. There’s only two major differences:
- The Nano X supports Bluetooth, while the Nano S Plus doesn’t
- The Nano X can be used with the Ledger Live software on iOS and Android, while the Nano S Plus only supports the Android version of Ledger Live.
The Nano X is selling at $149, while the Nano S Plus is much more affordable thanks to its $79 price point. Is the Nano X worth the higher price? That depends on the value you put on Bluetooth connectivity and the ability to use Ledger Live on an iOS mobile device.
Occasionally, Ledger has sales during which you can buy a hardware wallet from them for a lower price.
Basic features
In terms of basic functionality, both the Ledger Nano X and Nano S Plus do practically the same job. Both devices provide a highly secure way of storing the private keys that are required to access your cryptocurrency.
Ledger’s hardware wallets allow you to confirm your cryptocurrency transactions without disclosing your private keys to your computer or mobile device. The wallets simply sign transactions, but keep sensitive information isolated from potentially compromised devices.
If you are currently storing your private keys on a wallet installed on a personal computer or mobile phone, both the Ledger Nano X and Nano S Plus will drastically improve the security of your crypto.
Both devices can be used with the Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. When it comes to mobile devices, however, the Ledger Nano S Plus is limited to Android while the Ledger Nano X can be used with both Android and iOS devices.
When using both the Ledger Nano X and Nano S Plus, the workflow will be similar. You will use a software wallet installed on your computer or your mobile wallet app to enter transaction details. Then, you will connect your hardware wallet to your device to confirm the transaction. The difference here is that the Nano X can connect to your mobile device via Bluetooth, while the Nano S Plus can only be connected to other devices via cable.
Security features and certifications
The Ledger Nano X and Nano S Plus are practically the same in terms of security. The heart of both devices is the Secure Element, which is a chip that is specifically designed to generate and store sensitive data while keeping it safe from multiple attack vectors.
The Secure Element in Legder’s hardware wallets is resistant to side-channel attacks, fault attacks, software attacks and other types of exploits that could be used to steal your private keys. The Secure Element chips used in Ledger devices have an EAL 5+ (Evaluation Assurance Level) certification. This is the highest level of EAL certification available in terms of security against penetration tests.
Ledger’s hardware wallets have a custom operating system called BOLOS, which is specifically engineered to provide a high level of security.
When you’re setting up either the Nano X or Nano S Plus, the device will generate a recovery phrase which consists of an ordered list of 24 words. This phrase provides the same level of access to your cryptocurrency as your private keys, so it’s extremely important that you keep it safe and never disclose it to anyone else.
In the event you lose your Ledger wallet or it gets stolen, you can use your recovery phrase to access your crypto with another wallet. It’s important to understand that your cryptocurrency is not tied to your specific hardware wallet device. The device simply stores the private keys that are used to access your cryptocurrency. This means that you can access your crypto even if you lose your hardware wallet, provided that you’ve backed up your recovery phrase.
Both devices require you to set up a PIN code that you will have to enter before you can confirm a transaction. In the event that your hardware wallet is stolen, this should be enough of an obstacle to the thief that you’ll have time to restore your wallet with your recovery phrase and move your funds to another wallet.
Connectivity with mobile devices
Connectivity with mobile devices is an area where the Ledger Nano X might justify its higher price to some users. The Nano X can connect with your mobile devices via Bluetooth, while the Nano S Plus can only be connected with a cable.
If you have an Nano S Plus and you would like to use it with your mobile device, Ledger sells a product called the OTG Kit which contains cables for connecting your hardware wallet to various mobile devices.
Most Ledger owners will likely be using their hardware wallets with the Ledger Live software. The Nano X can be used with the Ledger Live mobile application on iOS and Android, while the Nano S Plus is limited to the Ledger Live app on Android.
In terms of desktop connectivity, both devices are the same. The Nano X’s Bluetooth connectivity is limited to mobile devices, and can’t be used with desktop computers.
Supported software wallets
The Ledger Nano X and Nano S Plus are both the same when it comes to wallet compatibility, with the exception of the Ledger Live app on iOS, which is only supported with the Nano X. Still, Ledger Live can be used with the Nano S plus on desktop devices and mobile devices running the Android operating system.
The Ledger Live software provides a very intuitive workflow for checking your crypto balances and transferring your crypto with the added security of your hardware wallet. While most crypto users and investors will likely be happy with the Ledger Live software, Ledger’s hardware wallets can also be used with third-party wallet software. Ledger provides a list of compatible third-party wallets and services on their official website.
Supported cryptocurrencies
The Ledger Nano X and Nano S plus both support the same range of cryptocurrencies, ranging from major coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP to smaller tokens. The Ledger Live software supports more than 500 different cryptocurrencies, which should be more than enough for most investors. If you use your Ledger hardware wallet with a third-party software wallet, you can store and spend over 5,000 different crypto assets.
The broad range of supported cryptocurrencies is one of the best features of Ledger’s hardware wallets. Regardless of whether you only invest in the biggest crypto projects or also like to speculate on smaller altcoins, there’s a very good chance that you’ll be able to secure all of your crypto holdings with your Ledger Nano X or Nano S hardware wallet.
The bottom line — Both the Ledger Nano X and S Plus are great wallets, but the Nano X has narrower appeal
Both the Ledger Nano X and the Ledger Nano S Plus are excellent choices if you want to take the security of your crypto portfolio to the next level. They both feature the same security technology and can be used to store a wide variety of cryptocurrencies.
The main advantages of the Nano X is Bluetooth connectivity and compatibility with the Ledger Live app on iOS. If you don’t require these two features, you should get the Nano S Plus instead and save yourself about $70.
As long as you safely back up your recovery phrase and don’t disclose it to anyone, your cryptocurrencies will be protected very well if you use a Ledger hardware wallet. You can back up your recovery phrase on paper or use a purpose-made metal device to store it more securely.
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