The practical choice
Start with compatibility and recovery, then compare price. A device that cannot sign with your phone or restore your intended backup is a poor fit regardless of its advertised security chip or discount.
Read the comparisonAt a glance
| What matters | What to verify | Why it changes the purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Computer or phone | Exact operating system, connection and supported actions. | Viewing a balance is different from setting up a device or signing a transaction. |
| Assets and applications | The coin, network and required wallet application. | A broad asset count does not establish support for your particular transaction. |
| Backup and recovery | BIP39 or SLIP39 format, word count and compatible recovery route. | A backup plan must still work after loss of the original device. |
| Full purchase cost | Country-specific device price, shipping and any optional backup accessories. | A converted foreign storefront price is not necessarily the final local checkout amount. |
This is a comparison of published provider documents, not a hands-on test or a security audit. Sources and the review date are listed below. Fees, features and eligibility can change; check the provider's current terms and your account before acting. How this comparison was prepared
A hardware wallet protects signing keys within a dedicated device, but it does not decide whether the transaction you approve is sensible. It also does not remove the need for a recovery plan. The most useful buying questions are practical: can you use it with your existing equipment, can you verify the details on the device and can you recover if it is lost?
The device facts above are manufacturer claims and observed storefront prices. Mertiva has not performed a hardware security audit or hands-on recovery test. Use the direct model comparison for Ledger Nano S Plus and Trezor Safe 3 when those are your shortlisted devices.
Check what your phone can actually do
Read the supported-action list for your operating system. A mobile app may show balances while being unable to initialize the device or sign a transfer. Do not infer iPhone support from the availability of an iOS companion app. Both of the budget models compared here have important iOS signing or setup limitations.
Check the cable, connector and the computer or phone you will use most often. A workflow that requires equipment you do not own changes both the cost and the likelihood that you will keep the device and its software maintained.
Choose the recovery format deliberately
BIP39 and SLIP39 describe different backup formats. Word count alone does not establish compatibility. Trezor's Safe 3 default has changed over time, while the device also supports recovery from specified older standard backups. Verify the exact format you will create or restore.
Plan where the backup will be stored, how it survives damage and who could access it. Never type recovery words into a website or send them to support. Optional backup accessories have a separate cost and do not eliminate the need to understand the recovery process.
Compare current models and a real checkout destination
Start with the manufacturer's current product range. A discontinued model may still appear in a retailer listing, and discontinued retail availability is different from the end of software support. Check the manufacturer's support and update policy for that exact device.
Compare prices using the same delivery country and include shipping and any required accessories. Ledger's observed EUR price and Trezor's observed Swedish price have different storefront scopes; neither should be silently presented as the other's equivalent landed cost.
Device security is only one part of safe use
A Secure Element certification describes a component or evaluation scope, not protection from every mistake. A compromised website can still persuade someone to approve a harmful transaction. Check the destination and transaction details on the trusted device display rather than relying only on the computer screen.
For the first setup, follow the official authenticity checks and generate your own recovery material. A prefilled seed card or a request to enter a seed into a seller's website is a reason to stop. Keep the instructions for recovery available without storing the recovery secret online.
Choosing a device does not remove the need to verify sites and requests. Review the phishing checks before setup, support contact or signing.
A practical checklist
- Confirm setup and signing support for your actual operating system.
- Verify the exact asset and network you intend to use.
- Choose a backup format with a documented recovery route.
- Compare the same shipping destination and included accessories.
- Follow manufacturer authenticity and initialization instructions.
Common questions
Does an EAL6+ chip guarantee the safety of a hardware wallet?
No. A component certification covers a particular evaluation scope, not every use of the wallet. Phishing, exposed recovery material and harmful approvals can cause loss. Compare the whole workflow, including the display, software and backup process, rather than treating one certification as a guarantee.
Can I choose a hardware wallet by its number of supported coins?
Check the assets and actions you actually need. Support can differ by network and device model, and some actions require another wallet application. A long token list does not establish that your phone can set up the device or sign the transaction you plan.
Is a recovery phrase the same across all hardware wallets?
No. Verify the backup standard and recovery instructions for your device. Different formats are not interchangeable merely because both use words. Any additional passphrase is also part of recovery requirements; confirm how you would restore access before relying on the backup.
What should I check when a new hardware wallet arrives?
Follow the manufacturer's official authenticity and setup procedure, and create your own backup. Do not use recovery words supplied by a seller or enter them into a seller's website. Check the address and network for an initial transfer; a small test does not guarantee future security.
Continue exploring wallet custody and security.
Published figures & conditions
Sources checked
Official Ledger Nano S Plus Matte Black product page displayed €59 and an enabled Add to cart control.
Observed live EUR storefront; delivery country was not fixed and checkout was not entered. This is the displayed product price, not verified Swedish landed cost or VAT/shipping breakdown.
Ledger Nano S PlusNano S Plus: USB-C, battery-free, desktop/Android support; no iOS support. Display: 128 × 64 px, marketed as 1.1-inch.
Manufacturer specifications, not independent test results. Current page names an EAL6+ Secure Element. Certification does not establish immunity to user error or phishing.
Ledger Nano S Plus specificationsTrezor Safe 3 Cosmic Black displayed SEK 669 after selecting delivery country Sweden. Before region selection, Netherlands/EUR view showed €59.
The displayed price was SEK 669. Shipping, tax breakdown and the final checkout total were not verified.
Trezor Safe 3Safe 3: two buttons, 0.96-inch, 128 × 64 px monochrome OLED, USB-C, 14 g, EAL6+ Secure Element. Product page explicitly excludes swap/send/setup/device management on iOS.
According to the manufacturer specifications, neither of the two compared devices supports signing transactions on an iPhone.
Trezor Safe 3 specificationsSafe 3 devices from June 2024 default to a 20-word SLIP39 backup; older devices defaulted to 12 words.
Backup format, word count, recovery compatibility and the default for a new wallet are separate characteristics. Multi-share backup is optional.
Trezor backup formatsSafe 3 supports BIP39 recovery of 12-, 18- and 24-word standard backups and SLIP39 single-/multi-share backups; it has no battery.
Explicit manufacturer FAQ. Existing backup and coin compatibility must be checked before any migration.
Trezor Safe 3 FAQTrezor's current store lists Safe 3, Safe 5 and Safe 7; Model One and Model T are marked discontinued.
Continued software support does not establish that a discontinued model is still sold in the official store.
Trezor official storeLedger describes a 24-word recovery phrase generated by its Nano device during initialization.
Backup and recovery requirements affect wallet selection. This comparison is based on documentation; Mertiva has not personally tested device setup or recovery.
Ledger recovery explanationPrepared from the primary sources linked below. This is documentary research, not a hands-on product test, personalised advice or an independent security audit.
Sources and further reading
- Ledger: Nano S Plus specifications
- Trezor: Safe 3 specifications
- Trezor: backup formats
- Trezor: Safe 3 recovery FAQ
- Ledger: supported assets and wallet apps
- Trezor: supported models, assets and networks
- Trezor: passphrase wallets
- Ledger: hardware-wallet security practices
- Trezor: using a wallet backup
An introductory guide. Consider your circumstances and consult the linked primary sources.
