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Ledger Nano X vs SafePal S1

Comparing
two wallets
Decided by
Editorial rating
Last reviewed
2026-08-26
Ledger Nano X3.9

The cheapest Ledger with Bluetooth, now $79 on Ledger's own store, and the one to buy if you want to sign from a phone.

SafePal S13.5

Budget air-gapped signer with no USB data, WiFi, Bluetooth or NFC: every transaction crosses as a scanned QR code.

Verdict: Ledger Nano X

Ledger Nano X rates higher on our rubric: 3.9 against 3.5 for SafePal S1.

Criterion
Editorial rating
Ledger Nano X
3.9
SafePal S1
3.5

Ledger Nano X and SafePal S1, fact by fact

Every row is from the two reviews as of their review dates, with sources on each. A check marks the side a decidable criterion favours; rows without one are information, not a score.

Ledger Nano X and SafePal S1 compared fact by fact from their reviews; a check marks the side a decidable criterion favours.
FactLedger Nano XSafePal S1
Editorial rating3.9 (favoured on this row)3.5
StatusAvailableAvailable
Made byLedgerSafePal
Price$79Not published
Who holds the keysself-custodial, keys held in a CC EAL5+ certified secure element chipself-custodial, keys held offline on a device with no USB data, WiFi, Bluetooth or NFC connection
Bitcoin-onlyNoNo
Runs oniOS, Android, Windows, macOS, LinuxiOS, Android
Screen1.1 inch monochrome OLED, 128 x 64 pixels, with two physical buttonsSmall color screen with a camera for reading QR codes
ConnectivityUSB-C cable or Bluetooth (BLE 5.2) for iOS and Android, with a built-in batteryQR codes only: no USB data, WiFi, Bluetooth or NFC
ReleasedMay 2019, announced at CES in January 2019Not stated
Countries on the maker's list218No published list
Last reviewed2026-08-262026-08-25

Pros and cons, side by side

Ledger Nano X

What works

  • Bluetooth and a built-in battery let you sign from a phone with no cable attached
  • Cheapest Ledger with mobile signing at $79, marked down from $99 on Ledger's own store
  • Keys stay inside an ST33J2M0 secure element certified to CC EAL5+
  • Proven in the field since it shipped in May 2019, with years of firmware updates behind it

What to watch

  • The 128 x 64 pixel screen turns checking a long address into a multi step scroll
  • Closed source firmware, unlike Trezor and BitBox
  • The battery is not user replaceable, which caps how long it stays useful for cable free signing
  • The optional Ledger Recover service introduced in 2023 drew criticism from users who object to any firmware pathway that can export an encrypted seed

SafePal S1

What works

  • No USB data, WiFi, Bluetooth or NFC: the only channel in or out is a QR code on a camera
  • SafePal's budget cold storage line, positioned below the newer Bluetooth X1
  • Broad asset support with swap, buy and DeFi features for people who hold more than bitcoin
  • SafePal accepted an outside security report from Kraken Security Labs and shipped a fix

What to watch

  • Not bitcoin-only, and the companion app is a broad crypto app rather than a focused signer
  • The February 2021 Kraken disclosure showed the firmware update check could be downgraded without the user noticing
  • Verification happens on a small screen, which makes careful address checking slower
  • SafePal publishes no shipping country policy, pointing at a reseller network instead

Frequently asked questions

Is Ledger Nano X or SafePal S1 better?

Ledger Nano X rates higher on our rubric: 3.9 against 3.5 for SafePal S1. The rating follows the product rubric published on our about page; the rows above set custody, price and platforms side by side so you can check it.

Is Ledger Nano X or SafePal S1 bitcoin-only?

Neither: both support assets beyond bitcoin. Ledger Nano X: Bitcoin plus more than 500 assets in the Ledger Wallet app, and thousands more through third party wallets. SafePal S1: Multi-asset: bitcoin among a long list of chains and tokens, managed through the SafePal app.

The full reviews: Ledger Nano X and SafePal S1, each with its sources, and every wallet we review.

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