Ledger Nano X vs. S Plus

The Ledger Nano X is a high-quality hardware wallet with many useful features. At €150, however, the wallet is also quite expensive. The hardware wallet manufacturer Ledger also offers a more affordable version with the Ledger Nano S Plus, which has almost the same number of features.

Currently you get up to $30 in BTC for free when you buy a Ledger Nano. More

But what are the differences in terms of their features, usability, and prices? I will examine these factors to help you choose the right hardware wallet that best suits your needs.

Ledger Nano X vs S Plus

Both models are certainly very similar in their functions and are a further development of the original hardware wallet Ledger Nano S from 2016, which is no longer sold.

The Ledger Nano X is the premium hardware wallet of the company and was 2019 on the market and should serve as a high-quality alternative with more features and up-to-date chips and connections alongside the Nano S.

My experiences with the Ledger Nano X (Video)

In 2022 came the Ledger Nano S Plus as a direct successor of the legendary Ledger Nano S and also took over many functions of the Ledger Nano X. The price is significantly lower than the Nano X.

So is there any reason to buy the Nano X over the Nano S Plus at all? Find out the differences in the following comparison.

Security

Security is certainly one of the main reasons to purchase a hardware wallet. Therefore, this point is addressed right at the beginning.

Both models have the same security architecture. There is a microcontroller and a security chip that securely stores the private keys on the device.

The microcontroller acts as a chip between the Secure Element and your smartphone or computer, via which interface you carry out the transactions.

The Secure Element contains sensitive data such as private keys, your PIN, and the 24-word recovery phrase (Seed). Such a security chip can also be found in passports, SIM cards, and credit cards.

Ledger Nano X and [Ledger Nano S Plus](https://shop.ledger.com/ de/products/ledger-nano-s-plus?r=e5e4&tracker=bp) have a similar security chip with the same certification. This so-called Secure Element is the ST33J2M0 chip in the Nano X and the ST33K1M5 chip in the Nano S Plus. According to Ledger, both should have the CC EAL5+ certification.

Both models are equally safe in this regard.

Supported cryptocurrencies

Both hardware wallets support the same number of coins and tokens.

Over 5000 cryptocurrencies can be securely stored on the device.

There is an important distinction here: storage via the native Ledger-owned Ledger Live app (more on that later) and via third-party wallets. In both cases, however, the private keys of the coins and tokens are securely stored on the device.

Example Ledger Live Coin

• Bitcoin
• Ethereum
• ERC-20 Token (Ethereum)
• Litecoin

In total there are over 500 coins and tokens. NFTs and Ethereum 2-layer networks such as Polygon are also supported.

Third-Party Wallets

Many other cryptocurrencies can be stored with third-party wallets. The connection is made with a wallet app of the network. Generated when setting up the private key on the Ledger Nano.

When interacting (e.g. sending), the respective app must then be called up while the Ledger Nano is connected. The hardware wallet then releases access to the wallet. This principle enables very secure interaction with a large number of cryptocurrencies.

It should be noted that both models support the exact same number of cryptocurrencies and tokens.

User experience

When it comes to usability, a distinction can be made between software and hardware.

Software

Both models have an almost identical software experience. The Ledger Live App works perfectly on both devices.

With the same chip and internal memory, installing firmware or wallets in Ledger Live is the same.

However, there is a first difference.

The Ledger Live software only runs on the Ledger Nano X under iOS on the iPhone or iPad and not on the Ledger Nano S Plus.

That's because while both devices have a USB-C port, only the Ledger Nano X has Bluetooth, which is necessary to provide iPhone usage.

Hardware

There are a number of differences in the device itself. But let's start with the similarities.

Both wallets have the same large OLED display and a USB-C port for connecting to a computer or smartphone (Android).

There are differences in the haptics. The Ledger Nano S Plus inherited the two buttons above the display from its predecessor, the Nano S, while the Nano X has two large buttons to the right and left of the display.

The operation is therefore carried out either with the two index fingers (Nano S Plus) or the two thumbs (Nano X).

The Nano X is also significantly larger and slightly heavier than the Nano S Plus, giving it a slightly better grip and an overall more premium feel.

Overall, the operation of the hardware on the Nano X feels significantly better and of higher quality.

Compatibility

When it comes to compatibility, there are hardly any differences. Both models support the same third-party wallets, the Ledger Live app, and are available on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android.

Difference: Only the Ledger Nano X can be operated with the iPhone and iPad under iOS because it has Bluetooth.

Additional functions

Since these are models from the same manufacturer, there are hardly any significant differences.

A key difference is the Bluetooth compatibility of the Nano X. The premium hardware wallet has Bluetooth and a battery, so that the wallet can also be operated entirely wirelessly. The battery is big enough to get you through the day. However, it is very likely that you will not use the wallet all day, so that the battery can last for weeks.

All in all, a good way to be able to access the wallet in a very user-friendly manner and take into account the connection in the future.

Bluetooth and security? You can also turn off Bluetooth temporarily or completely. You can find more about this in my Ledger Nano X review.

Price

The Ledger Nano X is almost twice as expensive as the Ledger Nano S Plus. Currently there is the Nano X for 149€, while the Nano S Plus for as little as €79.

As a premium model, the Ledger Nano X is more comparable to BitBox02 or Trezor Model T, while the Nano S Plus is more in the price range from which Trezor One plays.

Also interesting: Comparison of hardware wallets

Conclusion: Ledger Nano X vs S Plus

Which of the two hardware wallets is the better and most suitable for you? It depends on your usage behavior. If you can answer the following questions with yes, you should go for the premium Nano X model.

In most other cases, I would seriously question whether the extra cost is worth it. Do you generally want a very secure wallet and not interact with it much after setup? Then a Ledger Nano S Plus is enough.

Incidentally, you can also open the Ledger Live app and your crypto portfolio without a hardware wallet. You only need the device for sending and receiving.

I myself use the Ledger Nano X and other Ledger products with great friends.

Frequently Asked Questions / FAQ