Crypto hardware wallet comparison BitBox02 Bitcoin-only edition vs Trezor Safe 5

Our impressions

BitBox02 Bitcoin-only edition

Trezor Safe 5

Pros
not reviewed yet
  • Small form factor and portable
  • Touchscreen with Gorilla® Glass 3
  • Excellent value at a reasonable price point
Cons
not reviewed yet
  • Requires constant USB connection to operate
  • In our tests touch input was not as accurate as with the older Model T. We experienced situations that felt like lag, where we had to press multiple times, and adjacent letters to the ones we tried to enter. It is not a deal-breaker, but hopefully something that can improve with future firmware updates.
Verdict
not reviewed yet

The second product in the first line of Trezor products incorporating a secure element. The Trezor flagship model with touchscreen and successor of the Model T. Main difference being, that it lost the convenient magnetic dock, gained a Gorilla® Glass 3 front , snappier hardware, and a minimally sleeker form factor.

Is it worth it?
If you are in the market for a new hardware wallet this seems one of the most secure, versatile, and portable options.Trezor is the most veteran and one of the biggest players in the hardware wallet market for a reason. Their newest products belong to the best products you can get currently.

If you already have a Model T and use wallets with long custom 25th word there is not really a compelling need for the upgrade.

Even if you don’t have a Model T and are looking for a new hardware wallet, the Trezor Safe 3 is a very strong competitor. It too has a Secure Element, is even a tiny bit smaller and easier to carry, and has a phenomenal alternative text input method with two buttons – which does not feel much inferior to touchscreen input TBH. Given that it boasts almost the same feature-set, coin support, and costs less than half the Trezor Safe 5 we feel like the Trezor Safe 3 is the logical choice.

We recommend you go for the Trezor Model 5 only if you prefer touch input, want to make use of the advanced SD card feature, or need to have the latest and shiniest gadget.

Disclaimer: Our impressions are based on a compilation of factors tailored to the average user’s perspective. It is also important to note that whether a feature is a “pro” or “con” can depend on your situation and preferences. What may be an advantage in one scenario could be a challenge in another, and vice versa. Therefore, while reviewing these points, it’s essential to consider your unique requirements and circumstances when making decisions. This list aims to provide an idea of what to anticipate, but it is not the ultimate guide to determining whether something will work for you or not.

Key features

BitBox02 Bitcoin-only edition

Trezor Safe 5

Release year

2019

2024

Supported coins

Supports only Bitcoin

For multi-coin support see BitBox02 multi-coin edition

It is not possible to convert a BitBox02 Bitcoin-only edition into a BitBox02 Multi edition or vice-versa. The BitBox02 bootloader prevents firmware downgrades and installing firmware for a different edition of the BitBox02 (Multi or Bitcoin-only) as otherwise that would be a security attack vector.

Supports multiple coins, Bitcoin-only mode available

  • BTC, ETH, LTC, XLM , DOGE, DASH, ZEC, NEM,
  • and a thousand others. See a full list at trezor.io/coins
Open source
  • Firmware
  • Companion software
  • Firmware
  • Companion software
Seedphrase support
  • BIP-39 (Mnemonic phrase)
  • Passphrase
  • BIP-39 (Mnemonic phrase)
  • SLIP-39 (Shamir backup)
  • Passphrase
Security protections
  • Secure element
  • On device PIN entry

Dual chip security architecture
Secure chip: ATECC608B; True random number generator (NIST SP 800-90A/B/C)
Anti-klepto mitigates the nonce covert channel attack
Physical protections
Security audit & bug bounty program

  • Secure element
  • On device PIN entry
  • Factory reset with wrong PIN
  • Factory reset with decoy PIN
  • On device passphrase entry
  • On device recovery

Secure Element protected Certified Chip EAL6+

Platform compatibility
  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux
  • Android
  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux
  • Android
  • iOS
  • ChromeOS

iOS view only, ChromeOS is not officially supported, but it should work via Google chrome WebUSB protocol.

Authentication token
  • FIDO U2F
  • FIDO2 Webauthn
  • SSH

Technical specifications

BitBox02 Bitcoin-only edition

Trezor Safe 5

Dimensions

54.5 mm x 25.4 mm x 9.6 mm
2.15 in x 1 in x 0.38 in

65.9 mm x 40 mm x 8 mm
2.59 in x 1.57 in x 0.31 in

Weight

12 g
0.42 oz

23 g
0.81 oz

Display
  • Monochrome
  • OLED

128 x 64 Pixels

  • Color
  • Touchscreen

Color touchscreen with haptic feedback
240 x 240 px

Connectivity
  • USB-C
  • USB-C
Storage
  • microSD card
  • microSD card
Processor

ATSAMD51J20A
120 Mhz 32-bit Cortex-M4F
True random number generator

160MHz embedded ARM processor (Cortex M33)

Safety & Certifications

CE and RoHS certifications
Airplane and X-ray safe

Housing

Polycarbonate

Durable PC-ABS plastic, tamper-evident casing, anodized aluminum backplates, and intricate laser engraving
Available in black and multiple colors

Where to buy

BitBox02 Bitcoin-only edition

Trezor Safe 5