Crypto hardware wallet comparison GridPlus Lattice1 vs Keystone 3 Pro
Our impressions
GridPlus Lattice1
Keystone 3 Pro
- Very high usability through the 5-inch touch-screen
- Does not require USB connection
- Uses the BIP-39 standard, which allows wallet recovery even without hardware
- Open source software that can be audited by the community
- Supports SSH access to control the Linux environment of the device (ideal for advanced users / tinkerers)
- Supports 3 concurrent seed phrases
- Convenient user experience with the huge touchscreen
- Completely autonomous device with long lasting battery lifetime (should be at least 100+ hours in sleep mode when using the device a couple times per day, 18+ months when turned off)
- Easy process for online Device Verification
- Not very portable (yet… there are hints from the GridPlus team that they might work on a portable version that supports SmartCards)
- Supports only one non-mainstream wallet app on smartphones
- Requires it’s own power supply and Internet connection (supports Ethernet and WLAN)
- The airgapped QR code paradigm requires a camera on the paired device for certain interactions
- We love their dedication to open source “EVERY SINGLE LINE” of code they write, including their hardware designs. As long as they do not deliver on their promise, it sadly still is a closed source product.
The GridPlus Lattice1 features a very unique SmartCard concept. The base station stays on your desktop and you just carry your wallet on a SmartCard that has the same dimensions like any other credit card. In our mind this seems like the perfect setup in professional workplace environments. The 5-inch touch screen will also appeal to private users, as it really makes interactions much more comfortable in comparison to other hardware wallet products.
Support of Ethereum and EVM based chains is very good, especially on Desktop PCs and Notebooks on Windows, MacOS, and Linux. Smartphone support is a bit lacking as there are not yet a lot of apps to choose from. Bitcoin support is limited to the Lattice Manager application, which does support sending and receiving BTC. Also portability might be an issue, if you do not own multiple devices. It seems like the GridPlus is already working on a product addressing this though.
In conclusion: In terms of security the device features many thought-through anti-tempering and security features. Integration into the Ethereum / EVM ecosystem is very mature and offers a very high level of usability. Depending on your use-case this might be the perfect form factor for you.
The Keystone 3 Pro is a device that we can see in a “broad adoption of everyday Crypto financial transactions” scenario. It is a fully air-gapped, autonomous device that has great battery life with an easy to use interface on a convenient 4-inch touchscreen. We would add it to our everyday carry in an instant, in a world where QR code based Crypto payments are available at every shop and venue.
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
GridPlus Lattice1
Keystone 3 Pro
2020
2023
Supports multiple coins
Supports Bitcoin and Ethereum (including EVM based blockchains and ERC-20 tokens)
Supports multiple coins
5000+ Coins Supported (Bitcoin & EVM chains)
Bitcoin-only Firmware is supposedly in the works, with an estimated release date some time before the next Bitcoin halving
Source: Comment on reddit.com
- Planned
The Keystone team is working on also open sourcing “EVERY SINGLE LINE of code we’ve written”, including their hardware design, with an announced release date in November 2023. The announcement is worded in a way that it leaves some room of what we really can expect to be released and if they can meet their own release date.
Source: Official blog post concerning Open Source
As the focus of the Keystone 3 series is on 3rd party app compatibility the previous companion software will be faded out in the future.
Source: second hand user comment on reddit.com
- BIP-39 (Mnemonic phrase)
- Passphrase
- Multiple seedphrases on one device
- BIP-39 (Mnemonic phrase)
- SLIP-39 (Shamir backup)
- Passphrase
- Multiple seedphrases on one device
- Secure element
- On device PIN entry
- On device passphrase entry
- On device recovery
One seedphrase per SafeCard
The security architecture of the Lattice1 combines two separate hardware environments within a single device and features many different protections (CLDS Tamper Detection Mesh, Internal Secure Enclave, Secure Computing Environment, Secure Mailbox, Integrated PCB Security Mesh, Compressed Elastomer Intrusion Detection, Logic Power Isolation, Read-Only Partition, Security Battery). Learn all about the security features: Official Documentation
- Secure element
- On device PIN entry
- Factory reset with wrong PIN
- On device passphrase entry
- On device recovery
- Fingerprint sensor
- Air-gapped QR code
Triple Secure Element Chips
USB & MicroSD Card Firmware Upgrading
PCI Anti-tamper Feature
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
- Android
- iOS
Very limited app choice for smartphones
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
- Android
- iOS
- ChromeOS
Technical specifications
GridPlus Lattice1
Keystone 3 Pro
62.44 mm x 103.9 mm x 12.08 mm
2.46 in x 4.09 in x 0.48 in
103 g
3.63 oz
- Color
- Touchscreen
5-inch TFT Display
480 x 800 pixels
Multipoint Capacitive Touch Panel
- Color
- Touchscreen
4-Inch LCD TFT Touchscreen
480 x 800 pixels
- WiFi
- USB-C (limited to charging and firmware updates)
- Bluetooth
64GB Internal Storage
- microSD card
n/a
PCI security standards
Black plastics
Black plastics (PC + ABS)