Crypto hardware wallet comparison GridPlus Lattice1 vs Trezor Safe 3

Our impressions

GridPlus Lattice1

Trezor Safe 3

Pros
  • Very high usability through the 5-inch touch-screen
  • Does not require USB connection
  • Uses theΒ 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)
  • Small form factor and very portable
  • Excellent value at an affordable price point
  • Phenomenally intuitive and efficient on-device recovery, PIN and seedphrase entry

Cons
  • 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)
  • Requires constant USB connection to operate
Verdict

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.

Finally the first line of Trezor products incorporating a secure element has arrived. In our opinion it easily takes the lead in the current Trezor product lineup – in terms of security and portability. Even with the launch of the newer Trezor Safe 5 it’s easily our price/performance winner.

Even though the device uses only two buttons for input, like the Model One did, and does not offer a touch-screen, like the Model T and Safe 5, its on-device recovery, PIN and seedphrase entry are phenomenal. Trezor really did something truly special with the way they handle user input despite the minimalist form factor. At less than half the price of the Trezor Safe 5 it is an easy recommendation.

Read more about the new generation of Trezor Safe 3 products.

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

Trezor Safe 3

Release year

2020

2023

Supported coins

Supports multiple coins

Supports Bitcoin and Ethereum (including EVM based blockchains and ERC-20 tokens)

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
Seedphrase support
  • BIP-39 (Mnemonic phrase)
  • Passphrase
  • Multiple seedphrases on one device
  • BIP-39 (Mnemonic phrase)
  • SLIP-39 (Shamir backup)
  • Passphrase
Security protections
  • 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
  • Factory reset with decoy PIN
  • On device passphrase entry
  • On device recovery

Secure Element protected Certified Chip EAL6+

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

Very limited app choice for smartphones

  • 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

GridPlus Lattice1

Trezor Safe 3

Dimensions

59 mm x 32 mm x 7.4 mm
2.32 in x 1.26 in x 0.29 in

Weight

14 g
0.49 oz

Display
  • Color
  • Touchscreen

5-inch TFT Display
480 x 800 pixels
Multipoint Capacitive Touch Panel

  • Monochrome
  • OLED

Monochrome display
128 x 64 px

Connectivity
  • WiFi
  • USB-C
Storage

64GB Internal Storage

Processor

180MHz embedded ARM processor (Cortex M4)

Safety & Certifications

CE and RoHS certifications
Airplane and X-ray safe

Housing

Black plastics

Robust plastics
Available in black and multiple colors

Where to buy

GridPlus Lattice1

Trezor Safe 3