Crypto hardware wallet comparison KeepKey vs Trezor Model One
Our impressions
KeepKey
Trezor Model One
- Has a great community and (d)app ecosystem
- Small form factor and very portable
- Excellent value at an affordable price point
- Outdated microUSB port
- Needs constant USB connection
- MicroUSB in this day and age is quite outdated, but still connects to USB-A or newer USB-C ports
- Requires constant USB connection to operate
- Limitations compared to Trezor Model T
- Supports fewer coins and misses support for e.g.: XRP, ADA (Cardano), XMR (Monero)
- Button input can be cumbersome compared to the touchscreen of the Model T
- Key extraction vulnerability (if an attacker with the right tools and knowledge has physical access to the hardware wallet)
The product has a nice build quality and finish, a solid (d)app ecosystem, and a great community. The product launched in 2015 and it shows its age, compared to newer hardware wallet products. Most notably it has no secure element, a microUSB port, and limits itself to a single button for on-device input.
That being said, we would still prefer it over any software wallet, though.
Despite being the very first hardware wallet product, with it’s debut in 2014, the Trezor Model One is still one of the best hardware wallets. It has a very attractive price point, while providing excellent value and functionality.
Make sure to use a passphrase if you are worried about key extraction attacks. Read more about the vulnerability
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
KeepKey
Trezor Model One
2015
2014
Supports multiple coins
Supports 7.000+ assets on 340+ blockchains
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
- Firmware
- Companion software
- Firmware
- Companion software
- On device PIN entry
after 3 wrong PIN entries an increasing timeout is applied for each wrong PIN (we stopped testing at 256 seconds around wrong PIN #8 or so)
- On device PIN entry
- Factory reset with wrong PIN
- Factory reset with decoy PIN
- On device recovery
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
- Android
on Linux make sure to add udev rules
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
- Android
- ChromeOS
Chrome OS is not officially supported and relies on WebUSB in the Chrome browser. This means that, i.e., it’s not possible to set up a freshly unboxed Trezor One, you need to perform the first-time firmware installation on a PC or Mac.
- FIDO U2F
- SSH
can be used in conjunction with the companion app to store TOTP secrets and generate codes for TOTP based 2FA
- GPG encryption
- Password Manager
Technical specifications
KeepKey
Trezor Model One
94 mm x 38.4 mm x 12.2 mm
3.7 in x 1.51 in x 0.48 in
60 mm x 30 mm x 6 mm
2.36 in x 1.18 in x 0.24 in
52 g
1.83 oz
12 g
0.42 oz
- Monochrome
- OLED
256×64 pixels
- Monochrome
- OLED
Monochrome display
128 x 64 px
- micro USB
- micro USB
120 Mhz Cortex-M3
CE and RoHS certifications
Airplane and X-ray safe
Black plastics and Anodized Aluminum
Robust plastics
Available in black or white
Silicone protection case in multiple colors available