Crypto hardware wallet comparison Ngrave Zero vs Ledger Nano S Plus

Our impressions

Ngrave Zero

Ledger Nano S Plus

Pros
not reviewed yet
  • Great form factor, paired with robust casing protection made out of medal for high portability
  • Future-proof USB-C port
  • Uses theΒ BIP-39 standard, which allows wallet recovery even without hardware
  • Can be used as a secure key, providing additional value outside crypto use-cases
Cons
not reviewed yet
  • Requires constant USB connection to operate
  • Firmware is closed source
  • App concept (apps need to be installed on the device to support certain coins and features) can be overwhelming, especially for new users, but easy enough to start using the device in no time
Verdict
not reviewed yet

One of the most secure hardware wallets at a very attractive price point. The secure element chip prevents seed phrase extraction attacks, but comes at the price of closed source firmware. Users have to get familiar with the concept of individual apps that have to be manually installed by the user to make the device support the features (i.e. coins, security key functionality, etc.) they need. Installation is not much different than installing smartphone apps from the app store though, so not that difficult after all. As no company is perfect, please make sure to keep updated on Ledger controversies, before making a buying decision.Β Read more about Ledger controversies

All in all – a very good deal to keep your crypto assets safe with a very high level of security.

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

Ngrave Zero

Ledger Nano S Plus

Release year

2020

2022

Supported coins

Supports multiple coins

Supports multiple coins, Bitcoin-only mode available

  • BTC, ETH, ADA, XRP, LTC, XLM, DOGE, DASH, XMR
  • in total 5,000+ coins available
Open source
  • Companion software

Apps that are installed on Ledger Nano S Plus are open source

Seedphrase support
  • BIP-39 (Mnemonic phrase)
  • Passphrase
  • Proprietary method
  • BIP-39 (Mnemonic phrase)
  • Passphrase
Security protections
  • Secure element
  • On device PIN entry
  • On device passphrase entry
  • On device recovery
  • Fingerprint sensor
  • Air-gapped QR code

Multi-Layered Anit-Tampering Framework and Passphrase

  • Secure element
  • On device PIN entry
  • Factory reset with wrong PIN
  • On device passphrase entry
  • On device recovery
Platform compatibility
  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux
  • Android
Authentication token
  • FIDO U2F
  • FIDO2 Webauthn

Technical specifications

Ngrave Zero

Ledger Nano S Plus

Dimensions

125 mm x 72 mm x 14 mm
4.92 in x 2.83 in x 0.55 in

62.39 mm x 17.40 mm x 8.24 mm
2.46 in x 0.69 in x 0.32 in

Weight

180 g
6.35 oz

21 g
0.74 oz

Display
  • Color
  • Touchscreen

4-inch LCD Capacitive Touch Screen
480 x 800 Pixels
600Cd/m2

  • Monochrome
  • OLED

128 x 64 pixels

Connectivity
  • USB-C (limited to charging and firmware updates)
  • USB-C
Processor

STM32MP157C

ST33K1M5

Safety & Certifications

EAL5+ certified secure element
EAL7-certified OS
CE
RoHS
FCC

Certified CC EAL5+

Housing

High-end metal

Brushed stainless steel and plastic (available in black, but also different, exciting color schemes)

Where to buy

Ngrave Zero

Ledger Nano S Plus