Ledger Nano S Plus vs. X: Which Should You Choose?

Ledger Nano S Plus vs. X: Features

Both Ledger Nano S Plus and Nano X are hardware wallets that can securely store private keys and crypto assets offline, making them among the best Bitcoin wallets. The Ledger Live mobile app allows users to make online transactions and view their assets’ balance. The Ledger Nano S Plus and Nano X can only be accessed through the Windows, Linux, MacOS and Android interfaces, with Nano X also supporting iOS devices.

They are completely different in both the dimension and weight.

For instance, Nano S Plus has dimension of 62.39 x 17.40 x 8.24mm and weighs 21g. By comparison, Nano X is far larger than Nano S Plus with the dimension of 72 x 18.6 x 11.75mm and weighs 34g.
Speaking of Nano X, there is also a lithium-ion 100mAh battery installed inside it which could work for several days without recharging. But the battery was created with the validity of 5 years, though: once it’s over, no replacement would be possible.

Ledger Nano S Plus vs. X: Available Currencies

And both Ledger wallets can hold more than 5,500 coins, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Cardano (ADA), Stellar (XLM), Dogecoin (DOGE) and many other major currencies.

The Nano S Plus and Nano X support the following classes of tokens:

ERC20

ERC721

TRC20

TRC10

BEP2

SOL

The Ledger Live mobile app allows you to track 5,500+ cryptocurrencies. Some crypto assets are compatible for storage on your hardware wallet, but many are not supported by the Ledger Live app.

These assets include:

EOS (EOS)

Monero (XMR)

VeChain (VET)

Ledger Nano S Plus vs. X: Security

Each Ledger device includes this same security standard. Firstly, the hardware itself is made from certified Secure Element (SE) chips, which are physically tamper-resistant and are often referred to as hardened microcontrollers. The device stores private keys on the secure chip, meaning that they are never exposed. One way of measuring the security of the chips is through the Common Criteria (CC) EAL5+ process – which both the Nano X and Nano S used to get their hardware certified. Furthermore, the Nano X has had its security independently audited and verified by the French National Agency for the Security of Information Systems (ANSSI).

What makes Ledger devices different is the fact that they run on a proprietary OS, the Blockchain Open Ledger Operating System (BOLOS) – which Ledger describes as ‘the only cryptocurrency hardware wallets on the market based on a Secure Element and a custom OS’. Another reason: its framework separates crypto apps to minimise cyber risks.

Besides those stated above, Ledger provides its users with the following personal security measures:

A four-digit minimum pin code

Users must push both physical device buttons at once to purchase altcoin

A 24-word recovery phrase that only shows up on your device, not the apps

(Despite users’ concerns that the Nano X was Bluetooth-enabled, the seed phrase and private keys never leave their device, as Bluetooth can only transfer public data.)

Ledger Nano S Plus vs. X: Price

Another big difference between the Nano S Plus and Nano X is the price. The Nano S Plus will cost you $79 bucks, and also comes with a micro USB-B cable. However, if you want to connect your Nano S Plus to an Android smartphone, you would need to spend an extra $17.99 on an OTG kit. The Nano X is priced at $149 bucks, and features a USB-C cable along with it.

The decision between the Ledger devices is a matter of personal choice and which type of phone you have, with investors of multiple cryptocurrencies looking best to use the Nano S Plus, and more active traders preferring the Nano X, which can keep a broader variety of currencies and tokens on it, and allow people quick access to their assets on an iOS or Android phone.

Ledger Nano S Plus vs. X: Ease of Use

Hardware wallets such as the ones made by Ledger are easy for beginners and novice investors to use (starting at 27 pounds, plus software). A USB dongle, which resembles a TigerDirect line item, has two buttons and a screen. The buttons enable you to navigate the dongle menu handily; the fact that there’s no touchscreen, however, means you’ll have to click a few times to find what you’re looking for.

Enough to say that Ledger’s flagship app Ledger Live comes with a three-step setup guide and a helpful guide to ‘take extra measures’ – all of which can be accomplished by anyone in under five minutes. Slightly easier are multi-button interfaces: the larger Nano X has a bigger screen with a higher resolution and bigger buttons than the Nano S, both of which make the device a little simpler to set up and use.

The knowledge base of the Ledger website contains explanations on various aspects of wallet setup, how to transfer crypto, and a description of the various device features. The Ledger Academy area within the site contains many articles, videos and tutorials explaining blockchain and cryptocurrency to inform the user about crypto trading. Live chat help assistance is also available on the website, or a user can open a support ticket.

Ledger Nano S Plus vs. X: Mobile App

While you can use the Ledger Nano S Plus and X through the two buttons and the display, the company also has a Ledger Live app that you can deploy on a desktop or download and install on iOS or Android devices. The UI is actually quite simple to use. It also syncs in real time, and you can toggle between your desktop or mobile app when managing your crypto.

With the mobile app, users can:

See crypto balances in real time

Buy or sell crypto through Ledger’s partner, Coinify

Swap crypto via Ledger’s partner, Changelly (not available for U.S.-based users)

Grow assets by staking or lending cryptocurrency

Manage over 5,500 coins and tokens

Moreover, Nano X supports all devices supported by Nano S Plus except the ones that are exclusively compatible with iOS devices (that is, the former supports iOS devices, whereas the latter does not).

Final Verdict

The brand stands behind a pair of hardware wallets called the Nano S Plus and Nano X that help you to store crypto offline (which is good). The wallets work with separate mobile apps that are also mostly secure.

The Nano X is nearly twice as much as the Nano S Plus, but it is the only Ledger model to support iOS devices as well as Android devices. The Nano S Plus makes for a good choice for holds on cryptocurrency for someone who is an infrequent crypto investor who still needs a highly secure cold wallet for their coin storage. If you are, however, an active trader who has a fairly mixed bag of assets and likes to pull up your crypto data from an iOS device (such as an iPhone) the Nano X will be for you.

What Are Ledger Nano S Plus and X?

Ledger Nano S Plus and X are unarguably the most trusted hardware wallets in the crypto space yet. Due to it’s offline storage feature, investors can rest assured that their assets are safe from theft or online fraud. The main difference between Nano S and Nano plus/X, both types of hardware wallets, is that Nano plus/X products offer additional security when compared with Nano S by creating a PIN for transactions, enhancing cypher seed display by improving visibility, better firmware and accessories, and upgrading native functionality.

Both sport cables that, when inserted into a USB port, can connect to a larger hardware device – say, a mobile phone or a desktop computer – that chainholders can pull information from, to check their account status, and buy, sell and swap crypto assets. Noticeably bulkier than its predecessor, Nano S Plus, and twice as expensive, Nano X supports the Ledger Live app.

Is the Ledger Nano X Worth It?

If you’re looking at an active trader with a large holding in a wide variety of currencies, then Nano X becomes an attractive option. The bigger screen will be nicer to work with and the buttons will be nicer for transaction management. Those with large holdings are also less likely to be rotating between the digital and hardware wallets as frequently and they may want to store additional software. Additionally, some mobile users will appreciate the Bluetooth functionality of Nano X that will allow them to easily manage accounts by tapping into an iOS or Android smartphone.

Who Should Use Ledger Nano S Plus vs. X?

The Ledger Nano S Plus is a great device for any new crypto investor (and many experienced crypto investors to be honest). Why? Because it is simple and easy to use. The whole point of hardware wallets is to keep your currency offline and safe, and that is what both these devices do.

The desktop or Android view of your funds when using the Nano S Plus is available when you download the Ledger Live app. Because the space is smaller, it doesn’t accommodate as much crypto software and you’ll have to remove some before you can install new crypto applications. That is a deal-breaker as any serious cryptocurrency investors quickly find that they need to always be installing or upgrading their favourite crypto apps to track the market (or fix bugs related to that market activity). The Nano X offers you the ability to track the incoming and outgoing activities of more than 5,500 digital assets that might interest you, and from any device with an Internet connection.

How Do You Transfer Crypto to the Nano S Plus and X?

How you transfer various crypto assets into either the Nano S Plus or X will be the same: at the end of it all is the offline storing of private keys. Each of the two devices have their own USB cables and buttons. For any transfer of an asset, you will need to create a new wallet (if it’s an asset on a hot wallet, like one stored online) then send your coins from your Ledger wallet stored on your phone to the address in your Ledger device. Make sure you have enough coins to pay fees, especially if it’s a blockchain that uses a gas fee.

When you generate this new private key on your card and store your assets in this new address, you know everything is offline and secure. After that, you can just turn off the device, and, if someone hacks your machine, it will mean nothing for your assets.

Methodology

Besides charging more (and putting up with another year of delayed delivery), the extra money didn’t get them much more. Aside from the additional storage, the Ledger Nano S Plus and X all offered the same built-in security measures, the same ledger live app functionality, and the same security measures for connecting to the wider internet. Both the Ledger Nano S Plus and Ledger Nano X would also allow them to store the same currencies. Given those similarities, our review focused on the areas of differentiation (price, size, storage), features (using different apps, watching apps, etc), and use cases (a rookie trader holding 50 coins compared with an ergonomic trader in motion with 500 crypto coins and tokens).