Ledger Nano S vs. X — Which Crypto Hardware Wallet to Pick?

The Ledger Nano S and Ledger Nano X are both great choices for anyone that’s looking to take the security of their crypto to the next level. Both of them will do a great job of keeping your cryptocurrency safe, although there are some key differences between the two which you have to keep in mind when deciding which one to buy.

In this article, we’ll compare the Ledger Nano S vs. X to help you choose which hardware wallet is right for you. We’ll compare them based on the most important characteristics of hardware wallets, including cost, security, connectivity, supported cryptocurrencies and more.

Please note that Ledger retired the Ledger Nano S hardware wallet model in June 2022, replacing it with the Ledger Nano S Plus. However, we still think that comparing the Ledger Nano S vs. X is worthwhile since the Ledger Nano S can still be found in many stores. In addition, many crypto investors already own a Ledger Nano S and might be wondering if the Ledger Nano X is a worthwhile upgrade.

Ledger Nano S vs X — Side-by-side comparison

If you’re wondering what’s the difference between the Ledger Nano S and X, let’s go through a quick comparison to see how the two hardware wallets stack up against each other.

Is the Ledger Nano X worth it?

If the following describes you, the Nano X is probably the right choice for you:

• You want to store many different types of cryptocurrencies (the Nano S can only handle a few apps installed simultaneously)
• You’re planning to primarily use your hardware wallet with your mobile device
• The higher price isn’t an issue for you

Who should choose the Ledger Nano X?

If the following describes you, it probably doesn’t make sense to splurge on a Nano X, as the Nano S will fit your needs just fine.

• You’re planning to use your hardware wallet primarily with your desktop computer
• You have an Android phone and don’t mind using your hardware wallet with a cable
• You don’t want to spend too much but still want to store your crypto more safely

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Ledger Nano S vs. X — Price

When comparing the Nano S vs. Nano X, the price is the most obvious difference. At $149, the Nano X is more than twice as expensive than the Nano S, which can be had for about $59.

The main benefits of the Ledger Nano X over the cheaper Ledger Nano S are increased storage, support for USB-C and Bluetooth, as well as an app for iOS (the Ledger Nano S is only supported by Ledger’s Android app). The Ledger Nano S is more compact, which can be a benefit or downside depending on your perspective.

When discussing the prices of Ledger’s devices, it’s important to keep in mind that Ledger sometimes has sales where you can purchase their wallets for cheaper or get some extra perks with your purchase. So, if you’re willing to wait a bit, you might be able to find a better deal.

Ledger Nano S vs. X — Features

Both the Ledger Nano S and Ledger Nano X are hardware cryptocurrency wallets that keep the private keys needed to access your cryptocurrency in a secure environment. Even though you’ll have to connect these devices to your computer or mobile phone when you’re trying to make a transaction, the devices will only sign the transactions but won’t disclose the private keys to your computer or mobile phone.

Compared to keeping your private keys on a device that’s connected to the internet, The Ledger Nano S and Ledger Nano X both offer a much higher level of protection for your cryptocurrency. Even if you had malware on your computer or mobile phone, your crypto would still be protected because your hardware wallet will not leak the private keys to the device you’re connecting it to.

Both the Ledger Nano S and Ledger Nano X can be used with Windows, Linux and Mac desktops. When it comes to mobile devices, however, the Ledger Nano S is limited to Android while the Ledger Nano X can be used with both Android and iOS devices.

The screen on the Ledger Nano X is more readable than the screen on the Ledger Nano S, although the screens on both devices are quite small and can be a bit clunky to use. The Nano X has a bigger battery that allows for longer continuous use. However, this doesn’t make that much of a difference in practice as the amount of time you will be spending actively using your hardware wallet will likely be pretty low.

Ledger Nano S vs. X — Security

Both the Ledger Nano S and Ledger Nano X offer the same level of security for your cryptocurrency. Both devices have a component called the Secure Element, which stores private keys in a tamper-proof manner. The Secure Element protects your private keys from side-channel attacks, fault attacks, software attacks and other types of exploits that could be used to extract sensitive data.

The Secure Element chips used in Ledger devices have an EAL 5+ (Evaluation Assurance Level) certification. This is the highest level of EAL certification available in terms of security against penetration tests.

Both devices feature a custom operating system called BOLOS. BOLOS allows applications for each cryptocurrency to be separate from each other, and ensures that your transactions have to be confirmed physically by pressing buttons on your Ledger device.

In addition, both devices offer additional protection by requiring a PIN code to be entered before usage. Both devices will generate a 24-word recovery phrase that you can use to access your crypto in case you lose your device. If you safely back up your seed phrases and don’t disclose them to anyone, your cryptocurrency will be protected very well.

If you are looking to protect your crypto, the Ledger Nano S and Ledger Nano X are both excellent choices and offer practically the highest level of security that’s accessible to the average user.

Ledger Nano S vs. X — Use with mobile devices

Connectivity with mobile devices is the aspect where the Ledger Nano X shines the most brightly in comparison to the cheaper Ledger Nano S. The Ledger Nano X can communicate with your mobile phone or other mobile device via a Bluetooth connection, which removes the hassle of dealing with cables and provides a smooth user experience. Please note that the Ledger Nano X’s Bluetooth capability only works with mobile devices and not desktops.

Meanwhile, you need to connect your Ledger Nano S to your phone via a USB cable. The cable that comes with the Ledger Nano S likely won’t fit your mobile device, so you’ll need to purchase the correct cable. Ledger sells the OTG Kit for $15, which contains a set of three cables that will allow you to connect your Ledger Nano S to any kind of mobile device.

Ledger Nano S vs. X — Supported software wallets

Regardless of whether you have the Nano S or Nano X, you will be using a software wallet to enter transaction details, and then confirm the transaction with your hardware wallet. Ledger’s official software wallet is called Ledger Live, and it will fit the needs of the majority of crypto investors.

However, Ledger devices are also compatible with some third-party wallets. For example, there are cryptocurrencies that are not supported by Ledger Live, but can still be used with a Ledger hardware wallet in combination with a third-party software wallet. Third-party wallets that support Ledger devices will work similarly to Ledger Live — when you want to make a transaction, you will be prompted to confirm the transaction using your Ledger hardware wallet device.

Ledger Nano X vs. S — Supported cryptocurrencies

The Nano S and Nano X both support the same cryptocurrencies. Ledger devices can be used to safely store practically all major cryptocurrencies. This of course includes popular coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP, but also hundreds of other crypto assets. When combined with third-party software wallets, your Ledger can be used to store a truly impressive range of cryptocurrencies.

For a full list of cryptocurrencies that you can store with your Ledger hardware wallets and compatible software wallets, please consult the list on the official Ledger website.

The bottom line — Both the Nano S and Nano X are great hardware wallets for a slightly different audience

The Ledger Nano S and X are both easily among the best hardware crypto wallets on the market today. If you are primarily looking to use your wallet with your mobile device and put a lot of value on convenience, it might be worth paying the extra for the Nano X.

However, we feel like the price difference between the two devices will be difficult to justify for many users, as they are identical in many aspects, most notably security and number of supported cryptocurrencies.

The only type of user for whom the Nano X is easily the better choice is someone who is an iOS user and frequently uses their mobile device to make crypto transactions. Overall, the Nano S is difficult to beat if you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck.

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