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ELLIPAL 2.0 Cold Wallet Review (2020) – Most Secure Bitcoin Wallet?
In this review, we are going to dive deep into the Ellipal 2.0 crypto hardware wallet. Is it really as secure as they claim? Is it better than Ledger or any other mainstream competitors? Stay tuned for the whole article to find out!
This device is very unique to say the least! Until recently, this was the first 100% air-gapped device of it’s kind, which is super compelling for security enthusiasts. We all have heard of the numerous exchange hacks over the years and it’s becoming more and more apparent that you need to keep your private keys offline, and on a hardware wallet. So, is this the right one for you? Let’s take a look down below.
One thing I will say before we dive in to the details is, in regards to the the major providers in this space, the one thing that I don’t like about Ellipal is that their device isn’t open source. In my opinion that is a crucial function. Not only for transparency, but also for security. When holding a large amount of funds on the device, it is good to know that an active community is reviewing the code on a continual basis. That is really my only “gripe” with this wallet.
Having said that, it’s very impressive, and my experience with it was very good and the steps involved made me feel very secure about my choice as the security of this device is top notch! Let’s take a look below.
What’s In The Box?
To preface this device, It has zero: Wifi Connections, Bluetooth Connections, 4G connections, or any wired connections to any other device!
This device comes with everything you need to get started with using, minus the iOS and Android app, which you will need to download to begin using. All hardware and components are listed below.
-Ellipal Hardware Wallet
-Charging Cable
-User Manual
-Mnemonics Recovery Seed Card
-Warranty Card
How To Setup The Device
So this is where this device separates itself from the likes of KeepKey, Ledger, or Trezor. The three mainstream heavy hitters in terms of the hardware wallet market. How does a device that claims to have no internet access whatsoever work? The short answer, QR codes. This hardware wallet interfaces with the Ellipal mobile app and allows you to have both a mobile (hot) wallet and a wallet that displays on the hardware device as well.
The Ellipal has a camera on the air-gapped device so that between you smart phone and the hardware wallet, you can scan QR codes to transfer funds and still be kept completely offline. This creates an extra step for management, but for the most paranoid among us, this is actually a comforting process.
It essentially is a 3-step verification process for managing your funds and requires an SD card for managing firmware upgrades. This is a pretty arduous process, even for those that are pretty tech savvy. Again, this could be interpreted as more secure, but also makes managing funds and your device to be a bit cumbersome for the average user.
What Coins Are Supported?
Instead of manually writing this out, I will include a chart with all existing coins that are supported. They are additionally developing apps on certain coins that I will list in writing here:
BCN, NANO, XEM, XTZ, ZEC, LSK, QTUM, ONT, BTS, STEEM, WAVES, XAVES, XVG, SC, NEO, IOTA, ELA. The current coins supported are listed below.
Ellipal 2.0 Vs. Ellipal Titan Vs. Ledger
Ellipal Titan has a self destruct mechanism in place, so that if the screen is tampered with or crushed or broken in an attempt to gain access to it’s internals, it will break a special circuit board that holds all your private keys. This is powerful. Additionally, it’s very sturdy, so not only is it IP65 rated for dust and water resistance, but its made out of a very strong single piece of metal that houses and encompasses the entire device.
The Ellipal Titan is specifically designed against evil maid of supply chain attacks so nothing can be imported or inserted as there are no open access ports on the device.
The Ellipal 2.0 is still a very strong and secure device, but it doesn’t have a durable exterior that is built for abuse, and it also has an SD card slot for updating it’s firmware on the device and also has a charging cable port, so there are 2 entry points. Again, still very secure, but the Ellipal Titan is really a massive upgrade.
In terms of other mainstream competitors, like Ledger, it’s like comparing apples and oranges. This device is much more expensive at $149 and is completely air-gapped. This means there is no USB connection to any online interface and does not have access to any where near as many apps or coins that are supported on Ledger.
The Ellipal is more for the paranoid users that do NOT want to risk having anything interface with online devices. The user experience is much more complicated and not as easy to use as the Ledger, not to mention Ledger is only $59, and is currently the cheapest “mainstream” hardware wallet, but can only support 3-4 coins at once.
Ellipal – Conclusion
This is a really unique and secure hardware wallet. The only other wallet that is remotely close to this one that is currently available at the time of this writing is the Cobo Vault wallet. You can read an in-depth review of that device HERE. That wallet is very durable and is more in line with the upcoming successor to this wallet, the Ellipal Titan, in terms of durability, however that device has less than 10 coins currently supported and has a much heftier price tag at $479. It’s more of a niche device in my opinion.
Having said that, if you are on the fence with this device, the upcoming Ellipal Titan is currently available of pre-order at the same price of $149, and is slated to start shipping around August 15th, 2019. I my personal opinion, I would go with that, as it’s a massive upgrade from this device. However, if you choose this device, you still can’t go wrong. Both devices will have the same coin support and will continue to expand in terms of functionality and coin support, as the firmware is going to be compatible.
If you want to purchase this device, it will be supported for years to come. Click the button below to jump to their site and make the jump to a unique form of crypto security!
What do you think? Is there a more secure hardware wallet for a comparable price you would choose over this? Let us know in the comments below!
Cheers,
The Crypto Renegade
NOTE: This post may contain affiliate links. This adds no cost to you but it helps me focus on giving as much value as possible in every single post by being compensated for recommending products that help people succeed.
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COBO Tablet Review (2020) | Best “Value” Crypto Seed Backup | Only $39
In this review, we are going to deep dive into the Cobo Tablet metal recovery seed phrase backup device. How does it work? How much does it cost? Why do I need one? How is it different from CryptoTAG or CryptoSteel? I am going to answer all of these questions and more, so stick around for the full article and also for a special offer just for my readers here. So why is recovery seed backups and crypto seed storage so important? In as little words as possible, it’s a backup to your backup. And it’s only $39.00.
This device is so affordable and useful for what it actually protects, that EVERY single crypto user that holds more than $39 worth of cryptocurrency should have one. Period. This device has been thoroughly tested to withstand substantial heat, water, corrosion and other abrasive substances.
Crafted from 304-grade stainless steel, the new Cobo Tablet is corrosion-free, resistant to salt water and acids, and has a fireproof threshold ranging from 2550 to 2650 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can be sure that whatever happens your recovery seeds will be safe within.
In addition to that, it also has a design element that allows you to add a padlock for those extra paranoid that want to ensure no innocent parties who stumble upon this can use it to steal your crypto.
If you are unfamiliar with the concept of metal recovery seed backups, I will link the reviews of CryptoSteel and CryptoTag ($99 and $185, respectively) HERE and HERE. This will give an in depth guide of how these devices work if you need a quick tutorial.
Let’s check out the Cobo Tablet details below!
Cobo Tablet – What’s In The Box?
Everything you need comes right in the box. All you need after you open the box, id your recovery seed card, which you will be able to safely set aflame once this is setup and installed correctly.
It comes with:
- Cobo Tablet Stainless Steel Device
- Screwdriver
- Spare Screws
- 252 Letter Tiles (Including a Few Blanks)
- Basic Setup Guide
The tiles come in organized individually wrapped sheets that are alphabetically organized and easy to locate the letters you need to setup the device correctly. I will detail the setup process below and explain how easy it is to setup.
This process is actually a more seamless user experience than the CryptoSteel which just had scattered tiles that were all different sizes that needed to be sorted and found before you could actually install. You will not have this problem with Cobo Tablet, in fact, it took me less than half the time from start to finish to get this setup correctly.
Design & Setup
I showcase this a little bit better in the video listed down below, but here is an excerpt directly from Cobo on how the simple their product is. Here it is.
All you need to do is unscrew the plate, place the letters into the metal slots to create your recovery seed, and screw the plate back into place. No carving, etching or struggling to slide the characters into their right places. It is a very simple process that takes only a couple of minutes.
The new Cobo Tablet can support up to 24 words, but you can also use 12 or 18 depending on the length of your recovery seed. It is crafted in such a way that each word can hold only up to four letters. Obviously, you will use words that are longer, so you must be curious to know the reason behind this.
This product is made of the utmost quality. When I first pulled it out of the box, it felt really robust and solid. It didn’t feel cheap and/or flimsy and it gave off the first impression of being a stable and good quality product. I will also be doing a second video shortly that will detail the full tutorial and explain how to set this product up right out of the box (although you probably don’t need it, it’s super easy to figure out).
Who Is This For?
I’ll keep this short and sweet. If you have more than $39 or more worth of cryptocurrency, you need this product. Why? If something happened to your software or hardware wallet, could you afford that loss? Most people that take their crypto seriously will most certainly say no, so you need to ensure you have a backup of your backup. This is a VERY affordable product that serves a very valuable purpose. It needs no further explanation.
Cobo Tablet – Conclusion
Honestly, I liked this device better than the CryptoSteel and Bill Fodl. Why? Well, in addition to the price point which is less than half of both of these devices, I found the overall quality and user experience to be better. It took me much less time to setup, it came with everything neat and organized, and there wasn’t any need for the instruction booklet as it was pretty straight-forward. Now, I am not saying these other device are bad, because they aren’t at all.
When it came down to factoring in price, quality, ease-of-use, and overall impression, the Cobo Tablet won in all of those categories. I will say, however, that it didn’t beat the CryptoTAG. That device is a HODL’ers dream, as it comes in titanium, and you can use a freakin’ hammer to engrave your own seed (which was awesome and very satisfying to do by the way).
With that said, I could buy 7 Cobo Tablets for the price of one CryptoTag. The value is honestly unbeatable, and the quality felt comparable to the CryptoTAG, with the exception of the type of metal and the actual setup process.
If you don’t have ANY metal recovery seed backup, it’s essential. You need one. It’s honestly not optional at this point. If you can’t afford to lose your crypto, you can’t afford NOT to have one of these devices.
What do you think? Do you currently have a metal recovery seed backup for your software/hardware wallets? Let me know in the comments below!
Cheers,
The Crypto Renegade
NOTE: This post may contain affiliate links. This adds no cost to you but it helps me focus on giving as much value as possible in every single post by being compensated for recommending products that help people succeed.
