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Secux V20 vs Ledger Nano X (2020) | Does Ledger Have Some Bluetooth Competition?
Secux V20 vs Ledger Nano X! In this comparison, we are going to do a head-to-head of two of the most competitive and popular new cryptocurrency hardware wallets in this edition of the hardware wallet roundups.
I am going to dive into which of these bluetooth hardware wallets is better and more secure. How big is your portfolio? Do you need mobile AND desktop support? Do you use any 3rd party wallets for integration? Do you need web-based access instead of a required download?
These are all questions you will need to consider when deciding which of these wallets will be best for you. At the end of the day, the coin support is one of the most important factors (besides security) when deciding which hardware wallet is best for you.
Ultimately, if it doesn’t support the coins you want to store offline, it won’t work for your particular situation. So keep that in mind as we dive into what I consider to be the most important factors when making such an important decision, such as choosing a cryptocurrency hardware wallet.
Ledger Nano X: Overview
The Nano X comes beautifully packaged with the device itself, a USB-C cable, a set of instructions and recovery seed cards. The previous bulky buttons that were on top of the device are now seamlessly integrated on it in a way that’s even a bit hard to notice. All in all a beautiful design. The primary features of this device are the bluetooth connection which allows you to manage this device using your smartphone via the iOS and Android app.
Additionally, you can now hodl, store, or manage up to 100 cryptos simultaneously, all without access to your desktop or laptop computer. This is easily it’s best new features, but aside from the upgraded storage capacity and the wireless connectivity, the device itself is now larger, has an integrated 2-function button, and an overall larger screen for verifying transactions. With a trusted device and a more universal charging cable, this makes it much more compelling to spend the extra money to store more coins and one that you can easily take with you as you travel.
Ledger Nano X: Security
Ledger is at the forefront of developing the industry’s device security. How? And in what ways?
CC EAL5+ SECURE ELEMENT
Only Ledger’s devices can claim the French cybersecurity agency ANSSI’s full certification.
The Nano X and Nano S both feature what is called a ‘secure element’. The chip seen below is the next generation chip that comes in the Nano X:
The secure chip meets the CC EAL5+ certification and run’s Ledger’s proprietary BOLOS operating system.
A Secure Element is a secure chip that…embeds intrinsic countermeasures against many known attacks. This kind of chip is tamper-resistant and protects your device to a range of different attacks.”
Ledger Nano X: User Experience (UX)
Honestly, the user experience is a massive upgrade from the Ledger Nano S. With that said, It has a few usability issues that I find to be quite difficult to overcome. Although this device is physically larger than it’s predecessor, it still has a fairly difficult to use early experience.
For example, the screen is still fairly small and still cannot accommodate a QR code for scanning. This may not seem like a big deal, but after using several hardware wallets, it really does make a big difference. Using a QR code is not only safer (because it removes the chance of error from manually typing in a wallet address), but it is incredibly faster and makes the entire of transacting offline, a much easier experience.
Although this device has stepped up the quality considerably from it’s latest iteration, I still feel that utilizing an all new form factor could have been beneficial and a little more innovative than replicating their 1st generation device with a few small tweaks.
Ledger Nano X: Coin Support
The Ledger Nano X utilizes the “Ledger Live” dashboard which is a desktop application that allows you to manage all of your coins, portfolio, and potential trades in an easy to use application. You can use this on both an iOS or Android app as well as a desktop.
This app allows you to manage up to 1,100 coins that are supported by the device. However, only about 200 of them are “native” apps. This means that you can manage them directly within the Ledger Live app, without having to connect to a 3rd party wallet, such as MyEtherWallet or MyCrypto. I will leave a link HERE with a list of fully supported coins.
Secux V20: Overview
After unboxing and looking at the SecuX V20 device, I was pleasantly surprised that the overall quality and screen size was much larger than other mid-tier devices in this price range, such as the Ledger Nano X and the Trezor Model T. Now, those devices are classic and original devices, but they are tiny and made of a somewhat flimsy, plastic form-factor.
This device has a beautiful brushed aluminum reinforced hardware wallet. It has a clean flat display and the back has a durable padding rubber-like backing that is built for abuse and stability. I would have no qualms with dropping this device as it’s built very solidly and feels heavy in your hand, unlike their entry-level devices. The SecuX V20 has only one MicroUSB port and one button for activating the device and for 2FA.
The SecuX V20 device is the only one with a unique form factor and octagon design that is very sleek and very durable. This device is connected by bluetooth! That means it has wireless support and can be managed with full functionality by the SecuX app for iOS and Android. It also has a USB cable, so it can be managed online with a web wallet as well, hence, why it’s considered a “Cross-Platform” device.
The unique and notable coins that are natively supported on these devices is Groestlcoin (GRS) and Ripple (XRP). Not many hardware wallets support these coins natively, however, almost all hardware wallets support an array of ERC-20 tokens and your main-stream coins, like BTC and ETH.
Secux V20: Security
The SecuX V20 is placed with a CC EAL 5+ Certified Security Element (SE) which always ensures that stored private keys, as well as the device PIN code, are perfectly protected against any form of attack. Other significant security features include:
- Pre-installed tamper-resistant firmware as well as an upgrade system
- Physical confirmation for every transaction
- A one-time password or custom PIN code for controlling device access or the wallet apps
- Anti-tamper packaging
- Randomized digital keyboard for preventing consequences of keystrokes
Also, the wallet complies with the BIP32, BIP39 and BIP44 standards which allow the user to generate passwords of 12, 18 and 24 words for funds recovery.
Secux V20: User Experience (UX)
The picture below showcases the key features of this device, is the “Cross-Platform Support”, which means it can be managed via desktop, laptop, and mobile. Now, as I mentioned this device CAN conduct transactions via the mobile app, but also the Secux W20 can too, as they are bluetooth enabled.
This truly is one of the first multiple platform devices that you can manage on the big desktop screen, as well as wirelessly on the go. It has a 600mAH battery which can be charged from an empty battery within 30 minutes on the second charge
Secux V20: Coin Support
This is usually the most important factor when considering the hardware that you choose. This top-tier wallet from SecuX has support for the following coins as of this writing: BTC, ETH, XRP, BCH, GRS and LTC. It also supports all ERC-20 tokens as well.
Luckily, they update the firmware frequently and they plan on adding more coins as well in the near future. If you are new to “HODLing” and you do not need any specific coins outside of these top market cap coins and ERC-20 Ethereum-based tokens to start, then this is a good option.
Secux V20 vs Ledger Nano X: Conclusion
Overall, the SecuX V20 is a robust, and very secure wallet. For the price point, features and capabilities, the only thing that is comparable is the Ledger Nano X, which is also a bluetooth and wireless crypto wallet using the same security chip.
With the Ledger Nano X, it comes in a little cheaper at $119, and it also allows you to hold 100 apps (or different cryptocurrencies simultaneously), but it comes in a cheap and somewhat flimsy plastic enclosure that has a very tiny screen. Personally, I prefer a larger display and I’ve used almost all (if not all) hardware wallets out there, and confirming the address you’re sending to is MUCH easier to do on a large, bright, full color display. Additionally, this device has QR code support, which makes it easier when sending funds from a mobile wallet directly to your hardware wallet.
The one thing I did NOT like about the SecuX V20 is the lack of coin support with only 6 coins supported natively, and a handful of more coins to be supported in the future. If you plan on only “HODLing” the top 5 market-cap coins and perhaps a few ERC-20 tokens, I would probably say this is a better option and has a much cleaner and larger display for managing and verifying transactions.
With my discount, (Code: BITCOINLOCKUP), it will take the price to around $134 and free shipping. When compared to other entry level wallets, you can’t beat the sturdiness and large screen (which is more important than you think), when managing your assets offline.
What do you think? Would you choose the Secux V20 over the Ledger Nano X? Let us know down below in the comments!
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 VAULT Review | The “Self-Destructing” Crypto Hardware Wallet? (2020)
Is the Cobo Vault the best unbreakable crypto hardware wallet of 2019? Is it as tough and inpenetrable as they claim? Stay tuned for the whole Cobo Vault Review to find out! I recently wrote an article on an upcoming device that appears to be directly competing with this product called the Ellipal Titan. If you want to read that review after this one to get kind of a side-by-side comparison, you can check out the in-depth first look of that device HERE.
Overall, my first impression of this device was very good. It appears to be targeting an entirely different segment of the cold storage crypto wallet market, which is something I obviously follow quite closely. They are marketing this as a “Military Grade Durability and Security” device, which is definitely the case as it has all the proper ratings a certifications to protect against impact, water resistance, and shock resistance to ensure it is as rugged as humanly possible.
If you are new to cryptocurrency security in general, please check out my free e-book HERE. This dives in deep on the basic (and some advanced) security tips on how to best manage your cryptocurrency by learning from my mistakes. I guarantee you will learn something new and it will help you on your crypto journey! So, let’s get to why you are here and jump right into the Cobo Vault Review. Let’s do this!
What’s In The Box?
There’s a lot of bang for your buck here and certainly attempts to justify it’s current price tag of $479. This is no ordinary crypto hardware wallet, this thing is very different than Ledger, Trezor, and KeepKey as there are no active ports or USB connectors to allow you to interface with this product. I will get more into this in the next section, but needless to say this is a unique device!
Here’s what comes in the box:
-Cobo Vault Hardware Wallet (4 inch touchscreen)
-The Cobo “Vault” (Houses The Device)
-A Removable 1540 mAH Battery
-Charging Dock
-USB-C Cable (For Charging)
-Mnemonic Steel Recovery Seed Device
-Steel Tiles For Recovery Seed Phrase
-Small Screwdriver
-Instruction Booklet
The box is very large and feels heavy when you get it because of the steel grade quality of all of the components. There is an unboxing video below that will explain how this all works and gives you a visual cue of everything that is included and what each piece is used for.
The most “compelling” piece to me here is the steel mnemonic tablet that is used to secure your 24 word seed phrase. This is TYPICALLY used by other providers by writing it down on paper, which is vulnerable to the elements. These devices can cost upwards of $300 by itself, so this is a HUGE value add and absolutely necessary for anyone that takes their cryptocurrency security seriously.
If you are not familiar with what this and why it’s needed, you can read an in-depth review of the best standalone titanium recovery seed backup HERE.
Setup And Use
This device has NONE of the following connections:
WIFI
USB
BLUETOOTH
NFC
CELLULAR
This means that it is completely off the grid. So how do you use it and set it up? QR Codes. The device has a 5-MP camera for scanning QR codes on Cobo’s website and then the companion app for managing assets from their hot wallet over to the offline device.
This is a very prolonged and arduous process. In terms of security, this is a VERY good thing. It’s like having a 7-step authentication system. However, for ease of use, it’s a killer, and most wallets try to strike a balance between ease of use and security. Cobo does not appear to care about what it’s competition is doing in this regard, since it’s breaking out into it’s own little sub-niche of cold wallet security. Here are the steps I had to follow to setup and use the device:
1.) Download the “Cobo” mobile app
2.) Power on the Cobo Vault device
3.) Go through the recovery seed phrase process. This includes writing it down and verifying it through the touch screen
4.) Set a custom passphrase that has stringent requirements including multiple special characters and at least 10 characters minimum.
5.) Scan the QR code on Cobo’s website to authenticate the firmware and authenticity of the device.
6.) Once authenticated, you scan a dynamic and ever-changing QR code on the companion mobile app to initiate transactions
7.) If you want to receive any payment directly on the device, you just generate a QR code and your sender can scan the code to initiate. If you want to send a transaction, follow the steps 2-6 above and repeat the process.
Features: What Makes It Inpenetrable?
So, in addition to having a water resistant, shock resistant, and using “Military Grade” materials and configuration, it also has a “Self-Destruct” mechanism if it expects foul play. Let me explain. The device cannot be hacked through any ports or any wireless type connections. However, if someone tries to extract the private keys manually, the chip will have a timer initiate a countdown. If the screen is broken or if the device is opened up internally in any way, it will completely wipe the device.
If this happens, the only way to restore this is through your recovery seed phrase that you now have in stainless steel thanks to having it included in the box. This can be imported to any BIP-32, 39, 44 wallet to restore your funds with this seed phrase.
Additionally, if someone tries to steal the device and initiate a transfer of the funds through their own Cobo Vault, they will not be able to, as during your initial setup it is coded to the QR code you scanned on your app that is unique on your mobile phone. This device is really the Fort-Knox of crypto wallets. It took me about 30-40 minutes from start to finish when I unboxed, setup, and made my first transaction on the device. As I mentioned above, this DOES make it very secure, but for ease of use, it’s kind of nightmare. There are no trade-offs here.
Cobo Vault Coins Supported
This device claims to have a lot more coins that will be supported on their road map, but this is definitely one of the “cons” of this device as it is of the utmost quality, but also is VERY lacking in the coins that are supported. Below is a picture of all the coins that are currently supported as of this writing.
For those that are not familiar with all of these coins or brands, I will list them here: Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ethereum (ETH), Ethereum Classic (ETC), Tron (TRX), Eos (EOS), Litecoin (LTC), and Dash (DASH).
Price
This is a premium device and the price reflects that. It’s $479 USD to get this device and may have some shipping costs associated with it if you are outside of the U.S. As this is a higher-end device, you get what you pay for. I have not come across a more durable and secure device yet, but the Ellipal Titan appears to be a cheaper option that is going to be competing with this directly when it is released to the public in late August 2019. You can check out my review/first look HERE.
Cobo Vault Review: Conclusion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKbiyf5fJmo
Overall, the Cobo Vault device is probably the strongest and highest quality device physically, that I’ve ever used in a hardware wallet. It feels solid, and I know that if I drop it, get it wet, or otherwise try to damage this, it will stand the test of time. In terms of security, I have yet to personally test a device that compares to this one.
I had several steps and verifications in order to just set it up, let alone make a transaction. I believe this device is designed to be used VERY sparingly and is not used in a daily setting. This is a long-term “HODL”er device, which is good, but if you frequently transact, it is a hassle.
Also, it only supports 8 coins currently. It claims to be supporting more coins soon, but it has mentioned that since it’s launched and have not seen any announcements of movement on that front for several months.
Finally, we have to consider the price. $479 is no cheap price for a hardware wallet and this is a premium and high end device, so I personally use it as a backup and long term device. I do not use this for frequent trading and transacting for obvious reasons described above, but I like having it for my long term stash.
So what’s the bottomline?
If you are new and are looking for your very first hardware wallet, I would personally recommend getting a KeepKey device. It is very nice quality and just launched a brand new platform that integrates trading and is the only one that allows you to keep your private keys offline and in your personal possession the entire time. It’s my go-to wallet for daily use. You can get that HERE.
If you are looking for a secondary or longer term wallet to diversify, then I would ABSOLUTELY recommend this wallet, as it is probably the most secure wallet you can get and the quality is unmatched. I have only used mine twice, but that also means it’s safe and sound and I have no second thoughts about someone being able to crack it, even if they get it in their hands. I feel very comforted knowing that this is literally unbreakable. You can get the COBO Vault hardware wallet below and check out some reviews on their site 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.
