Model One, Model T, Safe 3 and Safe 5 compared
The current line-up shares one setup sequence and one app; what changes is how you navigate the device, what ships in the box, and how comfortable long passphrases are to type. Here is what to expect per model, and what to check before you buy.
The differences that actually matter
Every current model keeps the private keys on the device and works with the same app, so the security model is shared. The practical differences are the screen, the controls, the connector and whether the device includes a secure element for extra key protection.
| Model | Screen | Controls | Secure element | Feels like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model One | Small monochrome display | Two physical buttons | No | The entry point: cheapest, smallest, perfectly capable, slowest to type long words on |
| Model T | Colour touchscreen | Touch | No | The long-standing mid-range option, comfortable for everyday use |
| Safe 3 | Colour touchscreen | Touch plus a side button | Yes | A compact newer model that pairs touchscreen control with hardened key storage |
| Safe 5 | Larger colour touchscreen | Touchscreen with haptic feedback | Yes | The flagship: the most screen, the most comfortable for long passphrases |
A secure element is a hardened chip that makes extracting keys from a powered-off, physically accessed device significantly harder. It is a genuine improvement — and it does not change the rule that matters most: whoever has your recovery seed has your coins. The seed backup is still the thing to protect.
What is in the box
Expect to find
- The device, in a tamper-evident package.
- The cable for your model. Use it — it is the one cable you know carries data.
- A blank recovery card for handwriting your seed words.
- A quick-start leaflet pointing at the official start page you should already have bookmarked.
- Model-specific extras, such as a magnetic dock or a lanyard on some models.
Never expect to find
- A seed phrase printed anywhere. Words in the box mean someone else can restore your wallet.
- A pre-set PIN or a note telling you what it is.
- A USB stick, CD or bonus software the manufacturer did not put there.
- A support phone number inviting you to call and “finish activation”.
What actually changes during setup
| Setup moment | Two-button models | Touchscreen models |
|---|---|---|
| Confirming an action | Left button to move, right button to select; the screen labels them | Tap and confirm on screen |
| Entering the PIN | A shuffled grid navigated with buttons — aim carefully | Tap digits on the shuffled grid |
| Writing down the seed | One word at a time on a small screen; allow extra minutes | Clearer display, and often a re-check step afterwards |
| Entering a passphrase | Slow: every character goes through the buttons | More comfortable, especially on the largest screen |
| Firmware install and app pairing | Identical | Identical |
Choosing between them
- Smallest budget, single coin, patient hands: the two-button entry model does everything the others do in terms of key security. It is simply slower to operate.
- Everyday use with a passphrase: a touchscreen model. Typing a long passphrase on buttons is where impatience causes mistakes.
- Extra protection against physical extraction: a model with a secure element, especially if the device travels with you.
- Best screen and comfort, no compromises: the flagship. Most people who upgrade once do it for the screen rather than any feature they were missing.
- Two devices? A defensible setup for large balances: one for everyday access, one stored elsewhere with its own seed. Keep it simple enough that you can still explain it to yourself in five years.
Whatever you pick, the sequence in the setup walkthrough applies unchanged: check the box, install the app from the official address, firmware, create, back up the seed, PIN, test.
Before you buy
Straight from the official store or a named reseller, the packaging is the only thing you need to examine closely. Bought second-hand or through a marketplace, assume nothing: check the seal, check for seed words, and send it straight back if the device already has a wallet on it. The saving is never worth the risk.
- Confirm your coin and app support for the model you choose, on the official pages, before money changes hands.
- Check the connector so you can replace the cable with a data-rated one if yours ever goes missing.
- Order the recovery card and, if you want one, a metal backup plate at the same time — not from a marketplace listing that also sells “pre-loaded” wallets.
- Ignore bundles with “free crypto”, giveaway offers, or a voucher to “claim” after setup. They do not exist in any legitimate form.
Device in hand? Start the walkthrough
Seven stages, the checks that matter and the point at which every shortcut gets expensive.