Ledger user-friendly crypto hardware wallet review 2023 – Pros, cons, features & security

5 min read

Ledger hardware wallets review

Why a hardware wallet?

Thefts totaled $3.2 billion in 2022, making it a disastrous year for cryptocurrency owners. That’s just the tip of the iceberg; losses due to scams and phishing incidents where personal information is exposed are even worse.

Crypto heists are becoming more common, prompting many people to move their private keys away from the internet and into a cold wallet. Ledger is one of today’s most well-known solutions; with its USB-like device’s ultra-small display and incredible versatility, it’s no surprise that so many people prefer it!

Hardware wallets are necessary for protecting cryptocurrency because they provide a secure offline storage solution for private keys. Private keys are essential for accessing and managing cryptocurrency; they can be difficult or even impossible to recover if lost or stolen.

Hardware wallets keep private keys offline, which makes it much more difficult for hackers or malware to access them. In addition, this provides an extra layer of security for cryptocurrency users, which means that even if their computer or phone is compromised, their private keys will still be safe.

In addition to their security features, hardware wallets are convenient and easy to use. They provide a simple and user-friendly interface for managing cryptocurrency, and they are portable, so users can easily take them wherever they go.

Overall, hardware wallets are necessary for anyone looking to protect their cryptocurrencies from online threats such as hacking and malware.

Also read: What you need to know about hardware wallets

Introduction to Ledger Hardware Wallets

Ledger is a leading provider of cryptocurrency hardware wallets, offering three different models to meet the needs of its users:

Ledger Stax

Ledger Stax was made for the day-to-day use of your crypto & NFTs with clarity and comfort. Clear-sign your transactions easily on the world’s first curved E Ink touchscreen. Name it, customize the lock screen with your favorite NFT or photo – make Ledger Stax yours. Entrust your peace of mind to Ledger’s strict security.

Ledger Nano X

The Ledger Nano X is a state-of-the-art cryptocurrency hardware wallet designed for maximum security and convenience. It features a USB-C port for easy connection to a compatible device and Bluetooth connectivity for quick access from almost any mobile device. Furthermore, the device can store up to 100 different app installations, making it highly versatile for a wide range of digital assets. Additionally, the Nano X comes with advanced security measures such as PIN protection and two-factor authentication, ensuring that your funds remain secure at all times.

Ledger Nano S Plus

The Nano S Plus is an upgraded version of the famous Ledger Nano S and offers several additional features.

One of the main improvements of the Nano S Plus is its larger display screen, which makes it easier to see and verify transactions. It also has a new, more user-friendly interface, making navigating and managing your cryptocurrency holdings easier.

In terms of security, the Nano S Plus has all of the same features as the Nano S, including a secure chip that protects against physical attacks and a recovery phrase that can be used to restore access to your cryptocurrencies if your device is lost or stolen.

The Ledger Nano S Plus is a highly secure and user-friendly hardware wallet suitable for storing and managing many cryptocurrencies. As a result, it is an excellent choice for experienced cryptocurrency users and those new to the space.

Each wallet is designed to provide secure storage for digital assets, with features such as a USB-C connection, Bluetooth connectivity, an intuitive user interface, and advanced security measures like PIN protection and two-factor authentication. With these options, users can find a device suited to their needs.

How Do Ledger Crypto Wallets Work?

Here’s how Ledger hardware wallets work:

  • When you set up your Ledger wallet, you will be given a recovery phrase, a series of words that can be used to restore access to your wallet if lost or stolen. Keeping this recovery phrase safe is essential, as it is the only way to access your wallet if you lose it.

  • To manage your cryptocurrencies with a Ledger wallet, you must install the Ledger Live app on your computer or smartphone. This app lets you view your balance, send and receive cryptocurrencies, and manage your wallet settings.

  • When you want to make a transaction, you must connect your Ledger wallet to your computer or smartphone using a USB cable. This will allow you to access your wallet and sign transactions using the Ledger’s secure chip.

  • Once the transaction is signed, it will be broadcast to the blockchain for confirmation. Once it is confirmed, the transaction will be complete, and your cryptocurrency balance will be updated.

Ledger-compatible and supported coins

Ledger Live, with our partners, allows you to swap Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, USDC, Chainlink, Uniswap, XRP, Stellar, and many more, roughly 5,500 coins and tokens.

Ledger customer support

Ledger’s customer support is excellent. They are responsive and helpful, and I had always received timely assistance when I needed it. The customer support team is knowledgeable and can answer a wide range of questions and resolve any issues that may arise.

Security & Usability

Ledger hardware wallets are known for their high security and ease of use. They provide robust encryption protocols and advanced security measures like PIN protection and two-factor authentication, making it impossible for hackers to break into your funds. Additionally, the device’s intuitive interface makes it easy for users to send and receive payments securely from anywhere in the world. Furthermore, since the hardware stores all your cryptocurrency offline, you have complete control over your digital assets with no need to trust any third parties or centralized services.

To ensure that your Ledger cold wallet remains as secure as possible, we have an intermediate team of cybercriminals (Donjon Labs) assigned to find every conceivable way of infiltration. You can even read the hacker’s blog and see all their attempted methods (side-channel attacks, fault analysis etc). So you can rest assured knowing that your funds are safe with us.

Thanks to the hackers’ inability, Ledger wallets have been awarded an Evaluation Assurance Level (EAL) 5+, the highest rating for computer security.

The highly secure Ledger wallets have been immune to any hack attempts. However, the company servers suffered a data breach in December 2020. Regretfully, it exposed over one million user names, email addresses, and phone numbers, prompting severe consequences for many affected – including multiple phishing scams and threats against users.

Features of the Ledger Wallets

  • Secure storage of private keys: Ledger wallets use a secure chip to store your private keys, which are used to access your cryptocurrency. This helps to protect your assets from unauthorized access and ensure that only you can access them.

  • Offline storage: Ledger wallets allow you to store your cryptocurrency offline, which can help to protect it from online threats like hacking and malware.

  • User-friendly interface: Ledger wallets have a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to manage your assets, complete transactions, and keep track of your balance.

  • Compatibility with multiple cryptocurrencies: Ledger wallets support many cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more.

  • Portability: Ledger wallets are small and portable, making it easy to take them wherever you go.

  • Recovery phrase: Ledger wallets come with a recovery phrase that you can use to recover your assets if you lose access to your wallet.

  • Ledger Live: Ledger Live offers an extensive and user-friendly companion app to your Ledger wallet. It makes it incredibly easy to sync your keys, purchase or sell cryptocurrencies, stake, and lend from the comfort of one place.

Ledger Live

Pros

Some of the key benefits of Ledger hardware wallets include their excellent value (the entry-level Nano S costs roughly half as much as its competitors), their versatile companion app (Ledger Live allows users to buy, sell, swap, stake, and lend cryptocurrency), their user-friendly interface and streamlined workflow, the optional Bluetooth connectivity of the top-trim Ledger Nano X, their broad compatibility with over 5,500 coins and tokens, their extensive FAQs and learning library, and their immediate customer support (with live chat typically available within 10 minutes).

Cons

Some potential drawbacks of Ledger hardware wallets include the fact that the Nano S is limited to hosting only three apps at a time, the Nano S is limited to “Consultation Mode” on iOS mobile devices, the wallet’s operating system is closed-source and cannot be modified, Ledger’s popularity makes its users a target for scammers, and if a physical device is lost. The recovery key is unavailable, and even Ledger’s customer service team will not be able to help recover the stored cryptocurrency.

Conclusion

We have discussed the importance of using hardware wallets for securely storing and managing cryptocurrency. It introduces Ledger, a company that produces hardware wallets with various features such as USB-C and Bluetooth connectivity, intuitive user interfaces, and advanced security measures. We explain how Ledger hardware wallets work and provide an overview of the available models, including the Ledger Stax, Ledger Nano X, and Ledger Nano S Plus. We also list potential drawbacks of using Ledger wallets, such as the Nano S’s limited app capacity and the closed-source operating system.

Overall, the article highlights the benefits of using hardware wallets like Ledger to protect cryptocurrency from online threats and provide a convenient and user-friendly way to manage digital assets.