The Trezor Model T is a premium crypto hardware wallet from Prague-based SatoshiLabs. Originally launched in 2018, the Model T offers a slew of fantastic features including a large full-colour touchscreen.
But does the Trezor Model T perform as well as it looks? Is it actually worth its hefty price tag?
In this Trezor Model T review, I’ll help you decide whether this hardware wallet is the best option for your needs. I’ll take a critical eye to all of the wallet’s features, pros, and cons so you can find the best storage solution for your crypto.
Let’s dive right in.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages
- Large touchscreen for quick transaction confirmations.
- Supports Bitcoin (BTC) and more than 1,200 other coins.
- Powerful wallet interface with Trezor Suite.
- Can be used as a physical security key for U2F and FIDO2.
- Easy integration with the Trezor Password Manager.
Disadvantages
- One of the most expensive hardware wallets available.
- No Trezor mobile app available for on-the-go transactions.
- Heavier and bulkier than most other models.
- Not compatible with iOS devices.
Trezor Model T Price
The Trezor Model T is currently available from the official Trezor website for US$195 (£143 / €168).
When you compare it to the other top crypto hardware wallets, it’s clear that the Trezor T is one of the more expensive options out there.
Here’s a quick look at the prices of some current best-sellers in the hardware wallet world, so you can see how the Model T stacks up:
| Wallet | GBP |
|---|---|
| Ledger Nano S | £54.50 |
| Trezor One | £53 |
| CoolWallet S | £73 |
| Ledger Nano X | £136.00 |
The only other crypto hardware wallets that come close to the Model T in price are the SecuX V20 and the Ellipal Titan, both of which sell for US$139 (£102 / €120). But neither of these wallets are nearly as popular as anything that Trezor makes.
They’re also still a whole lot cheaper than the Model T.
There are four things that you should keep in mind when buying a Trezor Model T.
- All Trezor wallet orders are processed in Euro (EUR). You have the option to pay via credit or debit card payments through GoPay, but you might end up paying a foreign transaction fee. You can also pay for a Trezor Model T using Bitcoin (BTC) or Litecoin (LTC) through Confirmo, which can help you avoid foreign transaction fees.
- All orders through the official Trezor website are shipped from the Czech Republic.You’ll avoid import duties and taxes if you’re from the EU, but everyone else should be prepared to pay customs fees on their orders.
- Trezor offers free standard shipping to the UK, the EU, and the US– but you might have to pay shipping fees in other places.
- Trezor has an official Amazon store that you might want to check out if shipping or customs costs would make buying a Model T a major hassle. You can also look at Trezor’s list of authorized resellers for a place near you.
Supported Cryptocurrencies
The Trezor Model T supports more than 1,200 coins, including:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Ripple (XRP)
- Tether (USDT)
- USD Coin (USDC)
- Binance Coin (BNB)
- All ERC-20 tokens
For more information, check out this complete list of all coins supported by Trezor.
Wallet Design
A well-designed hardware wallet can make accessing your crypto as easy as can be. Here’s what you can expect with the Trezor Model T.
What’s in the Box?
When you order a Trezor Model T, it’ll arrive in a compact package with plastic wrap and a tamper-proof seal. Inside the box, you’ll get:
- Trezor Model T wallet
- 2 Recovery seed cards
- Magnetic dock
- USB-C cable
- 4 Stickers
The Trezor Model T also comes with a quick getting started guide in the box. But you can also check out the Trezor website for tips on how to set up your new hardware wallet.
Physical Design
Satoshi Labs designed the Model T in the same sort of style as its uber-popular Model One. The primary physical difference between the two wallets is that the Model T has a much larger screen. It’s also slightly larger and heavier than its older sibling.
In particular, the Model T is 6.4 x 3.9 x 1 cm (2.5 x 1.5 x 0.4 in) in size and 22 g (0.77 oz) in weight. This makes it smaller than a credit card, but bulkier than the USB-shaped Ledger Nano X and Nano S.
Touchscreen!
The Model T is a high-tech crypto wallet, but if there’s one thing that really makes it special, it’s the device’s touch screen.
SatoshiLabs built the Model T to have a bright colour 240 x 240 pixel LCD touch screen. There are relatively few other wallets on the market that have touchscreens, though the SecuX V20 and the Ellipal Titan are some alternatives.
But neither of these companies is as popular as Trezor. So, the Model T is the wallet of choice for many crypto enthusiasts who want a hardware wallet with a touchscreen.
However, is a touchscreen really worth it?
That depends. For those of us who have spent the last decade using touchscreens on smartphones, having a wallet with a touchscreen is certainly helpful.
A large touchscreen makes it easier to read and confirm addresses before you send crypto. Plus, navigating menu options with a touchscreen is easier than using the funky button system on Ledger wallets.
But is it really worth paying upward of £45 (€51 / $60) more for? Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how much you value convenience.
Battery Life
Unlike some other hardware wallets, the Trezor Model T doesn’t have a battery. It only works when it’s plugged into an external power source, like your computer.
In some ways, you can view this as a benefit because it means you never have to charge your Model T. But there are downsides to a hardware wallet that doesn’t have a battery.
In particular, this means that you need to sit down at a computer or have an Android device in order to use a Model T. Unlike a Ledger Nano X or a CoolWallet S, both of which have batteries and Bluetooth compatibility, you can’t easily connect a Model T to iOS devices.
If you’re just looking for a wallet to leave at home for occasional transactions, this might not be a big deal. However, it means the Model T likely won’t be your best bet for making on-the-go transactions – particularly if you use an iPhone.
Durability
Because the Model T isn’t designed to be the type of wallet you carry around town, Trezor didn’t build it with a slew of durability-specific features. That being said, the wallet has a great operating temperature range of -20ºC to 60ºC (-4ºF to 140ºF).
However, it feels a little cheap and plasticy, like the Trezor One. On top of this, it doesn’t have the waterproof and drop-proof construction that you get with something like the CoolWallet S.
Wallet Interface
There are two interfaces available for the Trezor Model T: the Trezor Wallet and the Trezor Suite.
The Trezor Wallet is the company’s original wallet interface. It’s still available if you want to use it, but it was replaced by Trezor Suite in the summer of 2021 and it will be phased out over time.
Trezor Wallet is a browser-based wallet interface, which makes it a convenient option if you want to access your crypto from any computer. But, browser-based platforms are at risk for phishing attacks.
To counter this problem, SatoshiLabs created Trezor Suite. This is a desktop-based interface, so it reduces the risks of web-based hacking attacks.
However, Trezor Suite is currently only available for desktop—not for iOS or Android devices. You can access the web-based Trezor Wallet on an Android device and connect your Model T using USB-C. But the wallet isn’t directly compatible with iOS devices.
Trezor Suite is decidedly sleek and streamlined. It’s easy to navigate and it lets you quickly send or receive crypto to any public address. It also offers some unique features for more experienced traders.
Here’s a look at some of the more advanced functions and features that you can access with Trezor Suite.
In addition to basic wallet management functions, like sending and receiving crypto, Trezor Suite gives you access to some advanced functions. These include:
- Import from CSV – If you import multiple transactions to Trezor Suite using a CSV file, you can save time and network fees.
- OP_RETURN – With OP_RETURN, you can add up to 40 bytes of data to the blockchain for certain transactions.
- Multiple Addresses – Trezor Suite lets you send coins to multiple addresses using a single transaction, which can lower your network fees.
- Locktime – When you use Locktime, you can set up an earliest time or block height for a transaction to be mined into a block on the blockchain.
- Sign & Verify – Trezor’s Sign & Verify feature lets you confirm that you own a public address. This is sometimes required during coin airdrops and in other similar situations.
With Trezor Suite, you have quick access to crypto exchange features through Invity. Invity is a crypto interface built by SatoshiLabs that lets you buy, sell, and exchange coins on a number of exchanges across the web. It’s built-in to Trezor Suite, so it offers a simplified way to build your crypto portfolio without having to leave your wallet interface.
To use Invity, you simply need to open Trezor Suite, connect your Trezor Model T, and navigate to the Trade tab in the wallet interface.
Then, you can type in how much crypto you want to buy and Invity will show you current prices from different exchanges. You then choose the exchange you want to buy from and complete your payment through that provider’s interface.
After you buy your crypto, your funds are transferred directly to your Trezor Model T, where you can hold them or send them to any address.
Keep in mind that there are fees associated with crypto transactions made through Invity. These fees are included in the price that you see when you compare different exchanges. This can make it hard to know if you’re getting a good price, but it does mean that there won’t be any surprise fees after you confirm an order.
Security Features
The Trezor Model T comes jam-packed with features that you can use to protect your crypto and other important information. These are some of the security features that come built-in to the Model T.
Physical Security
Trezor physically protects its hardware wallets by using tamper-evident holograms and ultrasonic welding.
You’ll find the tamper-evident hologram on the packaging of your Model T when you open it for the first time. This hologram is sealed onto the opening of the box so you’ll know if someone else has tampered with your wallet.
The Model T is also protected using a process known as ultrasonic welding. With ultrasonic welding, the wallet’s reinforced plastic case is welded together using super-fast vibrations. These vibrations create heat that melts the different parts of the plastic case together.
This means that there are no nuts, bolts, or adhesives holding the Model T together. If someone tries to tamper with your wallet, they’ll visually damage it before they have access to your private keys.
PIN
All Trezor Model T wallets are protected using a PIN, which you’ll need to enter every time you want to authenticate a transaction. Thanks to the Model T’s touchscreen, entering this PIN is fast and easy to do.
For added protection against brute-force attacks, each failed PIN attempt leads to a delay before you can try a different PIN. The delay increases by a factor of two after each failed attempt to ward off hackers.
Additionally, Trezor states that “After 16 incorrect attempts, your device wipes itself, making it possible to access your funds only with the use of your recovery seed”.
So, someone who’s just trying to guess your PIN would eventually lock themselves out of your wallet. But you’ll still be able to access your private keys and your crypto with the recovery seed you generated during the wallet set-up process.
USB Connection
The Trezor Model T has a single USB-C receptacle port. Trezor states that “other means of communication such as WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, or even a fingerprint reader have been deliberately excluded to limit the possible attack surface.”
From a security standpoint, having just one option for connecting to the Model T can limit the types of attacks that can affect it.
However, the lack of Bluetooth or NFC capabilities means that you need to physically connect your Model T to your desktop every time you want to send or receive crypto. This makes the wallet a bit clunkier than other models, like the Ledger Nano X or the CoolWallet S, that can connect wirelessly via Bluetooth to a mobile device.
MultiSig Support
MultiSig (multisignature) is an advanced feature that helps secure Bitcoin (BTC) transactions. Basically, a multisignature address is a public address that is linked to multiple private keys.
The idea is that linking a public address to more than one private key adds an extra layer of security to transactions. If you want to send coins from a multisig address, you need signatures from most or all of the private keys associated with that address.
Multisig is easiest to access and set up with the Electrum app, though it’s not currently available in Trezor Suite.
Extra Features
The Trezor Model T is compatible with the Trezor Password Manager. This is a nifty additional feature that can be helpful if you don’t already have a password manager like LastPass, 1Password, or BitWarden.
Trezor Password Manager is a Chrome extension that can securely store passwords. The difference between Trezor Password Manager and other password managers is that Trezor’s platform doesn’t use a master password to access your data.
Rather, when you use Trezor Password Manager, your Model T becomes a physical security key.
Your passwords are stored in encrypted files either on Dropbox or Google Drive. To access your information, you need to connect your Model T and enter your PIN. Otherwise, no one will be able to access your data.
The Trezor Model T can serve as a physical security key for Trezor Password Manager. But it can also act as a physical security key for Universal 2nd Factor (U2F) and FIDO2.
As a result, you can use your Model T to secure important accounts with major platforms like Google, Facebook, and Twitter. This feature is automatically compatible with Chrome browsers, but you can manually add U2F to Firefox, too.
U2F and FIDO2 are two cool additional features to the Model T that you can’t get with many other wallets (but it is available with the Ledger Nano X and Nano S).
But the Model T is heavier and bulkier than most dedicated security keys, so it might be better as a backup than as your everyday key. It’s also not as widely accepted as the Yubikey or the Google Titan Security Key.
Alternatives
Not convinced that the Trezor Model T is the right wallet for you?
If you’re looking for a powerful hardware wallet that’s cheaper and more portable, the Ledger Nano X is a great option.
The Nano X is still a fairly expensive wallet and it doesn’t offer a touchscreen. But the Ledger Live wallet interface is top-notch and the Nano X is fully compatible with iOS and Android devices.
Alternatively, if a touchscreen is really what you’re after, the Secux V20 is worth considering. It has a larger, user-friendly interface with a full-colour touchscreen that’s even easier to navigate than the Model T.
The downside?
The Secux V20 is a newcomer to the crypto hardware wallet scene, so it hasn’t been as heavily tested and vetted as the wallets from Ledger and Trezor. It’s also a very bulky device that’s better suited for at-home use than for mobile transactions.
Summary: The Best Hardware Wallet?
The Trezor Model T is a great option for crypto enthusiasts that want a hardware wallet with a touchscreen and great security features.
Here’s what I like about the Model T:
- Touchscreen: The wallet’s touchscreen is easily its biggest selling point as it makes confirming transactions as easy as can be.
- Security: Trezor built the Model T with quality security features, like ultrasonic welding, to protect your cryptoassets.
- Wallet Interface: The Trezor Suite wallet interface offers advanced functionality, like exchange integrations, for an improved crypto trading and storage experience.
- Additional Features: In addition to serving as a hardware wallet, the Model T can also be a physical security key for U2F, FIDO2, and the Trezor Password Manager.
However, is the Trezor Model T worth the money?
I do have some reservations about whether the Model T is worth its price tag, especially when you consider that it’s not a mobile-friendly device. It’s also much heavier and bulkier than other popular wallets, so it’s not the most convenient option for carrying around in your pocket.
But if you’re really keen on a hardware wallet with a touchscreen and other advanced features? The Trezor Model T is definitely worth a second look.
Check out the official Trezor website to learn more or to get your very own Model T.
Any Questions
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