Cryptocurrency hardware wallet maker Ledger revealed the next generation of their popular Nano range at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas over the weekend. The Ledger Nano X, successor to the popular Nano S, comes with a number of upgrades and improvements sure to excite those who don’t yet have a hardware wallet and those that feel an upgrade is warranted.
A Worthy Upgrade
Modelled on the Nano S, but sporting a sleeker design, the wallet comes with the message that “security can co-exist with simplicity”, and its extra features encourage that philosophy. The main security improvement on the Nano X is the upgraded “certified secure element”, meaning that the same technology that protects credit cards will now be protecting your private keys. For those of a more technical mind, the chip itself is an ST33 as opposed to the ST31 present in the Nano S, which, according to Ledger, makes it the most suitable device yet for using out and about.
The Nano X also works in tandem with the Ledger Live mobile app, although the headline grabber here is the Bluetooth connectivity, meaning you can interact with a phone or computer easier than ever before. So, no more hunting around for a USB cable when you need to contribute to that ICO you have your eye on. Pre-empting concerns about the security of the Bluetooth connection, especially in the wake of the holes that were found in the Nano S devices just a week ago, Ledger have stated the following information, which may or may not reassure security-conscious individuals:
The private keys never leave the secure chip, therefore Bluetooth communication (BLE) does not expose the Ledger Nano X to any additional security threat. The BLE connection is end-to-end encrypted to protect user privacy. In the unlikely case, the BLE transport were to be compromised, an attacker would never be able to extract private keys or make users sign a transaction they do not wish to sign.
Flatscreen is the Future
In terms of design, the overall shape and core design is very similar to the Nano S. The resolution is improved, with twice as many vertical pixels meaning text and images are sharper and more can fit on the screen at once. The keyring hole has sleek-looking plugs that can be inserted if the device is to be kept at home, and the screen is completely flat which gives it a more contemporary feel compared to the Nano S whose screen was indented into the device. We’re a few generations away from an all-singing, all-dancing touchscreen device, but some of the features in this model certainly help get us in that direction. Trezor, it’s over to you…
