TREZOR Model T Review and Comparison
I love reviewing hardware wallets—it’s kind of a hobby of mine. In this article, I’ll be reviewing one of the high-end wallets, the TREZOR Model T. This device is one of the best hardware wallets out there, so read on for my full review.
Don’t like to read? Watch our video review instead!
TREZOR Model T Review Summary
The TREZOR Model T is a hardware wallet equipped with a touchscreen that allows you to store cryptocurrencies offline. Unlike most Bitcoin wallets that are connected to the internet, TREZOR keeps your private key far from the hands of hackers. Overall, the touchscreen is a great addition, but I’m not sure it’s worth the higher price tag.
That’s the TREZOR Model T in a nutshell. If you want a detailed review, keep on reading. Here’s what I’ll cover:
- What’s in the Box?
- The TREZOR T Device
- TREZOR T Supported Coins
- How Do I Setup My TREZOR Model T?
- Using the Model T’s Touchscreen
- The Corazon – A Premium Model T Version
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion – Is it Worth the Price?
1. What’s in the Box?
The box includes The TREZOR T hardware wallet, a USB-A to USB-C cable, two cards on which to write your recovery seed (we’ll go over that later), and some TREZOR fanboy stickers.
One neat gadget that’s also included is a magnetic dock. You can place the dock on a wall or something similar and rest the TREZOR T on it.
Initially, I thought this was a bit useless since a hardware wallet is used for the safe storage of coins, so why would you want to hang it in plain sight? However, one of our readers later suggested that you can use it to stick your Trezor underneath your desk or at the top side of a drawer, making it harder to find depending on your creativity.
2. The TREZOR Model T Device
The TREZOR T also comes with a holographic seal covering its USB port, so you know whether the device has been compromised. If the sticker on the port isn’t completely intact, it could mean that someone has tampered with your new device.
The wallet is relatively light and fits easily in your pocket. You can get a feel of the overall size from the picture above.
The TREZOR T also has a slot for a MicroSD card, and using this feature can provide extra protection against physical attacks. Note that the SD card won’t store your recovery seed or any private keys.
The device can be connected to any laptop/desktop using a USB-C connection.
3. TREZOR Model T Supported Coins
At the moment, the TREZOR Model T supports more than 8,000 coins. The most popular coins supported are:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Tether (USDT)
- Binance (BNB)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Ripple (XRP)
- Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
- Litecoin (LTC)
TREZOR has three different hardware wallets: the TREZOR Model One, the Model T, and the Safe 3. There is some variability in which wallets support which cryptocurrencies. Before purchasing one of TREZOR’s wallets, make sure the coin is supported on the device you’re interested in. The full list can be seen here.
4. How Do I Setup My TREZOR Model T?
Just like with the original TREZOR (the TREZOR One), the installation process is pretty simple and includes the following steps:
- Download and install the TREZOR Suite (a piece of software to help you manage the TREZOR).
- Install the latest firmware on your TREZOR.
- That’s it!
A seed phrase is basically the “password” to your cryptocurrency wallet. This is not to be confused with your private key, which is a string of 256 alphanumeric characters. Both of these can unlock your wallet.
In fact, your seed phrase is basically your private key in a different format. A seed phrase is comprised of 12-24 words in a certain order. Whoever knows these words has complete access to your cryptocurrency wallet.
(For a detailed explanation about seed phrases and private keys, watch our video episode about Bitcoin wallets)
During the installation, you’ll be prompted by a warning to back up your seed phrase. This is the step where you should write down the words shown in the correct order.
Whenever you’re ready, you can go through the process of writing down your seed (this is a one-time process only) and continue the setup process.
5. Using the Model T’s Touchscreen
Interacting with the Model T is pretty similar to the TREZOR One. The main difference is that the Model T has a touchscreen instead of two buttons. While the touchscreen is much prettier than the buttons, I had a bit of a hard time interacting with it because it’s just too small.
The main benefit is that you now don’t need to interact with your computer during certain processes, such as setting your PIN code or recovering your wallet.
TREZOR mixes the keypad from time to time so that hackers or someone who is following your keystrokes won’t be able to guess which numbers you’re pressing.
See how the keypad numbers change positions between screens?
6. The Corazon
For those of you who want to invest in a sturdier, breathtaking version of the Model T, there is the Corazon hardware wallet.
Simply put, this is a TREZOR Model T housed in an aerospace-grade titanium case assembled by Gray, a company specializing in high-end, futuristic craftsmanship.
While there’s no inherent difference between the TREZOR Model T and the Corazon, here are some things to consider:
Unique texture
The Corazon’s texture is specially engineered, making it almost impossible to forge. This allows Gray (the manufacturer) to identify if the device is genuine or not. If you’re unsure about the product’s authenticity, send Gray a picture and video of it, and they can verify it for you.
Note: Gray is able to verify the authenticity of their Titanium variant only, not the Aluminum.
Anti-Tamper Design
The Corazon has a special tamper-proof design that prevents any chance of disassembling the product, changing the electronics inside and closing the hardware with no visible signs of it being compromised.
This provides protection from bad actors that can intercept the product while it’s being shipped to you. You would literally have to use an electrical saw to access and change the electronics inside.
The Trezor Model T also has a similar anti-tamper-proof design, but because it’s made of plastic, the process is a little different. Trezor uses what is called ultrasonic welding, in which the plastic cases are welded together through very fast vibrations, which generates heat and joins the two plastic cases together.
Is the Corazon Worth the Price?
The Corazon is a stunning piece of hardware, and it also feels a lot sturdier than the original Model T. However, the Corazon is also much heavier and less comfortable to carry around than the Model T.
The Corazon Titanium version costs $999 for the base model – that’s almost 5 times what an original Model T costs. Then you have the Stealth and Gold Titanium editions, which have a very limited supply.
They also have Aluminum variations as well, with that model costing $599.
Personally, I don’t think the features mentioned above are worth the price increase, but I guess some people would see the appeal.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does the TREZOR Model T Cost?
The TREZOR Model T costs $219 for one device or $313 for the ‘Trezor Legacy Bundle’ which includes a TREZOR T and a Cryptotag metal seed backup. The price does not include VAT or shipping.
TREZOR Model T vs. Ledger Nano S Plus
Today I use a Ledger Nano S Plus and a TREZOR One to manage my funds, so I think I can give a good perspective.
TREZOR’s main competition is Ledger. On the price tag level, the Nano S Plus costs $79, while the TREZOR T costs $219.
The main advantage the Model T has over the Nano S Plus is the touchscreen. When it comes to coin support, the Model T supports over 8,000 coins, while the S Plus supports more than 5,500 coins.
From a usability perspective, they are pretty similar, although the Ledger Nano S Plus is a bit smaller (an advantage, in my opinion) and has a more intuitive interface. Also, Ledger has their Ledger Live software, which does an excellent job of managing the different coins stored on your device. Currently, Ledger Live is able to manage NFTs, while the Trezor Suite cannot.
To sum it up – I feel that there’s no real justification to migrate from the Nano S Plus to the Model T. If you’re on the fence about which model to buy, I think the Nano S Plus wins by a nose.
TREZOR Model T vs. TREZOR Safe 3
The number of coins supported is the same on the Trezor Model T and the Trezor Safe 3. As far as features, they both support Shamir Backup. The Trezor Safe 3 has a Secure Element chip, while the Model T does not. The Model T, however, has a fancy touchscreen, which the Safe 3 lacks.
If I had to choose between the two models today, I’d probably choose the Trezor Safe 3 because it’s TREZOR’s newest wallet, and the touchscreen on the Model T is not that important to me personally.
In my opinion, the additional price tag ($219 for the Trezor Model T vs. $79 for the Trezor Safe 3) just doesn’t justify the added functionality. The device is also a bit larger than the Trezor Safe 3, which is actually a downside for me.
8. Conclusion – Is the TREZOR Model T Worth the Price?
The TREZOR Model T is a great piece of hardware, with its main feature being, of course, the touchscreen. If you’re recovering your wallet from a seed, this means you won’t be typing in your seed on your computer but on your device – and this is an extra security measure to help keep your seed safe.
If you aren’t price sensitive and don’t carry your TREZOR around, I guess it’s much cooler to own the Model T. Bottom line: it’s a great product—but I think its cheaper brother (or competitor) is still better.
TREZOR Model T
$219
Pros
- Great design
- Great company reputation
- Intuitive interface
- Touchscreen
Cons
- Expensive relative to the alternatives
Indeed. I bought the Trezor one and are now considering to buy the t due to support of coins.
Trezor T vs Trezor One is more than that dude. For example, the Trezor T also supports FIDO 2, which the Trezor One does not. This means your Trezor T can be used for both single sign-on and second authentication 2FA for any site. Trezor One has limited support in that area. Also Trezor One does not support all coins, many of which are highly valued such as Cardano. You are doing a disservice by suggesting that only difference is price.
I don’t understand how one gets their coins off of the exchange and into your wallet?
The exchange is a wallet. The Trezor is a wallet with an address. Simply send your coins from your exchange to your wallet’s address.
Just remember, there are no coins. Coins are not really stored on any exchange or any wallet. There is only a public ledger (the blockchain) that keeps track of the amount of bitcoin (just a decimal number) that belongs to each public address. The only way to “own” bitcoin is to be the only person who knows the private key for a public address so that you can send the number it represents to another address. “Sending coins from an exchange account to your wallet’s address” really means that you have the blockchain record a transfer from some address that the exchange controls (only they know the private key) to an address that you control (only you know the private key). Hardware, software and paper wallets are just different ways to generate, store, and use address/key pairs. They don’t actually hold “coins”.
Really wish they’d make the trezor twork with iOS
Can I use trezor though a I phone as I can with a ledger nano x.
Thanks
How disuse a lightning iPad connection for The cheaper Trezor Or do I never a different wallet?