What are several Bitcoins? It's probably several flats in different cities worldwide. It makes sense to take care of its proper savings. There are known cases when exchanges got hacked, bankrupt, or just blocked funds – so it's not our choice.
The most reliable option developed until now is a cold hardware wallet – that is physical and can't be hacked through the internet.
Two developers from the Czech Republic were the first to notice this need. That's why they presented Trezor wallets and, thus, launched the market of Bitcoin cold wallets. Until now, they remain leaders among similar products.
In this article, we will take a closer look at their invention and each wallet individually. We'll give you enough arguments to help you choose one of them.
Brief overview of Trezor
Trezor is the first blockchain original wallet, which did a real revolution. It was invented in 2014 by two friends from Czechia: Pavol "Stick" Rusnák and Marek "Slush" Palatinus. Slush was already known among crypto enthusiasts, having created the first Bitcoin mining pool, named Slush Pool (now Braiins Pool).
As guys say, initially, it was just a pet project—a wallet for their friends who asked for it. However, it turned out there was a demand on the market, so they decided to broaden their production of wallets. They named their product "Trezor," which translates to "safe" or "vault" in Czech. Along with this, they created the company SatoshiLabs.
For now, Trezor's product line has 4 models of wallet: Trezor One, Trezor Safe 3, Trezor Safe 5, Trezor Model T, wallets specifically for Bitcoins, and accessories.
What unites all these wallets?
- Benchmark of security: every next wallet is better than the previous one.
- Open-source code: any interested developer worldwide can point out mistakes and propose some changes.
- Trezor Suite: an additional software to manage funds in the wallet. It's available for Windows, macOS, and Linux and as an Android mobile app. Having integration with the Tor network will anonymize your internet traffic. So, no cookies, no surveillance from your internet provider.
Trezor One Review
The first-created, basic wallet model is Trezor One. It's a reliable instrument for storing bitcoins with nothing extra. You don't need a login and password to enter – only a PIN code. If you forget it or somebody stole your device, use the seed phrase – 12- or 24-word phrase you created once when setting up your wallet.
Someone may find your recorded seed phrase and try to use it. So, you can develop a secret word for your seed phrase, which is called "passphrase." You should memorize this word and not write it down anywhere.
Seedphrase leads to the "standard" wallet, while the passphrase leads to the "hidden wallet." It's recommended to save cryptocurrency for daily use on the standard wallet and your main savings on the hidden wallet. Thus, attackers won’t steal your true holdings.
It's also a rescue option if someone physically attacks you and forces you to open the wallet.
Trezor One wallet has basic functions, it's super easy to use. One of the best characteristics of its model is the nice price – $49.
Among the disadvantages is the absence of features of the following Trezor models.
Trezor Safe 3 Review
The new model Safe 3, which the company introduced, has advanced security technology. Its name hints at enhanced safety measures.
Technology EAL6+ certified chip represents a specific chip embedded directly in the wallet. It provides hardware-based protection against physical and side-channel attacks.
The wallet has a convenient function – "View only" – meaning you can check your balance without logging into your wallet.
The wallet has two cons: it's prone to scratches – but you can fix it by buying a bumper. And simple design like Trezor One has – without a touchscreen, with just two buttons.
Trezor Safe 5 Review
Here is our finalist – Trezor Safe 5, the latest model of Trezor. It features a new backup protocol called SLIP39, an NDA-free EAL6+ certified Secure Element chip, color touchscreen, and tactile feedback.
How does this wallet's security differ from the previous one?
Trezor Safe 3 has BIP39 or Shamir Backup; for Trezor Safe 5, the developers made up SLIP-39 – its advanced version. So, it has a 20-word seed phrase, and these words are easily distinguished. But at the same time, if you got used to it, or it's easier for you, you can choose the BIP39 standard and choose either a 12- or 24-word seed phrase instead of the 20-word one.
The security chip is meant to prevent brute-force attacks. However, this one, in contrast with the Safe 3, is NDA-free. The NDA-free secure element in Safe 5 does not require SatoshiLabs to hide the chip's implementation, so they can publicly share its details.
Besides that 20-word seed phrase, you can also set a passphrase with a microSD card that is encrypted into the wallet.
This wallet supports almost all cryptocurrencies. If you discover that it doesn't have yours, you can connect this wallet with another, and you will be able to do it. Trezor Safe 5 supports 9,000+ coins, and you can connect to third-party wallets (e.g., MetaMask, Electrum) for broader support.
However, now the wallet has released a new product – "Keep Metal." It's a capsule where there are 4 first letters of every word from the seed phrase.
For those who care about design, this model is clearly the leader. It has a bright, full-color 1.54" touchscreen with tactile feedback. It makes the interaction with the wallet faster.
Safe 3 vs Safe 5 vs Trezor One Comparison
Let's compare the Trezor models according to the most important characteristics:
Usability
Trezor One is the most basic model, good for beginners. It offers two colors, black and white, and has two buttons—one for confirming and one for canceling. Trezor Safe 3 also has two buttons but is more diverse in colors like blue, green, and silver. It adds more features while staying easy to use. Trezor Safe 5 has twice bigger color touchscreen. You can choose between black, violet, and green colors.
Design & Interface
| Feature | Trezor One | Trezor Safe 3 | Trezor Safe 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons/Touchscreen | Buttons | Buttons | Touchscreen |
| Display Type | OLED (small) | OLED (bigger) | Full-color touchscreen |
| Build Quality | Plastic | Metal/Plastic | Premium Plastic |
Security
Trezor One lets you set a PIN, passphrase, and 12- or 24-word recovery seed phrases. Safe 3 and Safe five both include an EAL6+ certified secure element chip inside the wallet. They also support 12-, 20-, or 24-word seed phrases. Safe 5 uses special technology – Shamir Backup, which splits your seedphrase into multiple shares to keep it safer.
- Secure element (present in Safe 3 & 5, not in One)
- Shamir Backup (Safe 3 & 5 only)
- Passphrase and PIN
- Open-source status of each
Coin Support
Trezor One supports over 1,000 cryptocurrencies, though it doesn't support coins like XRP or ADA. Safe 3 and Safe 5 support over 8,000 coins, including them. All three models can integrate third-party wallets like MetaMask.
| Feature | Trezor One | Trezor Safe 3 | Trezor Safe 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTC, ETH, LTC | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Advanced tokens (e.g. Solana) | ❌ (limited) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Total Assets Supported | ~1000+ | ~8000+ | ~8000+ |
Performance
Trezor One is simple and suitable for basic use. Safe 3 is faster, and Safe 5 is the best in terms of speed, thanks to its touchscreen.
Price & Value
Tresor One is $59, Safe 3 costs $79, Safe 5 is $169. Tresor One looks like a pretty good option to be your first.
| Feature | Trezor One | Trezor Safe 3 | Trezor Safe 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Price (2025) | ~$59 | ~$79 | ~$169 |
| Value for Beginners | ✅✅✅ | ✅✅ | ✅ |
| Value for Power Users | ❌ | ✅ | ✅✅✅ |
Time to decide
Tresor leaves no doubts about the professionalism of the developers' team and the high quality of their products. But how to find the most suitable wallet among the present ones? Nothing fancy – decide what features are critical to you and how much money you are ready to pay for it.
The Trezor Model One is a solid choice for beginners. The Trezor Safe 3 offers a balanced approach with advanced features at a reasonable price. And, the freshest one, Trezor Safe 5, is perfect for active users who plan to use their wallet frequently and like the technology to respond as quickly as possible.
Pros & Cons Summary Table
| Model | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Trezor One | Affordable, open-source, beginner-friendly | Small screen, no secure element, limited coin support |
| Safe 3 | Mid-range price, secure chip, Shamir backup | No touchscreen, less advanced UI |
| Safe 5 | Best screen, maximum security, sleek UI | Pricey, possibly overkill for casual users |
Kataryna Habeliia
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