Trezor Model T review
- Supported assets
- 1,000
- Price (USD)
- $149
- Wallet type
- Hardware wallet
Our verdict
The Trezor Model T is Trezor's flagship model, but is it worth the price?The Trezor Model T is the most advanced hardware wallet Trezor offers.
The Model T came to market in February 2018 and provides the same level of high security we've come to expect from Trezor — one of the most trusted names in the world of hardware wallets.
The Model T allows you to store the private keys to 1,000+ digital assets, including NFTs. The Model T is also the only hardware wallet on the market today that has a touch screen.
But the device lacks in its mobile device compatibility, and the native software for the device — the Trezor Suite — does not offer as many features as Ledger's native software. With that in mind, Trezor has a strong focus on Bitcoin and offers many unique features Bitcoin enthusiasts may be interested in, such as Taproot support and Shamir Backup.
Pros
-
Large touch screen (240x240px)
-
Cold storage for over 1,000 crypto assets
-
Multisignature protection for your Bitcoin
-
Supports Taproot and allows you to engage with Bitcoin (BTC) smart contracts
-
Can anonymise transactions in Trezor Suite using the Tor interface
-
Features the Shamir Backup system to help distribute your recovery phrase across multiple locations
-
Can use MoonPay in conjunction with Model T to purchase crypto with fiat
-
Can be synced with Exodus Wallet for improved usability
-
Supports NFTs on Ethereum
-
Can be synced with third-party Web3 wallets such as MetaMask for DeFi
Cons
-
One of the more expensive hardware wallets on the market today
-
Limited mobile compatibility
-
Can't stake assets via native Trezor Suite software
-
Can't manage NFTs via Trezor Suite
-
Doesn't support iOS
The Trezor Model T is the most advanced hardware wallet Trezor offers.
The Model T came to market in February 2018 and provides the same level of high security we've come to expect from Trezor — one of the most trusted names in the world of hardware wallets.
The Model T allows you to store the private keys to 1,000+ digital assets, including NFTs. The Model T is also the only hardware wallet on the market today that has a touch screen.
But the device lacks in its mobile device compatibility, and the native software for the device — the Trezor Suite — does not offer as many features as Ledger's native software. With that in mind, Trezor has a strong focus on Bitcoin and offers many unique features Bitcoin enthusiasts may be interested in, such as Taproot support and Shamir Backup.
What's in the box?
You'll find the following items in the box for the Trezor Model T:
- Trezor Model T device with a holographic seal over the connector
- USB-C cable
- Getting started card (package)
- Magnetic dock
- 2 recovery seed cards
- 4 Trezor stickers
⚠️ Must read: Check for tampering
Before unboxing your Trezor Model T, carefully check the shrink wrap and the box itself for any evidence of tampering.
Once you open the box, make sure that the holographic sticker over the USB input for the Trezor device itself hasn't been tampered with. If someone has accessed your device, it may be vulnerable to hacking and theft of funds.
Contact Trezor support if you have any concerns about the integrity of your device.
Trezor Model T price
The Model T sells for US$149 through Trezor's official website.
This puts its price point significantly above Ledger's Nano X, its top-of-the-line model that retails for US$149.
The Model T is also significantly pricier than Trezor's entry-level wallet – the Trezor One – which retails for US$59.
Where to buy the Trezor Model T in Canada
Purchase the Model T directly from Trezor's website – and not from a third party – to reduce the chances of someone tampering with your device before it reaches you.
Trezor lists some authorised resellers that sell the Model T on its site. If you decide to buy from a reseller, these are the only ones that you should consider.
Trezor Model T supported coins
The Model T can store private keys to 1,000+ digital assets – which is more than what the Trezor One supports (9,000+).
But it's far less than the 5,500+ digital assets that Ledger hardware wallets support.
Managing NFTs on the Model T
You can store the private keys to your NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain with your Model T.
But you won't be able to view or manage your NFTs using Trezor Suite. You'll have to sync your Model T with a third-party software wallet such as MetaMask instead.
Purchasing and swapping crypto coins through Trezor Suite
You can now use MoonPay in Trezor Suite to purchase crypto with dozens of fiat currencies, including Canadian dollars.
And if you want to swap your crypto, there's no need to send your coins to an exchange. Instead, you can do so in Trezor Suite using a swap feature powered by Changelly, which allows you to swap coins and tokens across blockchains.
Trezor Model T security
The main hardware mechanism that secures the Model T is its ARM Cortex-M4 embedded-arm processor @ 168 Mhz.
Because the core technologies that Trezor employs are all open-source – including its physical hardware – anyone is able to review and test the code in an effort to expose flaws.
In October 2019, crypto exchange Kraken found a flaw that made the older Trezor Model One model hackable if a user had physical access, the required tools and specialised knowledge. In response, Trezor made the necessary changes to future editions of its hardware wallets to eradicate this flaw.
You can use the Shamir Backup system to secure the assets that you manage on your Model T. This system distributes your recovery phrase among up to 16 shares so that your phrase can be broken up and secured in multiple locations.
Trezor specs compared
The most prominent difference between the Model T versus the Trezor One is that the Model T has a touch screen and will cost you more out of pocket.
Trezor Model One | Trezor Model T | |
---|---|---|
Finder score
★★★★★Read full review |
Finder score
★★★★★ |
|
Dimensions | 60 x 30 x 6mm | 64 x 39 x 10mm |
Display | 128×64px OLED screen | 240×240px LCD touch screen |
Security mechanism | ARM Cortex-M3 embedded-arm processor @ 120Mhz | ARM Cortex-M4 embedded-arm processor @ 168Mhz |
Security certifications | CE and RoHS certified (consumer safety, health and environmental health award | CE and RoHS certified (consumer safety, health and environmental health award |
Connection | USB-A, WebUSB, Micro USB (for mobile) | USB-C (for mobile), WebUSB |
Compatibility | PC (Windows 10+, macOS 10.11+ and Linux), Mobile (Android) | PC (Windows 10+, macOS 10.11+ and Linux), Mobile (Android) |
Backup | 12-24-word seed phrase | 12-24-word seed phrase | Coin support | 9,000+ | 1,000+ |
Staking | Yes, but only when linked to third-party wallets | Yes, but only when linked to third-party wallets |
NFT management capability | ✅ | ✅ |
Exchange built in to native software (Trezor Suite) | ✅ | ✅ |
Price (USD) | $59 | $149 |
Buy the Trezor Model One | Buy the Trezor Model T |
Trezor Model T vs Ledger
As the Trezor Model T is the flagship Trezor model, it can be compared to the Ledger Nano X – Ledger's flagship hardware wallet model.
The Model T's most defining feature is its touch screen, which is something that the Ledger Nano X lacks.
But the Ledger Nano X supports 5,500+ crypto coins and tokens, while the Model T only supports 1,000+ and the Ledger Nano X is Bluetooth-enabled and iOS compatible, whereas the Model T is neither. Trezor maintains the decision to omit Bluetooth is intentional as it believes it makes its devices more secure.
The Model T provides an extra layer of security for your digital assets with its Shamir Backup system and multisig signing.
Trezor vs. LedgerHow to set up the Trezor Model T
Make sure that the shrink wrap around the box in which you receive your device, the box itself, and the holographic sticker over the USB input for the device haven't been tampered with before setting up your Model T. If you suspect tampering, contact Trezor support for assistance.
Follow these steps to set up your Trezor Model T device:
- Go to https://suite.trezor.io/start/ on your desktop computer.
- Click the "Get Desktop App" button and download Trezor Suite for whatever desktop operating system you run.
- Connect your Model T to your desktop using the USB-C cord.
- Click the "Setup Trezor" button.
- Click the "Install firmware" button.
- Click the "Create new wallet" button.
- Click either the "Standard seed backup" button or the "Shamir share backup" button. (These instructions will proceed as if you chose the "Standard seed backup" option.
- Click the green check mark next to "Do you really want to create a new wallet?"
- Click the "Create backup" button and record your recovery seed on the recovery seed cards provided.
- Click the "Begin backup" button to confirm that you understand the back-up instructions.
- Click the "I understand" button in response to the statement: "Never make a digital copy of your recovery seed and never upload it online!"
- Write down the 12 recovery seed words in order as they appear on the device's touch screen.
- Press the "Hold to confirm" button on the device's touch screen once you've written down all 12 words in order.
- Type in each recovery word as the device prompts you to do so. This verifies that you've written down the 12-word recovery phrase correctly. Press the "Continue" button.
- Click the "Continue to PIN" button in the "Wallet backup complete" window and click the green check mark next to the "Do you really want to enable PIN protection?" text.
- Click the "Set PIN" button and enter the PIN on the device's touch screen.
- You may also be prompted to give your Model T a name.
How to use the Trezor Model T
To use your Model T, you will use the Trezor Suite app on your desktop in conjunction with the device.
Connecting with Trezor Suite
Once Trezor Suite is open, follow these steps:
- Open the Trezor Suite app on your desktop.
- Plug your Model T into your desktop using the USB-C cable.
- Enter the PIN for your Model T.
- If you gave your Model T a name, you will need to confirm the name.
Alternatives to Trezor Model T
Frequently asked questions
Hardware wallet ratings methodology
We full rate cryptocurrency hardware wallets by scoring each wallet out of 10 for 3 components: security, functionality and cost. Each component is weighted based on importance, as follows:
- Security: 50%
- Functionality: 40%
- Cost: 10%
These scores are aggregated and visualised as a total score out of 5 stars.
- "Trezor adds MoonPay for hardware wallet crypto purchases," MoonPay, Aug. 30, 2022
- "User manual: Unboxing the Trezor device," Trezor Wiki
- "Security processes and benefits," Satoshi Labs
- "Kraken identifies critical flaw in Trezor hardware wallets," Kraken, Jan. 31, 2020
- "Trade crypto in Trezor Suite app," Trezor
- "You won't need to look for an exchange anymore. It is in your Trezor Wallet.," Trezor
Your reviews
Frank Finder
Writer
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