Ledger Nano S Plus review

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The Ledger Nano S Plus hardware wallet provides the same level of security as Ledger's original hardware wallet — the Nano S — but with most of its premium Nano X features.

Ledger introduced the Nano S Plus model in April 2022 after announcing it would be decommissioning the Nano S following its final production run.

For only US$20 more than the Nano S, the Nano S Plus is a significant upgrade to its predecessor.

It offers competitive value for money to anyone looking for secure, offline private key storage to manage a market-leading range of cryptos and NFTs. And you can also buy, sell and swap your crypto assets using the Nano S Plus in conjunction with Ledger Live.

But the device hasn't made any headway with mobile device compatibility, and you can only stake a small selection of tokens via the device's native Ledger Live interface.

Nano S Plus pros and cons

Pros

• Larger screen size (128 x 64px) than the original Nano S
• Supports 5,500+ tokens
• Runs up to 100 apps simultaneously
• Highly secure; CC EAL 5+ rating
• Native support for NFTs
• Device times out after a period of inactivity
• Buy and sell crypto directly from your wallet

Cons

• More expensive than the original Nano S
• No Bluetooth connection
• Not compatible with iOS
• Can't stake many cryptos via Ledger Live
• Inputting PIN regularly can be tedious

What's in the box?

⚠️ Must read

Before using your Ledger Nano S Plus, carefully check the shrink wrap and box for any evidence of tampering.

If someone has accessed your device, it may be vulnerable to hacking and theft of funds.

Contact Ledger support if you have any concerns about the integrity of your device.

Ledger Nano S Plus price

The Ledger Nano S Plus sells for US$79 through Ledger's official website.

This puts its price point somewhere between the Ledger Nano S, which retailed for US$59, and the Ledger Nano X at US$149.

Though slightly pricier than Trezor's equivalent entry-level wallet, the Trezor One, it features a range of additional capabilities that make the extra outlay worthwhile for most people.

Where to buy the Nano S Plus in the US

Purchase the Nano S Plus directly from Ledger's website - and not from a third party - to reduce the chances of someone tampering with your device before it reaches you.

Ledger does list some authorized retailers that sell the Nano S Plus on its site. If you do decide to buy from a reseller, these are the only ones that you should consider.

Go to Ledger's website

Nano S Plus coin support

The Ledger Nano S Plus can store private keys to more than 5,500 digital assets, which puts it on par with other devices in the Ledger range.

If being able to manage a wide range of coins is important to you, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better cold storage wallet. Trezor's range of wallets comes in next best with support for around 1,800 assets.

At the time of writing, Ledger Live supports NFTs on the Ethereum (ETH) and Polygon (MATIC) blockchains only.

If you have NFTs on other blockchains, that's fine. You can still pair your Nano S Plus with a software wallet like MetaMask. Doing so will let you manage NFTs on a variety of different blockchains, but with the added security of your Ledger wallet.

Nano S Plus security

All Ledger hardware wallets, including the Nano S Plus, benefit from the same top-level security rating.

The National Cybersecurity Agency of France is responsible for conducting a range of evaluations to verify device security. (Ledger is based in France.)

All Ledger devices use Secure Element chips, which are also used in credit cards, passports and SIM cards. While this level of chip isn't a requirement for hardware wallets, Ledger opts to use it anyway.

Ledger devices pass the Common Criteria security evaluation, an international standard for state requirements and banking cards, and earn an Evaluation Assurance Level (EAL) 5+ certificate.

An EAL 5+ certificate indicates that a device offers:

• The highest level of defense against penetration — or hacking — attempts.
• Protection from both remote and physical attacks.

Ledger states on its site that "going beyond EAL 5+ does not provide a higher assurance against attacks anymore."

Ledger Nano product specs compared

	Ledger Nano S Plus	Ledger Nano S	Ledger Nano X
	Finder score ★★★★★	Finder score ★★★★★ Read full review	Finder score ★★★★★ Read full review
Dimensions	62.39 x 17.40 x 8.24mm	56.95 x 17.40 x 9.11mm	72 x 18.6 x 11.75mm
Weight	21g	16.2g	34g
Screen size	128 x 64px	128 x 32px	128 x 64px
Coin support	5,500+	5,500+	5,500+
Apps that can run simultaneously	Up to 100	Up to 6	Up to 100
Storage capacity	1.5MB	320KB	2MB
Bluetooth	❌	❌	✅
Battery life	No battery	No battery	8 hours
Connection type	USB-A to USB-C	USB-A to Micro USB	USB-A to USB-C
Native NFT support	✅	❌	✅
Security rating	CC EAL5+	CC EAL5+	CC EAL5+
Mobile phone compatibility	Android	Android	Android, iOS
Supported desktop OS	Windows 8+, macOS 10.10+, and Linux	Windows 8+, macOS 10.10+, and Linux	Windows 8+, macOS 10.10+, and Linux
Price (USD)	$79	$59	$149
	Buy the Nano S Plus	No longer for sale	Buy the Nano X

Nano S Plus vs. Nano X

Nano S Plus vs. Nano S

For only US$20 more, the Nano S Plus represents a significant upgrade on the discontinued Nano S.

With Nano S Plus, you can manage NFTs with native support and hold the private keys to significantly more types of digital assets than the Nano S. It can also run more digital asset apps simultaneously than the Nano S.

How to set up the Nano S Plus

Make sure that the box's shrink wrap hasn't been compromised before setting up the Nano S Plus. If it has, your device may be susceptible to a hack, and you should not proceed with setup.

How to use the Nano S Plus

• Adding apps to your Nano S Plus

  To store the private keys to your various digital assets on your Nano S Plus, you must first add the apps that support each blockchain to your Nano S Plus:

  1. Using the Ledger Live interface, select the apps — like Ethereum — you'd like to add to your device.
  2. Confirm the addition of these apps by following the directions on your Nano S Plus device.
  3. Both Ledger Live and your Nano S Plus will show that the app is downloading.
  4. Repeat for all of the apps you'd like to use on your device.

• Receiving funds on your Nano S Plus

  Here's how to store the private keys to your Bitcoin (BTC), for example, on your Nano S Plus:

  1. Open the Bitcoin app on Ledger Live.
  2. Copy the Bitcoin wallet address displayed in the app.
  3. Follow the directions on your Nano S Plus to verify the address is correct.
  4. Input the address in the space provided in the wallet from which you're sending funds.
  5. Wait for the transaction to process. Some transactions can take longer than others based on network congestion.

  Your updated balance will be visible via Ledger Live once the transaction has gone through.

  Follow the same steps for whichever digital assets you'd like to manage via your Nano S Plus.

• Buying crypto on your Nano S Plus

  You can now buy, sell and swap crypto using nothing more than your Nano S Plus in conjunction with Ledger Live.

  To buy crypto, follow these steps:

  1. Plug your Nano S Plus into your computer and open Ledger Live on your desktop.
  2. On the menu to the left side of the Ledger Live interface, click on the "Buy/Sell" button.
  3. To buy crypto, click on the "Buy" button and then click on "Find the right provider for you".
  4. Type in the amount of fiat you'd like to use to purchase your crypto in the "You will pay" box and then select the type of fiat you'd like to pay with.
  5. In the "To buy" box, select the crypto asset you'd like to purchase. The amount you can purchase given the US dollar amount you typed into the "You will pay" box will automatically pop up.
  6. Click "Confirm amount".
  7. On the next screen, select the country where you live and the payment method you'd like to use. Payment methods include credit and debit cards, bank transfers, Google Play and Apple Pay.
  8. Once you've made your selection, click the "Find eligible partners" button.
  9. On the following screen, choose the provider you'd like to use. Providers include Coinify, Ramp, MoonPay and others.
  10. Follow the instructions for the provider you selected. For example, if you use MoonPay, you'll have to set up a MoonPay account and download the app for the digital asset you'd like to purchase beforehand. If you'd like to purchase Bitcoin (BTC), download the Bitcoin app to your Nano S Plus if you haven't already before proceeding.
  11. When you click on MoonPay, you'll be brought to an overview of your desired purchase.
  12. Click "Continue" and then enter your email address to log into your MoonPay account.
  13. In the "BTC wallet address" box, select your Nano S Plus BTC wallet address and click "Continue".
  14. MoonPay will prompt you to connect your Nano S Plus and confirm your Bitcoin address.
  15. Match the address in Ledger Live to the address on your Nano S Plus and then click both buttons on your Nano S Plus simultaneously after checking that the address matches and scrolling to a screen that reads "Approve" on your Nano S Plus.
  16. Check your inbox for a 6-digit verification code from MoonPay and type that into MoonPay in Ledger Live.
  17. Agree to the terms and conditions after reading them and click "Buy now".
  18. Select your payment option. These include a credit or debit card or a bank transfer.
  19. If you choose to use a credit or debit card, input the billing address for your card and click "Continue".
  20. Enter your card details and click "Continue".
  21. Agree to the terms and conditions after reading them and click "Buy now".
  22. You should then see a screen that indicates that your order is either processing or has been processed.
  23. You should then be able to see the Bitcoin you've purchased in Ledger Live.

  

  Choosing a service provider Image: Frank Corva/Finder

  

  Buying BTC with USD in Ledger Live Image: Frank Corva/Finder

• Selling crypto on your Nano S Plus

  To sell crypto, follow these steps:

  1. Plug your Ledger Nano S Plus into your computer and open Ledger Live on your desktop.
  2. Click the "Buy/Sell" button in Ledger Live and then click the "Sell" option.
  3. Choose the asset and the account from which you would like to sell.
  4. Select the provider you want to use to sell the asset.
  5. Follow the instructions from the provider you chose.

• Swapping crypto on your Nano S Plus

  To swap crypto, follow these steps:

  1. Plug your Ledger Nano S Plus into your computer and open Ledger Live on your desktop.
  2. Click on the "Swap" button.
  3. In the "From" box, select the crypto asset you'd like to swap from.
  4. In the "To" box, select the crypto asset you'd like to swap to.
  5. Input the amount of the asset you'd like to swap from and Ledger Live will automatically generate the amount of the asset you're trading to.
  6. You will also be informed of what it will cost to process the transaction to the right of the words "NETWORK FEES".
  7. When you scroll down, you'll see different quotes from different exchanges – some centralized and some decentralized.
  8. If you use a centralized exchange such as Wyre or ParaSwap, Ledger Live will notify you that you have to complete Know Your Customer (KYC) verification before using the exchange.
  9. If you use a decentralized exchange such as 1inch, you will not be prompted to complete Know Your Customer (KYC) verification. The instructions to complete your swap will be different depending on the exchange that you chose.

  Once you've purchased or swapped for certain coins, you can then use your Nano S Plus with third-party software wallets like MetaMask to engage with DeFi services or to trade for other coins or tokens.

• Staking with the Nano S Plus

  Staking with the Nano S Plus is easy enough, but only a handful of digital assets are available to stake using Ledger Live as an interface — a main drawback to using any of Ledger's wallets for staking.

  To use your Ledger Nano S Plus to stake any of the assets supported through Ledger Live:

  1. Create an account in Ledger Live for the coins you want to stake.
  2. Transfer the private keys to your crypto to your Ledger Nano S Plus.
  3. Select Earn rewards for the coins you want to stake.

  To stake other digital assets while taking advantage of the security of your Ledger Nano S Plus, you need to use a third-party app like MetaMask.

Ledger Nano S Plus alternatives

Our verdict

The Nano S Plus is one of the most innovative and feature-rich new hardware wallets on the market. It can help you securely manage most digital assets — both cryptos and NFTs — at a competitive price point.

One of its main drawbacks, though, is that you can only stake a handful of the cryptos whose keys you store on the device via Ledger Live.

Storing the keys to your crypto is one of the riskiest aspects of investing in the asset class. Do your homework on all available crypto wallets before deciding which is best for your assets and goals.

Hardware wallets are widely considered the safest way to store your crypto, particularly if you're a regular investor or plan on holding for the long term.

Go to Ledger's website

Nano S Plus FAQs

• Does the Ledger Nano S Plus have Bluetooth?

  No, the Ledger Nano S Plus is not Bluetooth enabled.

  Consider the Ledger Nano X if Bluetooth support is important to you.

• Can I use the Ledger Nano S Plus with my iPhone?

  No, you won't be able to use the Nano S Plus with your iPhone. Unlike the Ledger Nano X, the Nano S Plus isn't iOS compatible.

• When was the Ledger Nano S Plus release date?

  The Ledger Nano S Plus was released on April 4, 2022.