Review and Comparison

The Ledger Nano S Plus is the latest hardware wallet device by Ledger, one of the most popular hardware wallet companies today. In this review, I’ll be covering my personal experience with the Ledger Nano S Plus, the setup process, features and more.

Ledger Nano S Plus Review Summary

1. Company Overview

2. What’s in the Box?

3. Supported Coins

4. Setting Up the Wallet

5. Personal Usage Experience

6. Price Tag

1. Company Overview

Ledger is a French technology company that specializes in developing hardware wallets and security solutions for cryptocurrencies and blockchain applications. The company was founded in 2014 by a group of experts in security and smartcard industries, including CEO Eric Larchevêque, President Pascal Gauthier, and CTO Nicolas Bacca.

Ledger’s flagship product is the Ledger Nano series of hardware wallets, including the Nano S, Nano X, and the latest Nano S Plus. These hardware wallets are designed to provide the highest level of security for storing and managing cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more than 1,800 other digital assets.

The Ledger wallets use a combination of hardware and software security features, including secure elements, PIN codes, and two-factor authentication, to protect users’ private keys and assets from hacking and theft. The wallets are also compatible with multiple software wallets and platforms, allowing users to access and manage their crypto assets seamlessly.

In addition to hardware wallets, Ledger offers other security solutions, such as the Ledger Vault, a multi-authorization cryptocurrency wallet management system for institutional clients, and Ledger Live, a desktop and mobile app that enables users to manage their crypto assets and securely buy, sell and swap cryptocurrencies.

With its focus on security and innovation, Ledger has become a trusted brand in the cryptocurrency industry, serving millions of customers in over 190 countries worldwide. The company has also received several awards and recognitions, including being named as one of the 100 most influential blockchain companies by Richtopia.

2. What’s in the box?

In the Ledger Nano S Plus box, you’ll find the Nano S Plus hardware wallet device, a USB-C to USB-A connector cable to plug it into a computer, seed phrase recovery sheets, and a nifty little keychain strap.

It also contains a small leaflet to help you get started, as well as some cool little Ledger logo stickers. All items included feel like they are of quite good quality, which is nice.

3. Supported Coins ?

The Ledger Nano S Plus supports over 5,500 different crypto assets, from several blockchains. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Bitcoin (BTC)
• Polkadot (DOT)
• Cardano (ADA)
• Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
• Bitcoin Gold (BTG)
• Ethereum (ETH)
• Ethereum Classic (ETC)
• Stellar (XLM)
• Ripple (XRP)
• Litecoin (LTC)
• Dogecoin (DOGE)
• Zcash (ZEX)
• Dash (DASH)
• Aptos (APT)
• Cosmos (ATOM)
• Fantom (FTM)

The device also supports a huge variety of Ethereum-based tokens, including ERC-20 tokens and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) such as ERC-721 tokens.

4. How Do I Setup My Ledger Nano S Plus

The Nano S Plus is extremely simple to set-up, with the entire process being guided by the Ledger live app.

To begin, you simply visit the “get started” link displayed inside the box, and download the ledger live app for your computer. From there, the app will lead the way.

Step 1: Visit the site and download the app

To begin, visit the “get started” url that is displayed inside the box. Click the orange “download” button and select the Windows, Mac or Linux Ledger Live app to download onto your computer.

Step 2: Plug in device and follow instructions 

Next, plug in your Ledger Nano S Plus device into your computer, using the USB cable provided. Unfortunately, my laptop only has USB-C inputs, so I had to use my own USB-C to USB-C cable. 

Once plugged in, you will find instructions pop up on the Nano S Plus screen. Use the navigation buttons to follow the instructions to set up a pin number for your device.

Step 3: Back up your seed phrase

As with any hardware wallet, you will then need to back up your seed phrase. Write down the 24 words provided on your device on the seed phrase recovery sheets provided (inside the orange card).

The device will then ask you to confirm the seed phrase, to ensure you have recorded it correctly. This step is highly important – if anything happens to your hardware wallet, you’ll need the seed phrase to recover your funds.

Step 4: Install the manager app on the Nano S Plus

For this next step, you will need to install the Ledger manager app on the hardware wallet itself. Simply accept the installation prompt on the device and wait for it to load. 

At this point, your Nano S Plus will be able to interact directly with the Ledger Live app on your computer. 

Step 5: Install individual blockchain apps & add accounts

Finally, to send, receive and use assets on your device you will need to install the app for each blockchain, individually. Select the blockchain for the first asset you wish to use on your device, and approve the download using the Nano S Plus buttons. 

After this, simply click the blockchain you wish to use and “add account”. This will create an address for that blockchain, to which you can send the appropriate assets.

5. Personal Usage Experience

The Nano S Plus was extremely nice and simple to use, with the entire setup process made very clear by the provided walkthrough.

The device is managed using two buttons on the device itself – which were very responsive and much easier to use than I expected. Although the seed phrase back-up process is a little tedious, it is necessary to ensure you have backed up your wallet properly. 

The device itself is super compact, coming in quite a bit smaller than the original Nano S and the other popular Ledger wallet, the Nano X.

Due to additional memory size, the Nano S Plus is able to facilitate many more apps and assets at once than the original Nano S, which is handy for diversifying your portfolio. The larger screen and sleeker design also makes the setup process and general use that little bit more easy.

Unlike the Nano X, the Nano S Plus doesn’t have bluetooth functionality, so those of you who prefer the cable-free experience may still prefer the Nano X device.

One small inconvenience for myself was the fact that the device only came with a USB-C to USB-A cable – meaning it could not plug directly into my laptop (which only has USB-C inputs). This may be an issue for users with newer, compact laptops. 

6. How Much Does the Ledger Nano S Plus Cost?

The Nano S Plus costs $79 directly from Ledger, which is only $20 more expensive than the original Nano S at the time of writing ($59). It is also much cheaper than the larger, bluetooth-enabled Nano X, which weighs in at $149. 

This makes the Nano S Plus a very reasonable price for a new and improved device, which boasts most of the capabilities of its more expensive counterpart.

In comparison to competitor TREZOR’s devices, the Nano S Plus comes in more expensive than the TREZOR one ($74), but much cheaper than the more functional TREZOR T.

What is Ledger Live?

Ledger Live is a desktop and mobile application developed by Ledger, a leading hardware wallet manufacturer, to enable users to manage their crypto assets and securely buy, sell, and swap cryptocurrencies. The app is available for free download on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android platforms.

With Ledger Live, users can connect their Ledger hardware wallet to the app and manage their crypto assets from a single interface. The app supports more than 27 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and many others. Users can view their account balances, transaction histories, and market values in real-time.

Ledger Live also provides users with a range of advanced features, including the ability to send and receive cryptocurrencies, create and manage multiple accounts, and securely store their private keys. The app also supports over 1,500 tokens on the Ethereum blockchain, allowing users to manage their ERC-20 and ERC-721 tokens alongside their cryptocurrencies.

One of the unique features of Ledger Live is the ability to directly buy and sell cryptocurrencies within the app using a credit card, debit card, or bank transfer. This feature is powered by Ledger’s partner, Coinify, a leading payment gateway for cryptocurrencies.

Overall, Ledger Live offers a user-friendly and secure way for users to manage their crypto assets and perform transactions without compromising their security or privacy. It is a valuable tool for both novice and experienced crypto users who want to manage their assets in a convenient and secure way.

How do I Transfer Bitcoins to My Ledger Wallet?

Transferring Bitcoins to your Ledger wallet is a simple process that involves a few basic steps. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to transfer Bitcoins to your Ledger wallet:

1. Connect your Ledger wallet to your computer and enter your PIN code to unlock it.

2. Open the Ledger Live app on your computer and select the Bitcoin account you want to receive the Bitcoins in.

3. Click on the “Receive” button on the bottom of the app screen, and a pop-up window will appear with your Bitcoin wallet address. This is the address you will use to receive the Bitcoins.

4. Copy the Bitcoin wallet address from the Ledger Live app and go to the platform or exchange where your Bitcoins are currently held.

5. Find the option to send Bitcoins and paste the Ledger wallet address as the recipient address. Enter the amount of Bitcoins you want to send and double-check that the address is correct.

6. Submit the transaction and wait for the confirmation from the Bitcoin network. This can take a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the network congestion.

7. Once the transaction is confirmed, the Bitcoins will appear in your Ledger wallet account, and you can view them in the Ledger Live app.

It is essential to note that you should always double-check the Bitcoin wallet address before submitting a transaction. If you send Bitcoins to the wrong address, they may be irretrievable, and you could lose your investment. Also, make sure to keep your Ledger wallet and recovery phrase safe and secure to protect your assets from hackers and theft.