Ledger Nano S Plus Review

By: Alex Miguel | Last updated: 2/20/24

The Ledger Nano S Plus is the successor to the original and popular Nano S 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

The Ledger Nano S Plus is the improved version of its predecessor, the Nano S, the previous most popular wallet device on the market. The popular collection of hardware wallets is made by the well-respected company Ledger.

It boasts a sleeker design compared to the original Nano S device, along with larger memory and a bigger screen. The Nano S Plus supports over 5,500 coins, including NFTs, and can also hold a significantly larger number of blockchain apps than the older model.

That’s the Nano S Plus in a nutshell. If you want a detailed review of my Nano S Plus experience, keep reading. Here’s what I’ll cover:

Company Overview
What’s in the Box?
Supported Coins
Setting Up the Wallet
Personal Usage Experience
Price Tag
Nano S Plus vs. Trezor Safe 3
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Conclusion

1. Company Overview

Ledger is a hardware wallet company that was launched in 2014 by eight experts with varied backgrounds in embedded security, cryptocurrencies, and entrepreneurship. Ever since then, it has been one of the two most popular hardware wallet producers in the industry – the other being the well-renowned TREZOR.

Ledger has become a leader in security and infrastructure solutions for crypto and blockchain applications, currently having a team of more than 700 employees across the world. Since its founding, Ledger has sold more than 6 million hardware wallets globally.

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. Ledger Nano S Plus Supported Coins

The Ledger Nano S Plus supports over 5,500 different crypto assets from several blockchains. This includes some of the most popular and active cryptocurrencies:

Bitcoin (BTC)
Ethereum (ETH)
Ripple (XRP)
Solana (SOL)
USD Tether (ERC20) (USDT)
Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
Polkadot (DOT)
Litecoin (LTC)
Binance Coin (BEP20) (BNB)
Cardano (ADA)
Dogecoin (DOGE)
Chainlink (LINK)
Polygon (MATIC)

In order to interact with Ethereum and Polygon-based NFTs, you will need to download and install the Ledger Live software on your desktop or mobile device.

Before purchasing a specific wallet device, make sure the coins you are interested in are compatible with that device. Visit Ledger’s website for the most up-to-date list of coins supported on all of Ledger’s hardware wallets.

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.

Ledger Live screenshot showing options for download and a brief YouTube introduction video

To begin, simply visit the Ledger Live website and download the app to your desktop. From there, the app will lead the way.

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

Step 2: Plug in the device and follow the instructions

Next, plug 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 that 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. View this support page on Ledger for more information on seed phrases and recovering your wallet.

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 new 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 backup 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 make the setup process and general use a little bit easier.

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 me 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 an improved-upon 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 ($69), the same price as the TREZOR Safe 3 ($79), but much cheaper than the more functional touchscreen-enabled TREZOR T ($219).

7. Which is Better, the Nano S Plus or the TREZOR Safe 3?

The Nano S Plus has some stiff competition in the TREZOR Safe 3, which comes in at the same price ($79).

Let’s dive into the key differences and similarities between the two products and if one is significantly better value for money.

Design

Both of these hardware wallets are nimble in size, making them very easy to store or carry in your pocket. While both are made with durable plastic, the Nano S Plus has a metal casing component, while the Trezor Safe 3 has anodized aluminum backplates.

Coin Support

The Nano S Plus supports over 5,500 coins, while the Trezor Safe 3 supports over 8,000.

Each of these wallets requires a couple of extra steps to add additional assets. However, this is a bit more difficult to do with the Trezor Safe 3. Due to this hurdle, the Nano S Plus wins here thanks to its ease of use.

Usability

For most major assets, both of the wallets come with intuitive software and a simple setup process. This means that each option is simple to use for beginners and advanced users alike.

Both devices have screens and buttons that function similarly, making them almost identical in usability and basic security.

Company Reputation

Ledger and TREZOR have both been around since 2014, with open-source code for their apps and a great track record. TREZOR may stand out a little further, with a slightly stronger and more mature community.

It is also worth noting that Ledger experienced a data breach in 2020, which revealed the email addresses and personal details of a significant number of its customers. Although the leak had no impact on user assets, the affected customers became targets for phishing emails and other scams.

Price

The wallets are identical in price, making them a very interesting matchup indeed. At $79, both the Ledger Nano S Plus and the Trezor Safe 3 are quality wallets.

Overall, Who’s the Winner?

Each of the wallets has a very similar set of features and usability, making this a tough one to decide! The Nano S Plus edges out the win on overall design and ease of use, while the TREZOR takes the cake in terms of company and community reputation.

Personally, I would choose the Nano S Plus due to its ease of use for adding a wide range of assets without much extra effort.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What colors does the Ledger Nano S Plus come in?

The Ledger Nano S Plus comes in Matte Black, Pastel Green, Amethyst Purple, and Retro Gaming (orange and purple).

What is the difference between the Ledger Nano S and the Ledger Nano S Plus?

The Ledger Nano S Plus is the successor to the original Nano S. The S Plus has about five times the storage space of the original Nano S. It can hold up to 100 apps, while the original held up to 6. The Nano S Plus also has a bigger, improved screen and a USB-C connection.

What is the Ledger Nano S Plus used for?

The Ledger Nano S Plus is a hardware wallet that provides a secure and convenient way to store and manage cryptocurrency. It is a physical device, roughly the size of a USB flash drive, that stores the private keys needed for accessing and managing your cryptocurrencies.

What is Ledger Live, and is it safe to use?

Ledger Live is an interface software designed by Ledger for easy managing of your crypto assets using your Ledger hardware wallet. As long as you download the software directly from Ledger’s website, it is perfectly safe.

9. Conclusion – Is the Nano S Plus Worth It?

The Ledger Nano S Plus hardware wallet improves greatly upon the original Nano S model at only a slightly higher price. The additional storage, larger screen size, and sleek design place the device almost head-to-head with the more expensive Nano X model – at only a fraction of the price.

Given all of the above, the Nano S Plus is definitely worth the money, providing an improved product of their original classic at a similar price. Along with its user-friendliness and Ledger’s well-established reputation, beginners and advanced users alike would be more than happy with their purchase.