The Trezor Safe 5 is the latest hardware wallet from SatoshiLabs, succeeding the Trezor Model T. Boasting a 1.54-inch touchscreen color display, sleek design with durable Gorilla Glass, and even a vibration motor for haptic feedback, the Safe 5 exudes premium quality. Its security model—featuring a Secure Chip and open-source firmware—parallels the more affordable Trezor Safe 3. For users willing to pay the premium, the Safe 5 delivers an enhanced user experience and a polished final product.
Key Features
Touchscreen Display
- Fully Open-Source
- Secure Chip for advanced protection
- Color touchscreen with intuitive controls
- Gorilla Glass for scratch resistance
- USB-C support for modern connectivity
- Multi-share Backups (Shamir’s Secret Sharing via SLIP-39)
Pros & Cons
✅ Strengths
- Superior user interface with haptic feedback
- Supports numerous cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin-only firmware option
❌ Limitations
- No iOS/iPhone compatibility
- No native multisig registration
- Defaults to SLIP-39 (not BIP-39)
Unboxing & Design
The Trezor Safe 5 arrives in a minimalist cardboard box with the following:
- The hardware wallet
- A short USB-C cable
- Recovery seed templates (for 20-word backups)
Available in multiple colors (orange for Bitcoin-only edition, black, green, purple), the device features:
- A USB-C port (sealed with a tamper-evident sticker)
- A 1.54-inch color display for touch inputs
The touchscreen is highly responsive, aided by vibration feedback for precise interactions.
Security
1. Secure Chip
- Dual-chip architecture (Secure Element + open-source firmware)
- Protects against physical attacks while maintaining transparency.
2. Open-Source Firmware
- Fully auditable codebase
- Bitcoin-only firmware reduces attack surface.
3. Multi-Share Backups
- Uses SLIP-39 for distributed seed backups (default)
- Optional BIP-39 support (hidden under “Legacy Backup”)
Notable Drawbacks
1. No iOS Support
- Requires Android/desktop for full functionality.
- Trezor Suite Lite (iOS) only offers watch-only mode.
2. Bitcoin-Only Edition Isn’t Fully Restricted
- Altcoin firmware can still be manually installed.
- Less stringent than true Bitcoin-only wallets.
3. Multisig Inconvenience
- No persistent multisig registration – requires repeated verification.
- Electrum/Sparrow Wallet compatibility pending (as with Safe 3).
Final Verdict
The Trezor Safe 5 is a refined upgrade over the Model T, with:
✔ Better display & haptics
✔ Secure Chip for added protection
✔ Sleek design
However, the Trezor Safe 3 offers similar security at a lower price. Choose the Safe 5 if you prioritize premium UX; otherwise, the Safe 3 remains the budget-friendly alternative.
FAQ
Q1: Is the Trezor Safe 5 compatible with iPhones?
A: No, it requires Android or desktop for full functionality.
Q2: Does the Bitcoin-only edition block altcoins permanently?
A: No—altcoin firmware can still be installed manually.
Q3: What’s the advantage of SLIP-39 over BIP-39?
A: SLIP-39 enables multi-share backups, but BIP-39 remains widely supported.
👉 Explore more hardware wallets for a detailed comparison!