The Ledger Nano: Which One’s For You?

In over a decade, Ledger has sold more than 8 million devices globally with a foundational security model that ensured no Ledger signer has ever been hacked. Today, about one-fifth of the world’s crypto value is secured through Ledger signers, a testament to the trust users place in Ledger to protect their private keys and digital wealth. 

This trust began with the success of Ledger’s foundational product line – the Ledger Nano Series. 

When the first Ledger signer, the Ledger Nano S debuted in 2016, most people were using exchanges or software wallets, crypto was a growing industry, and secure self‑custody was a relatively new concept. Transacting crypto felt clunky and breaches like the 2016 Bitfinex hack that drained ~119,756 BTC (about $72M then), showed how risky custodial platforms could be. 

The Ledger Nano series reshaped self-custody by making crypto feel easier and safer: with a bank-grade secure chip, a secure screen, and physical buttons that let you verify and approve actions right on the device.

As crypto has grown more complex, Ledger’s goal has stayed the same: to make self-custody secure and simple. Ledger Nano signers now do more than just store keys – they help you safely approve everything from basic transfers and asset management to cross-chain DeFi contracts and even manage your digital-identity. 

With that shift in mind, let’s look at how each Ledger Nano generation built on the last, and what those differences mean when choosing one for you.

The Ledger Nano Series: Explained 

Ledger launched the Nano series in 2016 debuting the Ledger Nano S as an affordable signer with a certified Secure Element, a trusted secure screen, and two-button navigation. Paired with Ledger Wallet™ and reinforced by tamper-resistant hardware and regular firmware upgrades, it quickly became the industry benchmark. 

The Ledger Nano S was the first ever hardware signer to earn ANSSI’s CSPN security certification, and remains the best-selling crypto hardware signer of all time. 

Ledger Nano Classic Range (2016-2024) 

In 2019, Ledger introduced Ledger Nano X, keeping the same pocket form factor while adding a 100 mAh battery and Bluetooth to enable secure mobile signing without cables – an award-winning upgrade that made self-custody genuinely portable for users on-the-go.

Then in 2022, the Ledger Nano S Plus brought with it a larger secure screen and upgraded memory, letting users install 100+ apps at once. 

The launch of the Ledger Nano S Plus effectively replaced the Ledger Nano S: its larger screen and upgraded storage were better aligned with rapidly evolving Web3 demands, prompting Ledger to retire the original model. It also came with Ledger’s newer CC EAL6+ certified secure-element chip, bringing premium-tier chip security to the Ledger Nano series for the first time. 

Ledger Nano Gen5 Signers (2025)

By 2025, crypto moved beyond sending and receiving coins or interacting with smart contracts. You can now approve cross-chain DeFi swaps, dapp permissions, explore multichain ecosystems, DCA crypto, and even invest in tokenized real-world assets. Moreover, your crypto wallet is also your digital companion – the signer you use every day to manage digital value, prove ownership, and increasingly authenticate yourself online via passkeys, making it both your financial hub and your Web3 identity key.

The Ledger Nano Gen5, introduced in 2025, levels up the legacy of the Nano line to give users access to the next-gen crypto experience at an affordable price. Designed for modern onchain life, this signer comes with a secure touchscreen, more personalization, better battery than previous Ledger Nano series signers and more, so you can trust yourself and navigate crypto in complete confidence. 

Ledger Nano Series: Which One’s Best for You?

Ledger’s Nano lineup spans three generations built on the same security core but tuned for different use cases. When choosing between each of these signers, it’s important how it fits with your particular needs. 

Ledger Nano X [2019]

The Ledger Nano X was Ledger’s first Nano designed for signing on the go. It keeps the compact Nano form but adds Bluetooth and a 100 mAh lithium-ion battery, letting you connect wirelessly to Ledger Wallet on iOS, Android, or desktop. 

Like other Ledger signers, it runs Ledger’s secure OS and uses a Secure Element chip, with private keys always staying on-device. It is a convenient hardware signer that lets you manage a multi-asset portfolio from a phone without cables.

• Power & connectivity: 100 mAh rechargeable battery and Bluetooth, plus USB-C.
• Security: ST33 secure element (EAL5+ certified) running Ledger OS.
• Capacity: enough memory for ~100 crypto apps simultaneously, supporting 5,000+ assets.
• Use case: ideal if you sign frequently on a phone and want wireless convenience.

Ledger Nano S Plus [2022]

The Nano S Plus is Ledger’s updated entry-level signer, built for desktop and Android users who want strong security without paying for Bluetooth. It has no battery and works only when connected by USB-C (USB-A to USB-C cable included), and because iPhones don’t support wired Ledger connections, it isn’t compatible with iOS.

It runs Ledger secure OS and uses an CC EAL6+ certification Secure Element with, giving it the same certified security foundation as Ledger’s higher-end devices. Its expanded memory lets you install up to about 100 apps at once (depending on app size), removing the old Nano S hassle of constantly uninstalling and reinstalling apps while keeping the Nano line affordable.

Ledger Nano Gen5 [2025]

Released in October 2025, the Ledger Nano Gen5 is the first Nano to shift beyond the classic “wallet” role. It is a signer for everything from crypto transfers to login challenges. 

The Ledger Nano Gen5 includes a 2.76-inch E-Ink secure touchscreen, an EAL6+ certified secure element chip with USB-C, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC support. Ledger Nano Gen5 signers also ship with the Ledger Recovery Key, an NFC smart card that lets you back up your 12- or 24-word seed phrase securely. 

The signer also has passkey support for password-less logins and offers Clear Signing on a larger screen, so you can read full transaction details in human-readable language before approving – crucial for DeFi and NFT use where blind signing is a real risk. 

Combined with the Ledger Wallet app, this signer supports buying, selling, staking and interacting with a huge ecosystem of crypto apps and services. Priced around $179, the Ledger Nano Gen5 brings you the same exact intuitive flow and feel as Ledger’s upper-tier models, with 

Comparison chart: Ledger Nano Series

*Prices are approximate and may vary by region or promotions.

All Ledger Nano Signers benefit from Ledger’s Security Model

All Ledger Nano signers are built on a core security DNA: a combination of a certified Secure Element chip that generates and holds your private keys and drives the device’s trusted screen, Ledger OS which runs isolated applications, and the secure screen architecture that makes it easier to view and verify transactions. 

That foundation core is continuously probed, tested, and improved by Ledger Donjon, the team of white hat hackers creating solutions to combat both physical and software attacks. 

Other layered protections sit on top of that foundation. Your signer is protected by a PIN code, and multiple incorrect attempts trigger an automatic wipe to protect the private keys stored inside the Secure Element. You can also enable a passphrase, or “25th word,” which extends your 24-word recovery phrase to generate a separate, hidden wallet. This wallet exists only when the correct passphrase is entered, and it remains invisible even if someone gains physical access to your primary wallet and your original 24 words.

Features and integrations like Clear Signing and Transaction check let you read human-friendly transaction details before you approve, all while private keys stay securely offline in your Secure Element. On supported models, you can choose additional protection through Ledger Recover, a paid, opt-in service making wallet recovery easy. 

For users who prefer an entirely offline backup alternative, the Ledger Recovery Key lets you back up the same Secret Recovery Phrase on a secure, tamper-resistant NFC smart card you control. 

No matter which signer you choose, you always retain full self-custody and can always restore your wallets independently of Ledger’s signers.

Conclusion

Ledger’s Nano signers exemplify the evolution of crypto self‑custody. The Nano S democratized hardware wallets in 2016 and became the best‑selling device in the category. 

The Nano X built on that foundation with Bluetooth and greater storage, appealing to active traders. The Nano S Plus modernised the entry‑level model by adopting the ST33 secure element and supporting thousands of assets. 

And the Ledger Nano Gen5 charts a new path entirely: it’s not just a wallet but a digital ID guardian. With its E‑Ink touchscreen, passkey support, NFC‑based recovery card and clear signing, the Ledger Nano Gen5 addresses the twin challenges of an expanding crypto ecosystem and a world where AI‑driven identity fraud is on the rise.

If you’re still asking “Which Ledger Nano is right for me?” – the single signer that’s both, simple to use today and powerful enough for everything coming next in Web3, from managing multichain assets to approving dApp transactions to using passkeys for secure logins, the Ledger Nano Gen5 is the most versatile and future-ready choice in the Nano lineup.

Knowledge is power