Ledger’s Next-Generation Devices: Ledger Stax vs Ledger Flex

Ledger has always been at the forefront of digital asset security, as the first-ever hardware wallet to implement the Secure Element chip, and then drive their screens directly with that chip. This proven security model contributed to Ledger solidifying its position as the most popular hardware wallet for the last decade. Remember—no Ledger device has ever been hacked!

With the launch of Ledger Stax, we raised the bar, unveiling a new device with a secure touchscreen: the first of its kind. But Ledger Stax is a premium device, and secure touchscreens should be accessible to everyone. To address this issue, is the next device in that secure touchscreen category: Ledger Flex. 

Put simply, Ledger Stax and Ledger Flex are two different devices in the secure touchscreen category. Ledger Stax offers a more premium option while Ledger Flex offers similar features at an attractive price point.  

But there’s a bit more to it than that. Let’s first dive into exactly what a next-generation hardware wallet is to see which features Ledger Stax and Ledger Flex share.

Ledger’s Next Generation Devices: Explained

Ledger’s next-generation devices, Ledger Flex and Ledger Stax build on the same proven security model as all Ledger devices: they feature a Secure Element chip, certified to be resistant to remote and physical hacking, a secure operating system (OS) that ensures your private keys stay encrypted, and a secure screen resistant to hacking since it’s driven directly by the secure element. 

While Ledger devices have protected private keys successfully for a decade, digital security is becoming more complex. To stay at the forefront of security, it’s necessary to evolve. Thus the key advancement of Ledger’s next-generation devices lies in their user experience and expansion beyond digital assets. 

Let’s see how:

Bigger Display, Better UX

The first feature of Ledger’s next-generation devices includes their bigger display with an improved user experience. To explain, a large portion of crypto heists are carried out via malicious approvals or transactions. These attacks pose a significant threat when the screens of most hardware wallets are too small to review transaction details easily. The risk also intensifies the more complex the transaction is.

With a larger and clearer display, Ledger Stax and Ledger Flex let you read and review transaction details clearly, offering a more intuitive experience, akin to a smartphone. This more familiar user experience reduces the risk of errors or misunderstandings. 

The World’s First Secure Touchscreens

The issue with smartphones and laptops is that their screens are vulnerable to malware. The screen of your laptop or smartphone is built for performance, not security. Driving a screen with an insecure chip such as a general-purpose Microcontroller Unit (MCU) chip, leaves it vulnerable to spoofing. Simply, you can’t trust the details it shows.

Ledger Flex and Ledger Stax offer the world’s first-ever Secure E-Ink Touchscreens, driven directly by the Secure Element chip. The Secure Element chip, also used in bank cards and biometric passports, is tamper-proof: resistant to physical and remote attacks. 

This allows you to verify transaction details on your Ledger Flex or Ledger Stax device’s secure touchscreen with confidence. This also allows you to avoid falling for malware on your internet-connected device. Verifying a transaction’s details are the same on both your Ledger device and smartphone or laptop can help you verify a transaction’s details are authentic.

Expanding Your Digital Security Beyond Assets

As more of our lives center around the online sphere, it’s becoming increasingly important to take digital security seriously. Generating and managing passwords for your online accounts is not as simple as it seems. Your passwords must be strong enough that no attacker could guess them, and you must have a unique password for each account. Password managers have been the most convenient solution to this problem, but these services aren’t equipped to handle modern attacks and, today, data breaches are still common.

Instead of using password managers, you can do away with passwords by logging into your favorite platforms and apps using a security key. The Ledger Security Key app transforms your Ledger Stax and Ledger Flex into a Passkey, allowing you to do away with passwords and mitigate phishing risks. The app is compatible with countless apps and platforms, from Coinbase to Google, allowing you to log in with a simple tap via your Ledger Flex or Ledger Stax device’s NFC. 

Moreover, the Ledger Security Key app allows you to use your Ledger device for Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

Meet Ledger’s Next Generation Devices

Ledger Stax: The World’s First Secure E Ink Touchscreen

Ledger Stax is a premium hardware wallet designed by Tony Fadell. It is a device of multiple firsts—the world’s first secure touchscreen, the first-ever curved E Ink touchscreen, and the first organic TFT screen brought to mass production.

The curved E Ink touchscreen of Ledger Stax lets you personalize the lock screen with any image you like, such as your favorite NFT, meme, or photo—which will stay visible even on standby mode. The curved screen also allows you to name the spine, for easy identification if you have multiple devices. Ledger Stax devices also feature embedded magnets, making them stackable.

Ledger Stax also supports Bluetooth and NFC, providing versatile connectivity options for both desktop and mobile platforms. Moreover, the Ledger Stax comes with wireless Qi charging.

Ledger Flex: The New Standard for Ledger Devices

Ledger Flex represents the new standard for Ledger devices. Ledger Flex features a secure E Ink touchscreen and intuitive user experience—just like Ledger Stax—but at an attractive price point. 

Its 2.8” E Ink touchscreen, which is flat rather than curved, benefits from the secure touchscreen technology introduced with Ledger Stax. The screen of Ledger Flex allows you to read transaction details clearly and offers a comparable user experience to Ledger Stax. It also supports both Bluetooth and NFC, enabling seamless connectivity with a range of devices, including desktops, smartphones, and tablets. 

Ledger Flex also allows you to customize its E Ink touchscreen, with the choice to set the lock screen to whichever image, NFT, or digital art piece you like. Put simply, secure touchscreens should be accessible to everyone, and Ledger Flex is the entry-level device in Ledger’s new secure touchscreen category.

Ledger Stax Vs Ledger Flex: Ledger: Which Device Should I Choose?

Whether you choose Ledger Flex or Ledger Stax, you’ll benefit from Ledger’s proven security model, plus the UX improvements of the next generation of devices including their secure touchscreens, bigger and better screens, and Ledger Security Key app capabilities. Plus, both Ledger Flex and Ledger Stax offer Bluetooth, and customizable lock screens, allowing you to display your favorite image or NFT.

However, there are some key differences to note. 

The 3.7”, curved E Ink touchscreen of Ledger Stax allows you to customize the spine as well as the lock screen. It’s the device for users who want to manage multiple hardware wallets, as it lets you stack multiple Ledger Stax devices with its in-built magnets. Ledger Stax is a premium hardware wallet that offers Wireless Qi charging, retailing at $399.

The secure E Ink touchscreen of Ledger Flex is smaller than the one on Ledger Stax (at 2.8”) and is flat rather than curved, meaning only its lock screen is customizable. The built-in magnets of Ledger Flex also have a different role, reserved for attaching handy screen protectors and accessories rather than stacking multiple devices. Unlike Ledger Stax, it doesn’t offer Wireless Qi charging. The final difference lies in the price, as Ledger Flex retails at $249.

Ledger: This Is What Security Feels Like.

No matter which device you choose Ledger Stax or Ledger Flex—or even a Ledger Nano X or Ledger Nano S Plus, you can rest assured you benefit from Ledger’s proven security model. 

Ledger’s next-generation devices, Ledger Flex and Ledger Stax represent the new standard of hardware security, offering secure touchscreens that you can trust and a more familiar user experience than ever before. 

So what are you waiting for? Protect your digital assets and accounts from online threats and get peace of mind. Get a secure touchscreen hardware wallet!

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