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  3. X Card vs Shell

Ellipal X Card vs Keycard Shell

What X Card does better (2) and where Shell wins (23) — every spec side by side.

Ellipal X Card
Ellipal · 2025X Card
6.6Score
2 advantages≈ €75
Higher score
vs
Keycard Shell
Keycard · 2025Shell
5.0Score
23 advantages≈ €110
9.1Security9.2
5.3Open source5.9
6.2Bitcoin features2.6
5.9Ease of use4.0
5.6Connectivity9.2

Why is X Card better than Shell?

  1. Mobile appYes · Shell: No
  2. Warranty (months)12 vs 0

Why is Shell better than X Card?

  1. Open-source firmwareNo · X Card: Yes
  2. Reproducible buildsNo · X Card: Yes
  3. MultisigNo · X Card: Yes
  4. Air-gapped signingNo · X Card: Yes
  5. Anti-klepto (anti-exfil) signingNo · X Card: Yes
  6. Source code availableNo · X Card: Yes
  7. QR code cameraNo · X Card: Yes
  8. ScreenNo · X Card: Yes
  9. Compatible third-party wallets0 vs 7
  10. Upgradable firmwareNo · X Card: Yes
  11. PIN entered on the deviceNo · X Card: Yes
  12. Duress PIN / decoy walletNo · X Card: Yes
Specifications

Side by side

Ellipal X CardEllipal X Card≈ €756.6
Keycard ShellKeycard Shell≈ €1105.0
Security
Secure Element chipYesYes
Secure Element certificationEAL6+EAL6+
Air-gapped signingNoYes
100% air-gappedNoNo
Supply-chain & tamper protectionYesYes
Secure boot—Yes
Anti-klepto (anti-exfil) signingNoYes
Firmware & open source
Open-source firmwareNoYes
Source code availableNoYes
Reproducible buildsNoYes
Firmware licence—MIT
Upgradable firmwareNoYes
Firmware update via—USB
Bitcoin-only firmware / editionNoNo
Device lock
PIN lockYesYes
PIN entered on the deviceNoYes
Fingerprint unlockNoNo
Duress PIN / decoy walletNoYes
Brick / wipe PINNoNo
Wipe after failed attemptsYesYes
Time-delayed unlockNoNo
Anti-phishing wordsNoNo
Keys & backup
BIP39 passphraseYesYes
Shamir backup (SLIP-39)NoYes
Seed XORNoNo
BIP85 child seedsNoNo
24-word seedYesYes
SeedQR backupNoYes
microSD backupNoNo
NFC backup cardYesYes
User-added entropy (dice)NoNo
Stateless use (no stored keys)NoYes
Multiple seeds on one deviceYesYes
Bitcoin features
MultisigNoYes
TaprootNoNo
MiniscriptNoNo
Message signingNoNo
Coin controlNoYes
Own node connectionNoYes
Tor supportNoYes
Replace-by-feeNoYes
Silent PaymentsNoNo
Spending limitsNoNo
TestnetNoYes
Supported assets
Altcoins & tokensYesYes
Bitcoin onlyNoNo
Connectivity
Signing connectivityNFCUSB-C, NFC, QR code
USBNoYes
USB-C—Yes
BluetoothNoNo
NFCYesYes
QR code cameraNoYes
Animated QR (UR)NoYes
microSD signingNoNo
Screen & input
ScreenNoYes
Screen size—2″
Screen type—TFT IPS
Screen resolution—240 × 320
TouchscreenNoNo
Colour screenNoYes
Gorilla Glass—No
Controls—Buttons
QWERTY keyboardNoYes
Battery & power
Built-in batteryNoYes
Battery capacity—800 mAh
Removable battery—Yes
Wireless charging—No
Design
Weight6 g—
Length85.6 mm105 mm
Width54 mm65 mm
Thickness—19 mm
MaterialsPlasticABS Plastic
Water / dust resistanceNo—
Several colours availableNoNo
Warranty (months)120
Assembled inHong KongChina
DIY build possibleNoYes
Apps
Official appsAndroid, iOS—
Desktop appNoNo
Mobile appYesNo
Works with wallet apps—Bitcoin Safe, Nunchuk, Cove, Sparrow, Specter Desktop, BlueWallet, Bull
Compatible third-party wallets07
Other features
FIDO2 / U2F security keyNoNo
Password managerNoNo
To compare: 0up to 4 models
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