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- Shell vs DIY
Keycard Shell vs Specter DIY
What Shell does better (9) and where DIY wins (14) — every spec side by side.
Why is Shell better than DIY?
- Secure Element chipYes · DIY: No
- Anti-klepto (anti-exfil) signingYes · DIY: No
- Duress PIN / decoy walletYes · DIY: No
- Shamir backup (SLIP-39)Yes · DIY: No
- NFC backup cardYes · DIY: No
- USB-CYes · DIY: No
- NFCYes · DIY: No
- Built-in batteryYes · DIY: No
- Thickness19 mm vs 20 mm+5%
Why is DIY better than Shell?
- 100% air-gappedNo · Shell: Yes
- TaprootNo · Shell: Yes
- MiniscriptNo · Shell: Yes
- Screen size2″ vs 4″2×
- TouchscreenNo · Shell: Yes
- Compatible third-party wallets7 vs 11+57%
- Bitcoin-only firmware / editionNo · Shell: Yes
- Anti-phishing wordsNo · Shell: Yes
- BIP85 child seedsNo · Shell: Yes
- microSD backupNo · Shell: Yes
- User-added entropy (dice)No · Shell: Yes
- Message signingNo · Shell: Yes
Specifications
Side by side
| Security | ||
| Secure Element chip | Yes | No |
| Secure Element certification | EAL6+ | — |
| Air-gapped signing | Yes | Yes |
| 100% air-gapped | No | Yes |
| Supply-chain & tamper protection | Yes | Yes |
| Secure boot | Yes | Yes |
| Anti-klepto (anti-exfil) signing | Yes | No |
| Firmware & open source | ||
| Open-source firmware | Yes | Yes |
| Source code available | Yes | Yes |
| Reproducible builds | Yes | Yes |
| Firmware licence | MIT | MIT |
| Upgradable firmware | Yes | Yes |
| Firmware update via | USB | microSD |
| Bitcoin-only firmware / edition | No | Yes |
| Device lock | ||
| PIN lock | Yes | Yes |
| PIN entered on the device | Yes | Yes |
| Fingerprint unlock | No | No |
| Duress PIN / decoy wallet | Yes | No |
| Brick / wipe PIN | No | No |
| Wipe after failed attempts | Yes | Yes |
| Time-delayed unlock | No | No |
| Anti-phishing words | No | Yes |
| Keys & backup | ||
| BIP39 passphrase | Yes | Yes |
| Shamir backup (SLIP-39) | Yes | No |
| Seed XOR | No | No |
| BIP85 child seeds | No | Yes |
| 24-word seed | Yes | Yes |
| SeedQR backup | Yes | Yes |
| microSD backup | No | Yes |
| NFC backup card | Yes | No |
| User-added entropy (dice) | No | Yes |
| Stateless use (no stored keys) | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple seeds on one device | Yes | No |
| Bitcoin features | ||
| Multisig | Yes | Yes |
| Taproot | No | Yes |
| Miniscript | No | Yes |
| Message signing | No | Yes |
| Coin control | Yes | Yes |
| Own node connection | Yes | Yes |
| Tor support | Yes | Yes |
| Replace-by-fee | Yes | Yes |
| Silent Payments | No | No |
| Spending limits | No | No |
| Testnet | Yes | Yes |
| Supported assets | ||
| Altcoins & tokens | Yes | No |
| Bitcoin only | No | Yes |
| Connectivity | ||
| Signing connectivity | USB-C, NFC, QR code | USB, QR code, microSD |
| USB | Yes | Yes |
| USB-C | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| QR code camera | Yes | Yes |
| Animated QR (UR) | Yes | Yes |
| microSD signing | No | Yes |
| Screen & input | ||
| Screen | Yes | Yes |
| Screen size | 2″ | 4″ |
| Screen type | TFT IPS | LCD |
| Screen resolution | 240 × 320 | 800 × 480 |
| Touchscreen | No | Yes |
| Colour screen | Yes | Yes |
| Gorilla Glass | No | No |
| Controls | Buttons | Touch Screen |
| QWERTY keyboard | Yes | Yes |
| Battery & power | ||
| Built-in battery | Yes | No |
| Battery capacity | 800 mAh | — |
| Removable battery | Yes | — |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Design | ||
| Weight | — | 369 g |
| Length | 105 mm | 167 mm |
| Width | 65 mm | 65 mm |
| Thickness | 19 mm | 20 mm |
| Materials | ABS Plastic | Plastic |
| Water / dust resistance | — | No |
| Several colours available | No | Yes |
| Warranty (months) | 0 | — |
| Assembled in | China | — |
| DIY build possible | Yes | Yes |
| Apps | ||
| Official apps | — | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Desktop app | No | Yes |
| Mobile app | No | No |
| Works with wallet apps | Bitcoin Safe, Nunchuk, Cove, Sparrow, Specter Desktop, BlueWallet, Bull | Bitcoin Safe, Wasabi, Nunchuk, Cove, Electrum, Sparrow, Specter Desktop, BlueWallet, Bitcoin Keeper, Bull, Liana |
| Compatible third-party wallets | 7 | 11 |
| Other features | ||
| FIDO2 / U2F security key | No | No |
| Password manager | No | No |
