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  3. Shell vs Safe 5

Keycard Shell vs Trezor Safe 5

What Shell does better (11) and where Safe 5 wins (11) — every spec side by side.

Keycard Shell
Keycard · 2025Shell
5.0Score
11 advantages≈ €110
vs
Trezor Safe 5
Trezor · 2024Safe 5
8.8Score
11 advantages≈ €120
Higher score
9.2Security7.0
5.9Open source9.3
2.6Bitcoin features7.8
4.0Ease of use8.2
9.2Connectivity4.6

Why is Shell better than Safe 5?

  1. Air-gapped signingYes · Safe 5: No
  2. Anti-klepto (anti-exfil) signingYes · Safe 5: No
  3. QR code cameraYes · Safe 5: No
  4. Screen size2″ vs 1.54″+30%
  5. Duress PIN / decoy walletYes · Safe 5: No
  6. SeedQR backupYes · Safe 5: No
  7. NFC backup cardYes · Safe 5: No
  8. NFCYes · Safe 5: No
  9. Animated QR (UR)Yes · Safe 5: No
  10. QWERTY keyboardYes · Safe 5: No
  11. Built-in batteryYes · Safe 5: No

Why is Safe 5 better than Shell?

  1. TaprootNo · Shell: Yes
  2. TouchscreenNo · Shell: Yes
  3. Mobile appNo · Shell: Yes
  4. Compatible third-party wallets7 vs 13+86%
  5. Thickness19 mm vs 8 mm2.4×
  6. Bitcoin-only firmware / editionNo · Shell: Yes
  7. Brick / wipe PINNo · Shell: Yes
  8. Message signingNo · Shell: Yes
  9. Warranty (months)0 vs 24
  10. Desktop appNo · Shell: Yes
  11. FIDO2 / U2F security keyNo · Shell: Yes
Specifications

Side by side

Keycard ShellKeycard Shell≈ €1105.0
Trezor Safe 5Trezor Safe 5≈ €1208.8
Security
Secure Element chipYesYes
Secure Element certificationEAL6+EAL6+
Air-gapped signingYesNo
100% air-gappedNoNo
Supply-chain & tamper protectionYesYes
Secure bootYesYes
Anti-klepto (anti-exfil) signingYesNo
Firmware & open source
Open-source firmwareYesYes
Source code availableYesYes
Reproducible buildsYesYes
Firmware licenceMITGPLv3
Upgradable firmwareYesYes
Firmware update viaUSBUSB
Bitcoin-only firmware / editionNoYes
Device lock
PIN lockYesYes
PIN entered on the deviceYesYes
Fingerprint unlockNoNo
Duress PIN / decoy walletYesNo
Brick / wipe PINNoYes
Wipe after failed attemptsYesYes
Time-delayed unlockNoYes
Anti-phishing wordsNoNo
Keys & backup
BIP39 passphraseYesYes
Shamir backup (SLIP-39)YesYes
Seed XORNoNo
BIP85 child seedsNoNo
24-word seedYesYes
SeedQR backupYesNo
microSD backupNoNo
NFC backup cardYesNo
User-added entropy (dice)NoNo
Stateless use (no stored keys)YesNo
Multiple seeds on one deviceYesNo
Bitcoin features
MultisigYesYes
TaprootNoYes
MiniscriptNoNo
Message signingNoYes
Coin controlYesYes
Own node connectionYesYes
Tor supportYesYes
Replace-by-feeYesYes
Silent PaymentsNoNo
Spending limitsNoNo
TestnetYesYes
Supported assets
Altcoins & tokensYesYes
Bitcoin onlyNoNo
Connectivity
Signing connectivityUSB-C, NFC, QR codeUSB-C
USBYesYes
USB-CYesYes
BluetoothNoNo
NFCYesNo
QR code cameraYesNo
Animated QR (UR)YesNo
microSD signingNoNo
Screen & input
ScreenYesYes
Screen size2″1.54″
Screen typeTFT IPSLCD
Screen resolution240 × 320240 × 240
TouchscreenNoYes
Colour screenYesYes
Gorilla GlassNoYes
ControlsButtonsTouch Screen
QWERTY keyboardYesNo
Battery & power
Built-in batteryYesNo
Battery capacity800 mAh—
Removable batteryYes—
Wireless chargingNoNo
Design
Weight—23 g
Length105 mm65.9 mm
Width65 mm40 mm
Thickness19 mm8 mm
MaterialsABS PlasticPlastic
Water / dust resistance—No
Several colours availableNoYes
Warranty (months)024
Assembled inChinaCzech Republic
DIY build possibleYesNo
Apps
Official apps—Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web
Desktop appNoYes
Mobile appNoYes
Works with wallet appsBitcoin Safe, Nunchuk, Cove, Sparrow, Specter Desktop, BlueWallet, BullBitcoin Safe, Theya, Wasabi, Zeus, Nunchuk, Electrum, Sparrow, Specter Desktop, Blockstream Green, BlueWallet, Bitcoin Keeper, Casa, Unchained
Compatible third-party wallets713
Other features
FIDO2 / U2F security keyNoYes
Password managerNoNo
To compare: 0up to 4 models
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