Key Takeaway
Although Safepal X1 cold wallet is basic in both asthetics and functionality, the device serves it’s purpose well. It’s got a solid build, great app, tremedous token support and is easy to use. Highly recommend this wallet as a budget option or to diversify crypto into a second device.
- Unboxing
- Safepal X1: Basic Design With Solid Build
- The Usual Wallet Setup On Safepal X1
- Safepal Wallet App: Excellently Designed Experience
- Safepal X1 Has Tremendous Token Support
- Safepal Security Record: Mixed History
- Safepal X1 Reputation & Reviews
- Safepal X1 Vs. Other Crypto Wallets
- Final Thoughts: Sometimes Basic Is All You Need
What‘s Inside The Box?
Safepal X1: Basic Design With Solid Build
Let’s take a closer look at the Safepal X1 device.
At first glance, it’s easy to mistake it for a calculator.
Clever anonymity there.
This cold wallet is small and compact, but surprisingly not too light.
Safepal uses the plastic material, but for some reason the build quality feels significantly higher than the S1.
When trying to bend and twist the frame, the shape held up with no damage.
Safepal X1 rocks a 1.8’ 128 x 64 resolution tempered glass screen.
The buttons feel way better than the d-pad on the S1 as well. These give nice sound feedback, don’t get stuck and upgrade the user experience significantly.
Probably the biggest downfall of the X1 is the small 200mAH battery life, which lasts 2 hours in use. This is charged via the USB C port on the bottom of the device.
And the X1 is the first Safepal device to implement encrypted Bluetooth instead of cameras and QR codes.
The Usual Wallet Setup On Safepal X1
To set up the X1, start by downloading the Safepal wallet app.
Press ‘connect hardware wallet’, create a password, and choose ‘x1’.
Pair the wallet using encrypted Bluetooth.
It is annoying that only 3 words show at a time, but this helps defend against cameras and wandering eyes while writing down the words.
Turn on the Safepal X1 and choose a language.
The phone will then find the X1 device. Click ‘pair’, and match the number on both to confirm.
Next navigate to ‘create new wallet’ on the X1. Select ‘create now’.
We’re then given the choice of a 24, 18 or 12 word seed phrase, and as always, pick 24 for the best protection.
Then confirm every word again on the X1 device.
As is customary, choose a pin code to prevent physical brute force attacks if the device is stolen.
Give the wallet a name and ready to use the app.
Safepal Wallet App: Excellently Designed Experience
Diving into the Safepal Wallet Suite app, the user experience is one of the best out there.
Off the bat, we can send, receive and stake tokens.
To receive crypto, tap ‘receive’, select the token and copy the address.
Safepal app also gives helpful tutorial prompts, which could really help new users.
We can also easily receive NFTs such as OG Solarians on Solana.
Sending crypto is simpler than Safepal S1, and a similar experience to most hardware wallets.
Click send, select the token, and input the wallet address and amount.
After pressing next and confirm, we then need to approve the code on both devices, enter our pin and the crypto is sent.
View the address and sending amount on the X1 wallet by navigating up and down.
Wildly enough, Safepal is the only wallet brand with a token launched on Binance, called $SFP.
Holding the token gives discounts for products, gas fee reductions, staking rewards and more.
DYOR if interested!
Safepal X1 Has Tremendous Token Support
Safepal supports 200 plus blockchains, totaling over 30,000 tokens. That’s a massive selection compared to other competitors, especially at Safepal’s low price.
As for NFTs, Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain (BSC), Polygon, Arbitrum, Ordinals, TON, Solana, SUI and more are currently available.
Safepal Security Record: Mixed History
Safepal X1 secures the device with the following components:
First chip is a microcontroller or MCU that controls all basic functions, such as key movements and bluetooth operation.
The second chip is the CC EAL5+ secure element, which generates and stores private keys, along with other cryptographic functions.
Firmware on the X1 is the strangest part, and I wasn’t able to get it working on my phone.
To upgrade, we need to plug in the device to PC, find the device code, copy paste the code here, download the file and then drag it over to start the download.
Most wallets let you update code versions safely in app, so this is the most difficult firmware update experienced so far.
Two standout features with Safepal devices are the Self-Destruct Mechanism, which wipes the device if opened, and the Firmware Protection, which confirms genuineness of uploaded firmware.
To be fully transparent, no flaws have been found in the Safepal X1 since launch.
But be aware there was a 3rd party report in 2021 from Kraken Security Labs. They identified potential vulnerabilities in the SafePal S1 hardware wallet, highlighting several key concerns.
If you want to read more on the findings in Kraken’s article and Safepal’s response, read more in the linked posts.
Based on an article from September 2023, the Safepal wallet app was made open source.
As for the hardware of the X1 device, the only part that’s not open source is the EAL 5+ secure element chip, likely due to an NDA agreement signed with the chip supplier. The supplier and chip model are unknown.
Safepal X1 Reputation & Reviews
Safepal was created in 2018 by Veronica Wong, who I’ve personally met, and two other founders. Originally formed in China, Safepal is currently based in Singapore.
The brand has also launched two previous devices: the S1 and S1 Pro.
In terms of reviews, the wallet brand holds a 3.9 out of 5 with 348 reviews on trustpilot.com.
As for the Safepal X1 specifically, the device scored a 8.2 out of 10 on 99bitcoins.com, a 4.2 out of 5 on cryptonews.com and a 4.1 out of 5 on amazon.com.
Here’s what users are saying about the Safepal X1:
To get a true idea of Safepal’s reputation, consult their socials, metrics and read what customers are saying.
If support is needed, go to safepal.com, click ‘about’, and ‘contact us’. This page can also be reached in the Safepal app through ‘settings’ and help center, where there’s also a chatbot who isn’t very friendly!
Safepal X1 Vs. Other Crypto Wallets
How does the Safepal X1 ($69) differ from other popular hardware wallets?
Safepal
- Safepal S1 ($50): QR code scanning, offline, worse build quality
Ledger
- Ledger S Plus ($59): USB only, 2 buttons, better build quality and app
- Ledger X ($149): battery powered, bluetooth or USB-C connection, better build quality and app
- Ledger Flex ($249): bluetooth or USB C, larger screen, additonal features, better build quality and app
- Ledger Stax ($399): same as Flex, but with a curved screen and label binding
Trezor
- Trezor Safe 3 ($79): USB-C only, 2 buttons, similar build quality
Tangem
- Tangem card ($50): NFC, less security, more portable
- Tangem ring ($160): NFC, less security, more portable
OneKey
- OneKey Classic 1S ($99): 4 buttons, bluetooth or USB C, similar build quality
Coolwallet
- Coolwallet Go ($69): NFC, less security, more portable
- Coolwallet Pro ($149): battery, small screen, clunky, slow, more portable
Cypherock
- Cypherock X1 ($149): USB-C only, joystick, 4 card backups, worse app, similar build quality
Secux
- Secux Neo X ($179): bulky, similar build quality, worse app
Final Thoughts: Sometimes Basic Is All You Need
You know, every time I see the price of a Safepal device, it makes me think I won’t like it. But just as with the S1, the X1 also caught me by surprise.
Being blunt, it’s not the prettiest device with the craziest amount of features on the market.
But for $69 USD, it just gets the job done.
For being made of plastic the device is considerably strong, the app is solid and there’s great token support.
The only drawbacks are the awkward firmware downloading and the lack of a Safepal desktop app.
So should you buy the Safepal X1?
Especially while discounted, I’d say it’s worth a try.
The X1 device could be the right choice for either new users to crypto or for seasoned users looking to diversify some holdings into different hardware wallets.
If you want to grab one, Safepal is giving a massive $40 off the X1 device using code Aldaron@SFP at checkout using the link below. That’s only $29 for the device!
For more in-depth breakdowns like Safepal X1, explore other crypto reviews on the site.
Thanks for reading and catch ya in the next review.
What that difference between Safepal S1 and X1?
The Safepal S1 screen is made of plastic, while the X1 is made with a tempered glass.
The S1 uses QR scanning for a slower experience. Safepal X1 connects to mobile devices via Bluetooth.
Is Safepal X1 open sourced?
Yes and no. Although the app and software is open sourced, the X1 device itself isn’t, including the secure element chip.
Is Safepal X1 compatible on all devices?
Safepal S1 works on iOS, Android, Windows and MacOS. But be aware there’s no desktop app. Only a mobile hot wallet browser extension is available.
What if I lose my Safepal X1 device?
Your seed phrase is written down on the paper sheets or with a metal backup. Keep this safe, as it’s the key to your crypto.
What is the expiry or shelf life of the Safepal X1?
It’s generally standard for screened cold wallet devices to last between 3-5 years. But with the X1’s build quality, maybe even less longevity.
Is Safepal X1 safe and secure?
Yes, but with any device be cautious. Encrypted Bluetooth is safe and used by multiple brands in the industry.
Rememeber to never expose your seed phrase and to store the hardware wallet and phrase somewhere tucked away.