Secure ElementNFC13+ networks
Ellipal X Card vs SafePal S1 Pro
SafePal S1 Pro stands out with a 1.3" color touchscreen. Ellipal X Card is a solid alternative — Ellipal X Card costs $21 less.
2 wallets
USB vs NFC
Quick VerdictUpdated 2026
Ellipal X Card
Best value
SafePal S1 Pro
Best overall
$89.99
Open-formula rating|40+ criteria analyzed|Last updated October 2026|No sponsored rankingsSee methodology
Key Takeaways
- SafePal S1 Pro wins in security (72/100)
- SafePal S1 Pro wins in ease of use (76/100)
- Ellipal X Card is more affordable ($69)
- Both support 45+ cryptocurrencies
- Best for beginners: Ellipal X Card (easier setup)
Ellipal X Card vs SafePal S1 Pro: Key Differences
Both Ellipal X Card and SafePal S1 Pro can keep your crypto safe — the real question is which one fits the way you actually use it. We've put both through our open-formula scoring on 40+ criteria: Ellipal X Card (Ellipal) lands at 60/100, SafePal S1 Pro (SafePal) at 64/100. The $21 gap between $69 and $89.99 isn't arbitrary — these are two different bets on what matters in a hardware wallet, and the right pick depends on which bet you'd take.
Winner by Category
Which wallet leads in each area
Security
Ellipal X Card66/100
SafePal S1 ProWinner72/100
Ease of Use
Ellipal X Card70/100
SafePal S1 ProWinner76/100
Price
Ellipal X CardWinner$69
SafePal S1 Pro$89.99
Coin Support
Ellipal X Card45+
SafePal S1 ProWinner200+
Privacy
Ellipal X Card14/100
SafePal S1 ProWinner45/100
Beginner Friendly
Ellipal X Card70/100
SafePal S1 ProWinner76/100
Comparing:
Ellipal X Card
SafePal S1 Pro
Comparison Table
Key specifications for your decision
| Criteria | Ellipal X Card Ellipal $69 | SafePal S1 Pro SafePal $89.99 |
|---|---|---|
Overall Rating | 60 | 64 |
Security | 66 | 72 |
Usability | 70 | 76 |
Price | $69 | $89.99 |
A secure element is a tamper-resistant chip built to store secrets and resist physical attacks such as side-channel analysis and fault injection. Learn more — Secure Element | Yes | Yes |
Open Source Firmware refers to firmware in hardware devices, like wallets, where the source code is publicly available, allowing transparency, auditability, and customization. Learn more — Open Source | No | No |
Bluetooth Connectivity enables wireless communication between devices, like hardware wallets and smartphones, using Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for secure data transfer. Learn more — Bluetooth | No | No |
USB | No | No |
Networks | 45+ | 200+ |
A passphrase is an additional security layer for cryptocurrency wallets, acting as a 25th word in the BIP39 seed phrase, protecting access to hidden wallets. Learn more — Passphrase | Yes | Yes |
A touchscreen display is a screen that allows users to interact with a device by touching the surface, commonly used in hardware wallets for easy navigation and transaction confirmation. Learn more — Display | None (No Screen On The Card; Transactions Reviewed In The Phone App) | 1.3-Inch IPS Full-Colour LCD, 320x320 (Not Touch; D-Pad Input) |
Recovery is the process of restoring access to a cryptocurrency wallet using its seed phrase or mnemonic backup if the original wallet is lost or inaccessible. Learn more — Backup Method | Multi-card | 24-word seed |
Setup Time | ~3 min | ~5 min |
IP Rating refers to the level of protection a device has against dust and water, often used for hardware wallets to indicate their durability in various environments. Learn more — Water Resist | Yes | None |
Our Verdict: Ellipal X Card or SafePal S1 Pro?
Choose Ellipal X Card if...
- You prefer seedless backup via multiple linked cards
- You want wireless NFC connectivity — no cables needed
Skip Ellipal X Card if...
- ×You manage crypto from a desktop (no Windows, macOS, or Linux app)
- ×You hold a wide range of altcoins beyond what this device supports (45 networks)
Choose SafePal S1 Pro if...
- You are comfortable managing a seed phrase
- You need full desktop support (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- You want a modern touchscreen interface
Skip SafePal S1 Pro if...
- ×You want wireless NFC connection — no cables
- ×You want a seedless backup design instead of a 12/24-word phrase
Our pick for most users
Both wallets score similarly (60 vs 64/100) — your choice depends on which features matter most to you.
Bottom line: SafePal S1 Pro is our pick — it leads on both security and ease of use, and the overall score reflects that. If budget is real, Ellipal X Card comes in $21 cheaper without giving up the basics.
Price: Ellipal X Card vs SafePal S1 Pro
Ellipal X Card costs $69, while SafePal S1 Pro is priced at $89.99 — a $21 difference. The extra cost of SafePal S1 Pro gets you a 4-point higher overall rating. For budget buyers, Ellipal X Card offers solid security at a lower price point.
Who Should Pick Which Wallet
Recommendations based on real-world use cases
Ellipal X Card
$69Best for:
AffordableWalletConnect supportAndroid supportiOS support
Pros
- +Always creates a standard BIP39 seed phrase, so recovery does not depend on Ellipal or on the cards
- +Credit-card format with no battery, cable or charging; signs by tapping an iPhone or Android phone
- +Secure chip that Ellipal describes as CC EAL6+, with keys generated by its hardware random number generator
- +Optional duplicate cards and passphrase (hidden wallet) support
Cons
- −No screen on the card: addresses and amounts are checked only in the phone app
- −Firmware is locked at the factory and can never be updated, so a flaw could not be patched
- −No published chip model, certificate or independent audit; security claims are Ellipal's
- −No desktop app: phone with NFC only
SafePal S1 Pro
$89.99Best for:
AffordableBuilt-in batteryWalletConnect supportAndroid support
Pros
- +QR signing via a built-in camera; no Bluetooth, NFC or USB data link (USB-C charges and updates)
- +Aluminum alloy body with a tempered glass panel, unlike the ABS and PVC shell of the $49.99 S1
- +500 mAh battery, rated by SafePal at up to 25 days with 15 minutes of daily use
- +BIP39 phrase of 12, 15, 18 or 24 words with optional passphrase-protected hidden wallets
Cons
- −SafePal states CC EAL6+ for the store model but publishes no chip or certificate
- −No repository names the S1 Pro, so SafePal’s open-source claim for it cannot be checked
- −No published audit or third-party security report specific to the S1 Pro
- −Pairs only with the SafePal App: no multisig and no xpub export to other wallets
Best for These Profiles
Pre-Purchase Checklist
Important points to verify regardless of your choice
All wallets ship from official manufacturer stores with full warranty.
Ellipal X Card vs SafePal S1 Pro: Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about Ellipal X Card vs SafePal S1 Pro
Is Ellipal X Card better than SafePal S1 Pro?
On the numbers, SafePal S1 Pro comes out ahead — 64/100 vs 60/100 — but 'better' isn't quite the right frame. Ellipal X Card is more affordable at $69, which matters more for some buyers than overall score does. If overall rating is what you actually weigh first, take SafePal S1 Pro. If budget is the constraint that shapes your decision, Ellipal X Card is the smarter buy. Either way, both are real hardware wallets — neither is a mistake.
How much do Ellipal X Card and SafePal S1 Pro cost?
Ellipal X Card costs $69, SafePal S1 Pro costs $89.99. These are list prices for the standard edition from official manufacturer stores. A few things worth knowing: hardware wallet prices barely move during the year, so 'waiting for a sale' rarely pays off — Black Friday is the one exception, with 10–20% off being typical. Avoid third-party listings even if they're cheaper; the supply chain risk on a tampered device wipes out any savings the first time you load funds. And don't buy a 'used' hardware wallet, ever — even if it claims to be reset.
What happens if I lose all my Ellipal X Card cards?
Funds are unrecoverable. There's no seed phrase to fall back on, no recovery service, no manufacturer override — that's the explicit design trade-off. The mitigation is the multi-card set: every card you receive is a complete, independent backup of the same wallet. Realistic plan: keep one card on you, one at home in a safe, and one with a trusted person or in a bank deposit box. Lose any two and you're still fine. Lose all of them and the coins are gone forever.
Which wallet is better for DeFi and Web3: Ellipal X Card or SafePal S1 Pro?
Ellipal X Card — and the gap is bigger than the spec sheets make it look. Ellipal X Card has WalletConnect built in, which means you sign DeFi transactions directly from a hardware wallet without exposing keys to a hot wallet. SafePal S1 Pro can technically work with DeFi via third-party software, but every extra step is one more place an attacker can intercept the transaction you're approving. If you're going to be clicking 'Sign' on smart contracts more than once a month, the difference compounds fast.
Ellipal X Card vs SafePal S1 Pro: which has better backup options?
Ellipal X Card uses multiple linked NFC cards as encrypted backups (no seed phrase). SafePal S1 Pro uses a standard 24-word seed phrase. Both work — but they reflect different ideas about what 'backup' should be. The seed phrase approach (BIP-39) is the open industry standard: portable across most wallets, well-documented, and recoverable on any compatible device. The downside is well-known too — it's a piece of paper that's a single photograph or careless moment away from disaster. Card-based backups can't be photographed and don't write themselves down, but they're proprietary, which means you trust one manufacturer to stay in business and keep the format alive. Pick based on which failure mode worries you more.
Can Ellipal X Card be used with a desktop computer?
No — Ellipal X Card is mobile-only with no Windows, macOS, or Linux app available. If you do most of your crypto work on a laptop or desktop (DeFi power users, traders, anyone running a full node), this is a real limitation, not a minor inconvenience. SafePal S1 Pro supports all three desktop operating systems with a polished companion app, and that's the practical pick if desktop is your main interface.
Where to buy Ellipal X Card at the best price?
Always buy Ellipal X Card from the official Ellipal store — never from Amazon, eBay, or third-party marketplaces, even if the price looks better. Hardware wallets have been physically tampered with in the supply chain before (compromised devices shipped to unsuspecting buyers, then drained the moment funds were loaded). Buying direct from Ellipal gets you a sealed unit with full warranty, firmware integrity, and a clean chain of custody. Free shipping and occasional discounts at the source make the price difference negligible anyway.
Do Ellipal X Card and SafePal S1 Pro come with a warranty?
Yes — both ship with a manufacturer warranty (typically 1–2 years) when bought from the official store. That said, a hardware wallet warranty is mostly about hardware defects, not lost funds. If the device fails, the manufacturer will replace it — but your seed phrase or backup cards are what actually restore your crypto onto the new device. The warranty is real but secondary; what protects your funds is your backup discipline, not a piece of paper from {{wallet1}} or {{wallet2}}.
Made your decision?
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Not convinced? Consider these alternatives
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Official store
Ellipal X Card$69 · 60/100
SafePal S1 Pro$89.99 · 64/100
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