Secure ElementNFC13+ networks
Tangem Ring vs Trezor Model T
Trezor Model T stands out with open-source code, a 1.54" color touchscreen. Tangem Ring is a solid alternative — Trezor Model T costs $31 less.
2 wallets
Screen vs Screenless
Open-source vs Closed
No IP rating vs IP69K
Quick VerdictUpdated 2026
Tangem Ring
Best overall
$160
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Trezor Model T
Discontinued
$129
Security notice ·
October 2026: suspected implant in a Trezor bought from CryptoBilis
On 28 October 2026 Trezor received a report from a buyer in Indonesia of an extra circuit board inside a Trezor Safe 5 bought in August 2026 from CryptoBilis, the same Southeast Asian reseller whose Ledger devices carried hardware implants. According to the report, the board sits between the main board and the screen, reads what the screen shows, including the recovery phrase, and sends it out over a mobile network. Trezor has not yet examined the device, calls the report credible and is having the unit sent to its lab.
Trezor says it has no reports involving any other reseller and no evidence that any customer has lost funds; the person who reported the implant had already moved their funds. Trezor removed CryptoBilis from its authorized resellers on 9 October 2026.
Trezor’s advice applies to every Trezor model bought from CryptoBilis from March 2026 onwards:
- If the device is not set up yet, do not set it up and never enter an existing recovery phrase on it.
- If you already use it, move your funds as soon as possible to a new wallet with a newly generated recovery phrase. Restoring the old phrase on another device does not help.
- Keep the device and contact Trezor Support: affected buyers can get a new device or a voucher. Do not open it; Trezor says weighing it is not a reliable test.
The report concerns how one device reached a buyer, not the device design, so it does not change our ratings. We will update this notice when Trezor publishes the result of its examination.
Sources
Security notice ·
July 2026: laboratory attack on Tangem card access codes
Ledger’s Donjon security team, which works for a competing manufacturer, published a laser fault-injection attack on Tangem cards on 9 July 2026. With a card physically in hand, the researchers opened it and used precisely timed laser pulses to skip a check, which let them set a new access code without knowing the old one and then sign transactions. The private key is not extracted. According to Donjon, the attack applies to all Tangem cards in circulation, and because the cards have no firmware update mechanism it cannot be patched on cards already sold.
The attack requires stealing the card, visibly damaging it, laboratory equipment costing roughly $250,000 and specialist skills. Tangem calls the risk to everyday users “virtually non-existent” and says no funds have been lost to this method; none has been reported in the wild.
What this means for owners: the practical exposure is a lost or stolen card. Keep track of your cards, and if one goes missing, move funds to a wallet the missing card cannot access.
Sources
Open-formula rating|40+ criteria analyzed|Last updated November 2026|No sponsored rankingsSee methodology
Key Takeaways
- Tangem Ring wins in security (78/100)
- Tangem Ring wins in ease of use (70/100)
- Trezor Model T is more affordable ($129)
- Both support 52+ cryptocurrencies
- Best for beginners: Tangem Ring (easier setup)
Tangem Ring vs Trezor Model T: Key Differences
Both Tangem Ring and Trezor Model T 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: Tangem Ring (Tangem) lands at 66/100, Trezor Model T (Trezor) at 53/100. The $31 gap between $160 and $129 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
Tangem RingWinner78/100
Trezor Model T40/100
Ease of Use
Tangem RingWinner70/100
Trezor Model T64/100
Price
Tangem Ring$160
Trezor Model TWinner$129
Coin Support
Tangem RingWinner100+
Trezor Model T52+
Privacy
Tangem Ring21/100
Trezor Model TWinner83/100
Beginner Friendly
Tangem RingWinner70/100
Trezor Model T64/100
Comparing:
Tangem Ring
Trezor Model T
Comparison Table
Key specifications for your decision
| Criteria | Tangem Ring Tangem $160 | Trezor Model T Trezor $129 |
|---|---|---|
Overall Rating | 66 | 53 |
Security | 78 | 40 |
Usability | 70 | 64 |
Price | $160 | $129 |
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 | No |
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 | Firmware |
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 | Yes |
Networks | 100+ | 52+ |
Wallet apps | — | — |
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 | Color Touchscreen |
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 | 20-word + Shamir |
Setup Time | ~3 min | ~15 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 | IP69K | None |
Which other apps each device works with, and how it connects: software compatibility matrix
Our Verdict: Tangem Ring or Trezor Model T?
Choose Tangem Ring if...
- You prefer a compact, screenless form factor
- You trust third-party audits (Kudelski Security (2018, card firmware), Riscure (2023, card firmware), Cure53 (Q4 2025, mobile SDKs)) over open-source review
- You prefer seedless backup via multiple linked cards
- You need iPhone (iOS) compatibility
Skip Tangem Ring if...
- ×You want to verify transactions on the wallet's own screen
- ×You manage crypto from a desktop (no Windows, macOS, or Linux app)
- ×Open-source firmware is non-negotiable for you
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Trezor Model T is discontinued
Trezor no longer sells this model. If you already own one, the full review covers how to keep using it; for a new purchase, pick one of the models on this page that are still on sale.
Our pick for most users
Based on the overall rating, Tangem Ring scores 66/100 and offers the best balance of security, usability, and value in this comparison.
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Bottom line: Tangem Ring is our pick — it leads on both security and ease of use, and the overall score reflects that. If budget is real, Trezor Model T comes in $31 cheaper without giving up the basics.
Price: Tangem Ring vs Trezor Model T
Tangem Ring costs $160, while Trezor Model T is priced at $129 — a $31 difference. The extra cost of Tangem Ring gets you a 13-point higher overall rating. For budget buyers, Trezor Model T offers solid security at a lower price point.
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Who Should Pick Which Wallet
Recommendations based on real-world use cases
Tangem Ring
$160Best for:
Water resistanceWalletConnect supportAndroid supportiOS support
Pros
- +Samsung S3D232A secure element; the chip platform is certified CC EAL6+ (ANSSI-CC-2024/15)
- +Set includes two backup cards; ring and cards hold the same key and each can sign on its own
- +No seed phrase by default; a 12- or 24-word BIP39 phrase can be created at setup instead
- +No battery, port or buttons; zirconia ceramic shell rated IP69K
Cons
- −No screen: recipient and amount can only be checked in the phone app
- −Closed, non-updatable firmware: Ledger Donjon's 2026 laser reset of the access code cannot be patched
- −Tangem app starts Firebase, Amplitude and AppsFlyer analytics by default with no in-app opt-out
- −Phone only: no desktop app, USB or Bluetooth; no multisig, coin control or Tor
View best price — $160
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Trezor Model T
$129Best for:
Better privacy featuresCoin controlTor supportFull node support
Pros
- +Open-source firmware and hardware, with reproducible firmware builds
- +Colour touchscreen: PIN and passphrase are entered on the device, and transactions are clear-signed
- +Multi-share (Shamir) backup as well as standard BIP39 phrases
- +Software updates promised until at least 2031 and security fixes until at least 2036
Cons
- −No secure element: the seed can be extracted with physical access unless a passphrase is used
- −Discontinued: Trezor no longer sells it
- −No iPhone signing: Trezor Suite on iOS is view-only
- −Plastic body and no haptic feedback, unlike the Safe 5
Best for These Profiles
🎓
Beginner / first wallet
Tangem Ring — simpler setup, lower learning curve
🔒
Security maximalist
Tangem Ring — highest security score, on-device verification
✈️
Frequent traveler
Tangem Ring — compact, durable, no cables needed
🔗
Multi-chain holder
Tangem Ring — more networks supported (85 on our verified list)
Pre-Purchase Checklist
Important points to verify regardless of your choice
Every wallet linked here ships from its manufacturer's official store with full warranty.
- View best price — Tangem Ring, $160
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Tangem Ring vs Trezor Model T: Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about Tangem Ring vs Trezor Model T
Is Tangem Ring better than Trezor Model T?
On the numbers, Tangem Ring comes out ahead — 66/100 vs 53/100 — but 'better' isn't quite the right frame. Trezor Model T is more affordable at $129, which matters more for some buyers than overall score does. If overall rating is what you actually weigh first, take Tangem Ring. If budget is the constraint that shapes your decision, Trezor Model T is the smarter buy. Either way, both are real hardware wallets — neither is a mistake.
How much do Tangem Ring and Trezor Model T cost?
Tangem Ring costs $160, Trezor Model T costs $129. 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.
Can Trezor Model T be used on iPhone (iOS)?
No — Trezor Model T has no iOS app today, and there's no public roadmap for one. It works fine with Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux, but iPhone users are out of luck. If your primary device is an iPhone and you don't want a separate computer just to manage crypto, Tangem Ring is the practical pick: it has a native iOS app and the full feature set works over Lightning or Bluetooth.
What happens if I lose all my Tangem Ring 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.
Is Trezor Model T waterproof?
No — Trezor Model T has no official water or dust resistance rating, so treat it like any other small electronic. A spilled drink or a rainstorm in your jacket pocket is enough to brick it. Tangem Ring, by contrast, carries an IP69K rating, which means it's tested against dust and pressurized water — that's the device you'd actually take camping or to a beach. For most people, water resistance isn't a deciding factor, but it matters if you travel light or carry your wallet daily.
Which wallet is better for DeFi and Web3: Tangem Ring or Trezor Model T?
Tangem Ring — and the gap is bigger than the spec sheets make it look. Tangem Ring has WalletConnect built in, which means you sign DeFi transactions directly from a hardware wallet without exposing keys to a hot wallet. Trezor Model T 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.
Tangem Ring vs Trezor Model T: which has better backup options?
Tangem Ring uses multiple linked NFC cards as encrypted backups (no seed phrase). Trezor Model T uses a 20-word seed phrase with optional Shamir Secret Sharing for split backups. 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.
Is Trezor Model T more secure than Tangem Ring because it's open-source?
Not automatically — and this is a more nuanced question than the marketing suggests. Open-source (Trezor Model T) lets anyone (researchers, hobbyists, paranoid users) read the firmware and verify there are no backdoors. That's the strongest possible trust signal. Tangem Ring keeps source code private but compensates with paid third-party audits from Kudelski Security (2018, card firmware), Riscure (2023, card firmware), Cure53 (Q4 2025, mobile SDKs) and certifications like CC EAL5+/EAL6+ on the secure element. Open-source is the more transparent posture; audited closed-source can still be cryptographically airtight. Our honest take: if open-source is the deciding factor for you philosophically, pick Trezor Model T — but don't dismiss Tangem Ring as 'less secure' purely on that basis.
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