The crypto market presents a variety of storage options, with each one promising different levels of security and usability.
NFC hardware wallets, such as the ELLIPAL X Card and the Tangem Wallet, have emerged as popular choices due to their straightforward, card-based format.
My this analysis provides a detailed comparison of these two prominent cold storage solutions. The objective is to provide an in-depth review of each device across key areas, including security, supported assets, pricing, and usability.
Why I Will Choose ELLIPAL X Card Over Tangem Wallet Any Day
The Tangem wallet is more like creating a hot wallet and then backing your seed phrase up in a cold backup, because you do the initial setup with an internet-connected phone (if you don’t want a seedless wallet). In a seedless system, Tangem wallets do not show the seed phrase, so they are not true self-custody wallets. The users do not know their own seed phrase, and if a customer accidentally loses their Tangem card, their assets are gone.
With the X Card, the process is completely air-gapped from the start. The Ellipal X Card’s major advantage is its “Starter” device. When you get the X Card, you get this little device that is only ever used to generate your wallet and your seed phrase. This device is never, ever connected to the internet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth. It’s a completely offline process, so your private keys are generated in a truly isolated environment.
Another big deal for me is the number of backups you can create. With the Tangem wallet, you’re limited to a couple of cards, usually 2 or 3, to back up your wallet. If you lose one, you still have a couple of others, which is great, but it’s not a lot of redundancy. The Ellipal X Card, on the other hand, allows you to create up to 10 backups with the X Card Starter. That gives you a lot more flexibility and peace of mind. You can have a card in your wallet, one in your home safe, and even give a couple to trusted family members for safekeeping.
So, yes, the Tangem is convenient and simple, but the Ellipal X Card takes that initial wallet creation process one step further into a truly air-gapped environment and provides a lot more flexibility when it comes to backups.
ELLIPAL X Card vs Tangem Wallet: Quick Comparison
| Factor | ELLIPAL X Card | Tangem Wallet |
|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Credit-card sized cold wallet, ultra-slim, NFC-based “tap to sign” | Contactless smartcard-style wallet |
| Setup Environment | 100% offline setup using Starter device; air-gapped and tamper-proof | Semi-offline key generation; Optional seed phrase |
| Security Certification | CC EAL6+ chip (Visa/Mastercard grade) | EAL6+ secure element |
| Key Generation | Keys generated inside secure chip | Keys generated in-card via TRNG; (No seed phrase in TRNG version) |
| PIN / Access Protection | PIN-protected; after 10 wrong attempts, data is wiped | Access code protects wallet |
| Backup / Redundancy | Duplicate wallet across up to 10 X Cards; Seed phrase fallback | Multi-card sets (e.g., 2 or 3 identical cards); Optional seed backup |
| Supported Assets | 10,000+ tokens (including NFTs) | 14,000+ assets |
| Self-Custody | Fully self-custodial | Fully autonomous |
| Durability & Build | No battery, no updates, maintenance-free; Card is tamper-resistant | Battery-free; Can last 25+ years if handled properly |
| Setup Time | Beginner-friendly | Very easy |
| Price | $79 (standard) | $54.9 (2-card set) |
ELLIPAL X Card vs Tangem: In-depth Comparison
Security
The X Card is a truly air‑gapped cold wallet. You can easily initialize it using the Starter device, which is fully offline and never connects to the internet or cloud.
It generates your seed phrase and private key completely offline and stores them inside a CC EAL6+ secure chip, the same standard used for banking cards, making it tamper‑resistant and immune to remote attacks.
Also, you can set a 6‑digit PIN, and the card wipes itself after 10 wrong attempts. It doesn’t need batteries, firmware updates, or any connection – no USB, no Bluetooth, just a tap via NFC to sign transactions. You can even duplicate your wallet seed phrase securely across up to 10 backup cards for redundancy.
On the other hand, Tangem is also a contactless smart‑card wallet using NFC only and no battery. Like ELLIPAL, it’s built around an EAL6+ secure element. Plus, NFC only has write access during initial setup, after which it’s read‑only.
You can then lock the card with an access code (PIN or phrase); you can also use biometric unlock backed by your phone’s Secure Enclave or Android TEE. It’s fully self‑custodial.
One thing I didn’t like about Tangem and found ELLIPAL is better protected is during its seed generation process. ELLIPAL generates a seed phrase using the “Starter” device. Hence, it’s 100% cold storage. In the case of Tangem, it has two setup modes:
- Seedless (recommended): The card’s secure element generates the private key with its TRNG, and the key never leaves the chip (this is 100% offline). But, in this case, you won’t get a seed phrase.
- Seed-phrase setup (not 100% offline): You can generate a BIP-39 seed phrase in the Tangem mobile app (on the smartphone, locally) and then import it to the card, or import a phrase from another wallet. This is still offline in the sense that it doesn’t require Tangem servers, but the phrase is shown on the phone screen, so the exposure model differs.
Hence, the crucial difference lies in the initial private key generation and ongoing private key management, which is handled completely offline by ELLIPAL, a superior method compared to Tangem’s approach.
Unlike ELLIPAL, Tangem wallets do not show users their seed phrase. This means Tangem is not a true self-custody wallet, since the customer never knows their own recovery phrase. If a Tangem card is lost, the assets are permanently gone, whereas with ELLIPAL, you always have full control through your seed phrase.
Winner: ELLIPAL X Card (due to 100% air-gapped seed generation process)
User Experience and Usability
The Tangem Wallet is designed for absolute simplicity. The setup process is quick and requires just a few minutes. You download the Tangem app, tap one of the cards to your NFC-enabled phone, and the app guides you through the process of generating your private key and creating backups.
The main advantage of the Tangem is its “tap-and-go” convenience. A user can simply tap the card to their phone to sign a transaction. This method is fast and requires no cables or batteries.
The ELLIPAL X Card has a more deliberate and secure setup process. The user must first use the separate “Starter” device to create the wallet and the seed phrase offline. The process is a little more involved, but it ensures that the private key never comes into contact with an internet-connected device.
The user then transfers the wallet data to the X Card. For daily use, the process is straightforward; the user opens the ELLIPAL app and taps the X Card to their phone to sign transactions.
While the Tangem Wallet focuses on convenience, the ELLIPAL X Card prioritizes a secure and cold setup from the very beginning.
The user also has the option to create up to 10 backup cards. This is a massive advantage for users who want to distribute backups to family members or store them in different physical locations for redundancy. The ability to have multiple, identical backups provides an unparalleled level of safety against loss or damage.
Winner: Both wallets are easy to use with just tap-and-go NFC-based transactions.
Price
The Tangem Wallet is available in a two-card set for approximately $55, or a three-card set for about $70. The purchase of one set provides both the main wallet and its backups. This is a very competitive price, and it makes the wallet an affordable entry point for individuals who are new to cold storage.
The ELLIPAL X Card has a different pricing structure. A single X Card is priced at around $39, but the user is also required to purchase a separate “Starter” device. The total initial investment for the ELLIPAL X Card and the Starter device is around $79.
This additional cost is justified by the superior air-gapped security model. The Starter device provides a critical function by ensuring the private key is generated offline, a feature that many other wallets cannot offer. You can also buy a 3-card pack for $133.
Winner: Tangem Wallet is affordable, but X Card’s little higher price is justifiable due to its additional “Starter’ device.
What is the difference between Ellipal X Card and Tangem Wallet?
The main difference is that ELLIPAL X Card is fully air-gapped with seed generation inside its own secure chip, while Tangem Wallet uses an NFC smart-card style where keys stay in the chip, but optional seed phrases are created through its mobile app.
ELLIPAL X Card Review: Portability With Cold Storage
The ELLIPAL X Card is a compact, NFC-based hardware wallet designed for secure and convenient cryptocurrency cold storage. It is one part of a two-piece system that includes a “Starter” device. The wallet is credit card-sized, durable, and uses a top-tier CC EAL6+ secure element chip.
Its main goal is to offer a high level of security through its unique air-gapped technology, which ensures private keys are created and managed completely offline, away from any internet-connected device. The wallet relies on a mobile app for transactions, but uses a secure “tap-and-go” method for signing.
Key Features
- Air-gapped Security: Uses a separate device to create keys offline.
- Top-Tier Secure Chip: Employs a CC EAL6+ secure element for robust protection.
- Multiple Backups: Can create up to ten identical backup cards.
- Durable Design: When stored properly, the card will not degrade for 25–30 years, and you can also create up to 10 backup copies for extra redundancy.
- Comprehensive App: Integrates with a DApp browser, exchange, and staking features
- Seed Import & Recovery: The Starter device can recover existing accounts and import seed phrases from other wallets, effectively allowing you to convert a hot wallet into a cold wallet account.
Tangem Wallet Review: Easy to Use Without a Seed Phrase
The Tangem Wallet is another crypto storage solution that looks like a credit card. It’s designed to be simple and secure, using a certified chip to store your private keys completely offline.
Unlike most hardware wallets, it doesn’t require a seed phrase for backup by default. Instead, you get a set of two or three cards that are all linked to the same wallet. You simply tap a card to your NFC-enabled phone to access and manage your crypto using the Tangem app.
Key Features
- Seedless Backup System: Uses multiple cards as backup, no seed phrase needed.
- NFC-Powered: Connects and signs transactions by tapping your phone.
- Secure Chip Technology: An EAL6+ certified chip stores your keys securely offline.
- Water and Dust Resistant: Durable design with a 25+ year warranty.
The Final Analysis
My Verdict: ELLIPAL X Card is recommended over Tangem Wallet.
While the Tangem Wallet is easy to use, the ELLIPAL X Card is definitely the superior choice for anyone who takes digital asset security seriously.
The ELLIPAL system’s air-gapped model, which ensures that your private keys are created and managed completely offline, offers an unparalleled level of protection that no internet-connected device can match. This makes it the most secure solution available in the card-based hardware wallet market.
