Old but gold? The Trezor Model One remains a proven, open-source hardware wallet launched in 2014. Its successor, the Model T, adds a touchscreen and broader native support—at a higher price.
Model One: two buttons, Micro-USB, no frills. It’s a budget, open-source cold wallet with solid PIN security, on-device address verification, and support for >1,000 coins/tokens. Firmware is installed on first use—which reduces supply-chain risk. Downsides: no air-gapped mode, legacy Micro-USB, and some assets historically required third-party wallets.
Model T: flagship with color touchscreen, faster UX, and wider native asset/dApp flows. It addresses several convenience gaps while retaining Trezor’s transparency (open-source firmware & tools).
Trezor Bridge historically acts as the link between wallet and desktop. BTC users get a mature flow (e.g., sub-accounts; Legacy vs SegWit address types; automatic one-time receive address usage for privacy). For ETH and ERC-20, legacy setups often relied on third-party interfaces (e.g., MyEtherWallet), while the flagship Model T offers a smoother native experience. There’s also Trezor Manager for Android, enabling mobile usage via USB OTG.
Model One supports >1,000 coins/tokens. If you don’t need extremely niche assets, coverage is ample. Model T expands quality-of-life for multi-asset users (especially beyond BTC), reducing the need for external interfaces.
Trezor maintains a comprehensive wiki, glossary, developer guides, and a Help Center. Advanced topics—like full-node integrations—are documented. Most deep resources and ticket handling are in English. In testing, response quality and turnaround were solid.
Model One: compact (12 g), durable, and beginner-friendly. Setup is guided and leaves little room for fatal mistakes. Micro-USB is dated and less robust than USB-C; two-button navigation works, but you may miss the touchscreen of the Model T.
Model T: the touchscreen speeds up confirmations, seed handling, and passphrase entry, minimizing reliance on the host computer.
A: Yes—security fundamentals (PIN, on-device verification, open-source firmware, first-run firmware install) remain robust. Keep host devices clean and verify addresses on the device.
A: Yes—via supported interfaces. Historically, flows used third-party wallets (e.g., MEW). Model T improves convenience with better native handling.
A: No—connection to a computer/phone is required. Risk is mitigated by on-device confirmations.
A: Model One if you want the lowest price and primarily hold BTC/majors. Model T if you value a touchscreen, broader native flows, and faster confirmations.
A: Yes. The interface is clean; setup is guided. For BTC, the experience is particularly polished (privacy-minded receive addresses, SegWit options).
Model One remains a reliable, budget cold wallet for BTC and major assets, with open-source transparency and first-run firmware installation as standout security choices. Model T justifies its premium with a touchscreen and smoother multi-asset UX. Pick the One for low cost and proven basics; choose the T if you want speed, convenience, and the most comfortable experience across diverse portfolios.
