Safepal X1 Review

The SafePal X1 is a compact, Bluetooth-enabled cold storage device that hits the sweet spot between security and everyday usability. While the Safepal S1 gets attention from power users who want full air-gap protection, the X1 is built for people who actually want to use their wallet regularly without going through QR code gymnastics every single time. At $69.99 (about C$95), it’s one of the most affordable hardware wallets on the market with a proper secure element chip and full open-source code.

Let me share my findings and review for the SafePal X1 Wallet.

EAL 5+ Certified Secure Element

The SafePal X1 uses a CC EAL 5+ certified secure element to store your private keys — the same standard found in smart cards and government-grade security chips. Your keys are generated inside the chip, never exposed to the outside world, and the chip itself resists side-channel attacks like voltage glitching. Most wallets under $100 cut corners here, but the X1 doesn’t.

Fully Open-Source Firmware — Full Transparency

SafePal publishes the X1’s code publicly, making it the first open-source Bluetooth hardware wallet on the market. Anyone can inspect, verify, and audit what’s running on the device. For a budget wallet, that level of transparency is rare and genuinely meaningful. You’re not just trusting marketing copy.

Bluetooth 5.0 — Fast and Practical

Unlike the older S1 model that required QR code scanning for every transaction, the X1 uses high-speed Bluetooth 5.0. Pairing with the SafePal app on iOS or Android is fast, and transaction signing happens in seconds. If you’re someone who moves crypto regularly, this is a big quality-of-life upgrade over older models and competing budget wallets.

Self-Destruct Mechanism — Tamper Protection

Multiple security sensors are built into the device. If the X1 detects tampering or a physical attack, it automatically wipes all wallet data and leaves nothing for a hacker to recover. This is a meaningful layer of protection that you don’t always see at this price point.

Support for 200+ Blockchains and Unlimited Tokens

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, TON, SUI, XRP, Cardano, Polygon, Avalanche, and thousands of others — the X1 handles them all through the SafePal app. You can also manually add custom tokens by entering a smart contract address. For anyone with a diversified portfolio, not having to juggle multiple wallets is a genuine convenience.

True Random Number Generator

Private keys are created using a hardware-based true random number generator during wallet setup. This eliminates predictable patterns and ensures your wallet is cryptographically unique from the moment you set it up.

Backed by Binance Labs

SafePal has been backed by Binance Labs since early on, which means the project had significant resources and credibility from the start. Being aligned with one of the world’s largest exchanges has pushed SafePal toward serious security standards rather than cutting corners for margins.

Compact and Pocket-Friendly Design

The matte black ABS and PVC casing is durable without being bulky. The 1.8-inch LCD screen with adjustable backlight is clear and readable in multiple lighting conditions. The 12-button layout including a D-pad is more intuitive than it looks — navigating menus, entering PINs, and confirming transactions all feels natural after a few uses.

Broad Compatibility

The SafePal app works on Android 5.0+ and iOS 10.0+, and a browser extension is available for desktop use. The X1 also supports QR code login scanning for certain workflows, keeping the private key isolated on the hardware device even in those cases.

NFT Management, DeFi, and DApp Access

Through the SafePal app, the X1 gives you access to token swaps, exchanges, staking, yield programs, and DApp connections. It’s not just a cold storage brick — it functions as an active crypto management tool for people who want to interact with DeFi without putting their keys at risk.

Cons:

EAL 5+ vs EAL 6+

The X1 uses EAL 5+ certification while SafePal’s own S1 Pro bumps up to EAL 6+. It’s a real difference, not just a marketing number. If you’re holding a significant amount of crypto and want the highest possible chip security, the S1 Pro at $89.99 closes that gap for only $20 more. For most users the EAL 5+ is more than adequate, but worth noting.

Bluetooth Introduces an Attack Surface

The X1 isn’t fully air-gapped. Using Bluetooth — even encrypted Bluetooth — technically creates a connection point that the S1 and S1 Pro avoid entirely. SafePal has implemented it carefully, and private keys never leave the device wirelessly, but if you’re holding serious long-term holdings and paranoid about attack vectors, the air-gapped models are objectively safer. The X1 is built for active users, not cold storage vaults.

Monochrome Screen — No Color Display

At $69.99 this is expected, but the 1.8-inch monochrome LCD will feel dated if you’ve used a Ledger Stax or something similar. It’s functional and readable, but don’t expect a polished touchscreen experience.

Mixed Customer Support Reviews

SafePal support gets praise for 24/7 availability and decent response times from some users, but others report slow resolution on more complex technical issues. It’s not a deal-breaker, but if something goes wrong and you’re not tech-savvy, you may run into friction getting it sorted.

No Wireless Charging

The X1 charges via USB-C only. Fine at this price, but worth knowing.

My Personal Opinion

The SafePal X1 makes the most sense for someone who wants a real hardware wallet — not a glorified USB stick — without paying $150+ for a Ledger Nano X or a Trezor. At $69.99 you’re getting an EAL 5+ secure chip, open-source code, Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, and support for basically every blockchain you’d ever want to use. That’s a lot of value.

Where it gets interesting is the Bluetooth question. Yes, it’s not fully air-gapped. The S1 and S1 Pro offer that, and they cost less and more respectively. But for someone who wants to actively manage their portfolio on a daily basis — checking balances, signing transactions, swapping tokens — the QR code workflow of the S1 gets old fast. The X1 solves that problem without compromising the fundamental security guarantee: your private keys stay on the device and never touch the internet.

The self-destruct mechanism is something I appreciate more than most people probably do. The threat model for most users isn’t sophisticated remote attacks — it’s physical theft or loss. Knowing the device wipes itself automatically if tampered with removes one of the bigger real-world risks.

Would I recommend it over the S1 Pro for $20 more? Honestly, if you’re holding a substantial amount, spend the extra $20 and get EAL 6+. But if you’re newer to hardware wallets, building out your first cold storage setup, or just want something that works seamlessly day-to-day with your phone, the X1 is one of the strongest options in its price range.

My Recommendation:

For beginners getting their first hardware wallet: The X1 is one of the easiest to set up and actually use, without the QR code learning curve of the air-gapped models.

For active crypto users who move assets regularly: Bluetooth 5.0 and the SafePal app integration make this genuinely practical for daily management.

For long-term cold storage of large holdings: Consider stepping up to the S1 Pro for full air-gap protection and EAL 6+ certification — the $20 difference is worth it at that level.

At $69.99, the X1 is hard to beat if you want a real open-source hardware wallet that doesn’t require you to be a security researcher to use it.