A Kid-Friendly Crypto Experience
In July 2016, Bitcoin.com editor Jamie Redman received a Ledger Nano S from France. Instead of reviewing it alone, he invited his 7-year-old son Joshua—a young cryptocurrency enthusiast who had previously toyed with a Trezor—to be the co-tester. The goal: see if the Nano S truly lives up to Ledger's claim of being so simple “even a 7-year-old can use it.”
Unboxing: Apple-Like Packaging with Tamper-Proof Seals
The Nano S arrived in a sleek, minimalist box reminiscent of Apple products. A tamper-evident tape and plastic wrap ensured the device hadn't been opened. Inside, the wallet itself is remarkably small, protected by an aluminum alloy shell that resists damage. It has only two physical buttons on the front and a bright green OLED display (brighter than the Trezor screen, Joshua noted). A micro USB port sits at the bottom; the included cable is significantly longer than the Trezor's, making it easier to connect to a PC.
Setup: PIN and 24-Word Seed on the Device
Unlike older Ledger models, the Nano S requires no computer for initial setup. Users set a 4-digit PIN directly on the device, eliminating keylogging risks. Then it generates a 24-word mnemonic seed and prompts you to write it down on the provided paper. Jamie made Joshua do this step—the boy practiced pronunciation and spelling of each word. The device then tested retention by asking for specific word numbers in random order. Jamie called this “a perfect security lesson for kids.”
Connecting to a PC: Chrome Extensions Do the Work
After setup, connecting the Nano S to a computer via USB and navigating to start.ledgerwallet.com was straightforward. The site detected the device and offered two options: Bitcoin wallet or Ethereum wallet extensions for Google Chrome. Jamie and Joshua chose Bitcoin. The Chrome extension installed in under a minute, and they were greeted by a clean interface with Accounts (multiple addresses), Send, Receive, and Settings tabs.
Transaction Test: Fast and Painless
Joshua tapped the Receive button, and the device displayed a fresh public address with a QR code. To test, Jamie sent $3 worth of Bitcoin from another wallet in Safari. The transaction appeared almost instantly on the Nano S dashboard, with confirmations tracking in real time. Sending Bitcoin back out was equally simple: confirm the amount and address on the device, press both buttons to approve. The whole process took less than two minutes each way.
Price and Verdict: Best Bang for Your Buck
At the time of review, the Ledger Nano S cost roughly $65 (payable in Bitcoin), while Trezor was around $100. Given its support for both Bitcoin and Ethereum, open-source nature, and developer-friendly app ecosystem, the Nano S offered exceptional value. Jamie concluded that it surpassed the original Ledger in usability and rivaled Trezor in ease of use. The only minor complaint: the small screen lacks the charm of Trezor's larger display (Joshua missed seeing the Doge pictures on their Trezor). Nevertheless, for security and simplicity at a low price, the Nano S was the clear winner among entry-level hardware wallets in 2016.