ELLIPAL Titan Review

In an increasingly digitalized world, the appeal of hardware solutions still endures – and crypto wallets are no exception. There are times when, despite all the convenience of software wallets, you just want to replicate the feeling of holding your assets in your palm. As you’ll see in this ELLIPAL Titan review, the right hardware wallet can offer exactly that, alongside the benefits of software integration.

The device's specifications list looks as solid as its metal casing from the first glance. This hardware wallet packs some impressive technology, including but not limited to anti-tampering safeguards and the lack of network connectivity. It features a large, smartphone-like screen and a mobile app that acts as a bridge between the wallet and the Web3 sphere.

Do all those features prove that ELLIPAL is safer than most other cold wallets out there, though, or would they be an overkill for your average crypto enthusiast? Would you be better off sticking to more established hardware wallets like Ledger or Trezor? Keep reading and find out if the ELLIPAL Titan cold wallet is right for you!

Verdict at a glance: ELLIPAL Titan is a hardware wallet that offers Web3 services, as well as swapping, staking, and buying crypto with fiat. It has a 4-inch screen and a plethora of security features, such as air-gapping and anti-tampering safeguards. That said, it’s significantly heavier and pricier than a lot of other cold wallets.

What Is ELLIPAL Titan?

Most readers probably wouldn’t want to jump into this ELLIPAL Titan review without a little warm-up first – so let’s get the ball rolling with some background information to get you up to speed!

ELLIPAL was founded in 2018 by Tong Chen and David Tian. Fed up with the shortcomings of all the hardware wallets they’d tried before, the duo set out to create, in their own words, “the ultimate hardware wallet”. That’s how Titan 1.0 was born. In 2020, they added a mobile app to the mix, along with access to dApps and the ability to swap, buy, and stake crypto without having to use an external exchange.

In 2023, a new version came out – Titan 2.0, boasting an improved EAL 5+ security chip, a sleeker body made of aluminum alloy, 10x faster firmware updates, and, last but not least, support for 24-word seed phrases. That’s the version I’ll be discussing in this ELLIPAL Titan review; however, the original one is still on sale and hasn’t aged out of getting regular firmware updates yet.

Moreover, in 2024, Titan’s user base surpassed 1 million across more than 140 countries the product is currently available in. Titan now supports over 10,000 coins and over 40 blockchains, with new ones constantly joining the list.

Despite this flaming success, the company hasn’t been resting on its laurels: in October 2024, in search of new solutions to help optimize transactions, ELLIPAL switched to Arbitrum – an Ethereum Layer 2 network that uses Optimistic rollups protocol to process transactions in batches and submit them to the Ethereum mainnet.

This change resulted in a massive pay-off: transaction costs are now a mere 5% of mainnet fees, and much faster, too!

ELLIPAL Titan Review: PROS

Has this ELLIPAL Titan review piqued your curiosity to learn more about this wallet? If so, let’s cut to the chase and take a deeper look at what it has to offer – both the good and the bad.

ELLIPAL wallet’s official website and users’ reviews both have a lot to say about Titan’s main selling points, so let’s unpack those first.

One of the First Air-Gapped Cold Wallets

Even though the very definition of a cold wallet is supposed to imply zero online connectivity, this isn’t always the case in practice: a lot of them still allow some forms of data transfer, which makes them vulnerable to hacking attempts and phishing attacks.

The team behind ELLIPAL, on the other hand, followed their security principles to the letter. Thanks to their uncompromising vision, Titan really is 100% signal-proof in every sense of the word. This wallet has no WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular data, NFC, or even USB connection (not for data transfer purposes, anyway). It might as well have come straight from the 90s!

Well, not quite, of course – but close enough. It does have a USB slot, but only for charging. There’s also a microSD card reader for offline firmware updates and a mobile app I will delve into later in this ELLIPAL Titan review. For now, however, you can rest assured you’d be in no danger of getting kicked out of a digital detox retreat with this wallet in your backpack!

It’s important to remember that, when it comes to security, there’s no such thing as a 100% guarantee, though. As incredulous as it sounds, air-gapped devices are still not fully immune to being compromised^[1]. Still, those incidents are so unlikely that there’s no use losing sleep over it.

Anti-Tampering and Anti-Disassembly Technology

If, like many long-time crypto enthusiasts, you consider yourself a perfectionist when it comes to security, you’ve probably spent some time running the worst-case scenarios through your head.

A lot of us have tried to picture what would happen if our funds got stolen by some opportunistic scoundrel in what’s called an “evil maid attack” or fell victim to a supply chain heist. Would the hackers be able to take our wallets apart and steal our private keys that way?

Not with ELLIPAL Titan, they wouldn’t. This wallet is reinforced not only against cyber attacks but physical ones, too.

As soon as the wallet senses someone trying to pry it open by force, the auto self-destruct feature kicks in, automatically deleting all data and private information and rendering the device unusable. Meanwhile, the rightful owner would still be able to recover their funds using the backup mnemonic phrase.

Sadly, this reinforcement comes at the expense of the wallet’s repairability: Titan simply isn’t designed to be taken apart for troubleshooting or self-repair, so if you’re the kind of tech-savvy user who likes tinkering with their electronics, you’d probably be better of with a more DIY-friendly wallet.

Other Security Features

While the anti-tampering protection and air-gapping make up the bulk of Titan’s armor, those aren’t the only security measures it’s equipped with. Let me tack on a bonus subchapter to this ELLIPAL Titan review and explore the full range of its security mechanisms.

One of the highlights listed on ELLIPAL’s official website is Titan’s secure element chip with a CC EAL 5+ certification (same as some of the best hardware wallets out there, including SafePal S1 and Ledger).

The Evaluation Assurance Level (EAL) is a certificate awarded to products that meet certain international security standards set by Creative Commons. It ranges from EAL 1 to EAL 7, indicating the level of assurance testing a product has been put through.

While the above-mentioned features aren’t exactly gimmicks, they shouldn’t overshadow the basic security mechanisms no hardware wallet could do without. Fortunately, Titan didn’t skimp on those, either. Let's take a look at all the other ways this device keeps your crypto safe.

Seed phrases are a core feature of any crypto wallet, hardware or otherwise. It serves as a backup to recover data from a non-custodial wallet. Just like most other crypto wallets, ELLIPAL uses BIP39 Seed Phrase Encryption Standard which contains 2048 words to choose from^[2].

While Titan 1.0 faced some valid criticism for only supporting 12-word seed phrases, the 2.0 version upped the security level by introducing 24-word seed phrases (now found in most hardware wallets, such as Trezor and Ledger.

At the same time, you also have the option of a 25th passphrase. This means that even if your 24-word mnemonic phrase gets compromised, the hacker would still need the final 25th word to break into your wallet.

A seed phrase can be something quite personal, though. In theory, one randomly generated word sequence is as good as the next one – and yet, many users prefer importing their old seed phrase instead of letting the wallet create a new one on their behalf. ELLIPAL offers exactly that. It won’t force you to blindly trust its own generated seed phrases and private key – if you want to, you can import them from another wallet instead.

There’s one last feature left to mention. While a big screen is undeniably an asset when it comes to user-friendliness, it can easily turn out to be a weak link when it comes to keeping your data private, too.

Foreseeing this potential flaw, ELLIPAL added an option to change how long the screen remains active, with a default setting of a 30-second window, after which the screen is locked. This should certainly make anyone feel safer using the device in public.

Intuitive and User-Friendly Design

One thing that deters many crypto enthusiasts from giving cold wallets a chance is their seemingly complicated design. While a software wallet is basically just another app on your phone, hardware wallets are a different beast altogether and require some getting used to.

As you’ll remember from the first section of my ELLIPAL Titan review, this is precisely the problem the team behind the ELLIPAL wallet was determined to tackle. They went above and beyond to make Titan as user-friendly as possible.

The first thing that would catch your eye when you pick up the device is its generous touch HD screen. At 4 inches and 280 × 720 resolution, it could almost be confused for that of a tiny smartphone (or a very old one from the early days of the smartphone era).

Unlike Titan 1.0, which had some issues with responsiveness, according to some user reviews, the screen of Titan 2.0 feels snappy and blazing fast, and provides a very convenient interface any smartphone user will instantly feel at home with.

In addition, as mentioned previously, Titan does have a companion mobile app (just like some other popular hardware wallets, such as Trezor and SafePal). It acts as a bridge between the air-gapped wallet itself and the Web3 functionalities that require an online connection.

Since it has no internet connectivity, the main way Titan interacts with your crypto is through a built-in QR code scanner. ELLIPAL uses an open QR format that can be easily verified to ensure your data hasn’t been leaked.

Here’s how it works: whenever you initiate a transaction, a QR code is generated on the mobile app. You’ll have to scan it using the built-in camera in your Titan wallet, prompting it to generate another one in response, which you then scan with the mobile app to complete the process. While this might sound a bit cumbersome when described that way, the whole process feels quick and natural in practice.

The wallet supports up to 10 separate accounts (5 mnemonic accounts and 5 private keys) and lets you easily switch between them.

Even the process of firmware updates has been streamlined to make them less intrusive, instead of having to connect your wallet to your computer to update it, as you'd have to do with the majority of other hardware wallets.

All you have to do is insert the microSD card. The update speed is another stark improvement from the 1.0 version. The whole process now only takes up to 3 minutes, which used to be around 20-30 with the Titan 1.0 model.

Additionally, non-English-speaking users will be happy to hear that both the wallet and the mobile app support eight different languages.

Now that I’ve covered the interface, let’s talk about exterior design. ELLIPAL Titan has another feature missing from quite a few other cold wallets: a rechargeable battery.

Five hours of battery life might sound underwhelming, but for a device you probably won’t be using for hours at a time, it should be more than enough for most people. The 2.0 version even has an auto shut-down feature that can inconspicuously save you some battery life down the line.

This feature isn’t the only condition for portability, though. It goes without saying that your hardware crypto wallet should be able to withstand some rough handling if you intend to carry it around regularly.

The good news is that Titan does live up to its name, after all. The 2.0 version features an upgraded all-metal casing that not only gives the wallet a sleek, premium feel but also enhances its resistance against dust, water, impacts, and the general wear and tear of daily use.

Web3, Token Swapping, Staking, and More

Cold wallets and Web3 might seem like polar opposites on the surface – but the truth is that users these days are increasingly seeking more versatile options that can wear more than one hat. Hardware devices like Titan combine the best of both worlds: the security of a cold wallet and the opportunities of Web3 and crypto transactions.

Thanks to Titan’s mobile app, you can use the wallet to manage your NFTs, connect to dApps, and swap, stake, or purchase over 10,000 coins and tokens on more than 40 different blockchains. This isn’t an exhaustive list – new coins and tokens are constantly being added. For example, the most recent firmware update introduced ARB and BASE networks.

NFTs (non-fungible tokens) have earned a respectable position in the crypto sphere, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a Web3 platform that doesn’t support them. This device is no exception – the ELLIPAL Titan cold wallet can connect to over 50 NFT marketplaces where you can buy, sell, and trade them directly. At the same time, the mobile app lets you manage your non-fungible token collections in one place.

Swapping is another prized functionality in the Web3 sphere, typically associated with decentralized exchanges. On Titan, it works pretty much the same way – except you don’t have to seek out a third-party DEX. You can exchange your coins right there on your wallet app instead. It’s a quick and secure way to get some crypto when you don’t want to deal with the complexities of traditional trading.

You can also buy coins and tokens directly with fiat currency. ELLIPAL accepts Visa/Master cards and Apple Pay as payment methods.

Finally, Titan comes with another long-time favorite: staking. Much like a savings account in traditional banking, you can earn passive income by keeping your coins on a certain platform.

Unlike some other cold wallets, Titan offers unlimited storage space – no matter how large your asset collection becomes, there's a slim chance you’re going to run out of room!

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ELLIPAL Titan Review: CONS

Since I’m trying to be impartial in this ELLIPAL Titan review, I can’t help but consider both sides. That’s why, after giving credit where it was due, it’s time to dish out some criticism, as well.

If the previous section made it clear that ELLIPAL is safe (or at least safer than most other wallets) – are there any areas where Titan fails to deliver?

Limited Coin and Token Availability for Swapping, Buying, and Staking

It might come off as a buzzkill that all those additional functionalities are a bit more limited than ELLIPAL's marketing claims might have led you to believe.

While the +10,000 coins and tokens list sounds impressive, most of it only applies to storage. Titan’s coin availability differs depending on the type of action you want to perform.

For example, swapping is only available for 32 digital assets, while buying is even more limited - you can only buy 14 of the listed cryptocurrencies with fiat, and staking is only offered for five coins right now: Cardano (ADA), Cosmos (ATOM), Polkadot (DOT), Kusama (KSM), and Tezos (XTZ).

That said, while having the option to manage your crypto without leaving your wallet definitely adds to the convenience factors, those limitations make it a less-than-perfect tool for that purpose – it might do in a pinch, but you’re still better off finding a dedicated exchange for your crypto trading needs.

Pricier Than Some Other Cold Wallets

If there’s one thing you can take away from this ELLIPAL Titan review, it’s that, with its plethora of cutting-edge features, this wallet is definitely aimed more towards high-end users. Unfortunately, the price tag sends the same message, too.

With the starting price of $139 for Titan 1.0 and $169 for Titan 2.0, they’re significantly more expensive than some of the most popular wallets like Ledger Nano S Plus. While some would say the added security is priceless, it might still be too much of an upfront investment for beginners or low-needs users.

Bulky Exterior

There’s one more feature I mentioned in my ELLIPAL Titan review that comes with a trade-off. The same 4-inch screen and 1400 mAh battery that makes this wallet a convenient device on the go unavoidably reduces its portability by adding some bulk and weight.

At 118 × 66 × 9.7 mm and 140 g, Titan feels closer to a compact smartphone than something like a USB flash – still small enough to fit in a pocket, but not something you could put on a keychain.

If you’re looking for a more portable alternative, some of the most popular options, like Ledger Nano X and Trezor Safe 5, weigh under 30 g.

ELLIPAL Titan Pricing

I’ve already commented on Titan’s price tag in the cons section of my ELLIPAL Titan review, but let me elaborate on that from a more neutral position now.

Titan 2.0 costs $169 on the product’s official website, while the older version comes a bit cheaper at $139. The pricing includes not just the wallet itself but all the accessories that come in the box, too:

• Type-C Charging Cord;
• Security adapter;
• User Manual;
• SD Card;
• 2x Seed Phrase Recovery Sheets.

If you’re willing to shell out a bit more for a package deal, you can also opt for a $199 bundle that combines Titan 2.0 with the ELLIPAL Seed Phrase Steel – an accessory that records your 24-word recovery phrase across all BIP39 wallets.

Titan comes with a 1-year warranty and a 30-day quality control replacement or full refund policy.

It’s probably tempting to hunt for cheaper options on Amazon or other indirect resellers or buy it second-hand, but when it comes to hardware wallets, buying directly from the manufacturer or official resellers is always the safest option.

Even though, as I mentioned earlier in this ELLIPAL Titan review, the wallet is equipped with anti-tampering technology, there have been reports from users who discovered that the original owner had retained control of the wallet’s private keys or otherwise managed to manipulate the device and remotely steal the new owners’ assets.

How to Use ELLIPAL Titan?

As I’ve mentioned earlier in my ELLIPAL Titan review, this wallet is specifically designed for ease of use. Figuring out how it works is definitely not rocket science!

Nevertheless, here are a few pointers for a smooth and easy start.

The first thing you’ll need to do after getting Titan is create an account:

Step 1: Turn on your ELLIPAL wallet, choose your language, click [Next] and select [Create Account].

Step 2: Fill in your account information and create your passphrase, then click [Create Account].

Step 3: Click [Backup] and read the three points carefully, then click [Back up now]. ELLIPAL will generate a set of seed phrases for you.

Step 4: Back up your seed phrase and store it someplace safe.

Step 5: Confirm your seed phrase by selecting the right words in the right order and clicking [Verify seed phrase].

Step 6: Select the coins you want and complete the creation process.

Now that you have your account, you can pair it with the ELLIPAL mobile app so that you can see your balance and make transactions.

Step 1: Download the mobile app on the iOS App Store or Google Play.

Step 2: Click the chain icon at the top right corner of your ELLIPAL wallet. It will show the QR code for the pairing.

Step 3: Go to the mobile app and click [Cold wallet > Connect to Cold wallet] to activate the camera.

Step 4: Use your phone to scan all the QR codes to complete the pairing process. You can click [Auto Play] to cycle through all of your QR codes automatically.

That’s it! Now, you can see your wallet account on the mobile app.

Alternatives: ELLIPAL Trezor

Even though this is mainly an ELLIPAL Titan review, it never hurts to compare the product in question with the leading competitors. This hardware wallet might look like a solid pick on its own - but how does it fare next to the top-ranking devices like Trezor Safe 5 and Ledger Nano X?

ELLIPAL Titan 2.0 VS Trezor Safe 5

The name "Trezor" is familiar to anyone who's been hanging around in the crypto circles for long enough - it's one of the most respected hardware wallet companies. Can Trezor Safe 5 go head-to-head with the Titan?

Both wallets feature a color touchscreen, although the one on Titan 2.0 is significantly bigger - the screen on Safe 5 is 1.54". However, its Gorilla Glass 3 scratch-resistant feature and haptic feedback easily blow Titan 2.0 out of the water.

As for the body, Titan has an upper edge quality-wise: the Trezor wallet's casing is made of plastic. On the other hand, it's much more lightweight (only 23g) and comes in four different colors, while ELLIPAL only features one.

Safe 5 isn't air-gapped like Titan 2.0, but it does have a higher CC EAL rating of 6. Besides, it's completely open-source and features an advanced multi-share backup, as well as an option to encrypt your PIN with a microSD card. Both wallets have a 24-word passphrase.

When it comes to compatibility and other features, Safe 5 is no less versatile than Titan 2.0. With the help of the Trezor Suite integration, you can manage your portfolio, track your balance, perform transactions, and access over 7000 digital assets. The only drawback is the lack of iOS functionality: unfortunately, the iOS app is view-only.

At $184, Safe 5 is slightly pricier than Titan 2.0. The box includes a USB-C to USB-C, two wallet backup cards, a start-up guide, and stickers.

ELLIPAL Titan 2.0 VS Ledger Nano X

Time to weigh our wallet in question against another popular alternative!

Like Titan 2.0, Nano X sports a touchscreen - but that's where the similarities end. Compared to the Titan, Nano X's screen feels tiny at just 1.09", and it's monochrome instead of a color display. However, it's an OLED screen, which means more sharpness and better contrast - perfect for users who don't need a lot of bells and whistles but prefer a more minimalistic approach.

Like Trezor Safe 5, Nano X also features a lightweight plastic body weighing 34g. It offers 6 color choices - you could even treat it as a retro fashion accessory! The battery life is the same as that of Titan 2.0, up to 5 hours.

When it comes to security, Nano X isn't quite as breach-proof as Titan 2.0, but still more than a solid alternative. It features the same CC EAL5+ security chip, as well as ANSSI CSPN certification, a 24-word recovery phrase, and a four-digit PIN code. If you want to feel extra safe, you can get a subscription for Ledger Recover to back up your wallet access.

Ledger Nano X costs $149, slightly edging out Titan 2.0 in the price department. And if that's not affordable enough, there's always Nano S Plus to consider: at $79, it makes for a great entry-level hardware wallet for those who don't want to break the bank. Nano X comes with a USB-C cable, a keychain strap, 3 recovery sheets, and an instruction leaflet.

Pros

• User-friendly design
• Robust security
• Long battery life

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Pros

• A brand-new design
• Industry-leading security
• Coin, token and NFT storage

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Pros

• Supports over 7,000 crypto assets
• Easy navigation
• Open-source

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Conclusions

Let's sum up this ELLIPAL Titan review with a few key takeaways. The device is an air-gapped hardware wallet with a CC EAL 5+ secure element chip, built-in anti-tampering safeguards, and multiple other features that place it in the highest tier when it comes to security. Unlike most other crypto wallets, ELLIPAL Titan boasts a large 4-inch screen that makes it especially easy and convenient to use.

That said, it might not be the right option for everyone. At $169, Titan 2.0 is not exactly a budget-friendly option. All those security features make for impressive talking points, but they still don’t provide a definitive answer to the question of whether ELLIPAL is safer than most other cold wallets, and might be an overkill for your average user. Besides, the screen and battery size make the device feel a bit cumbersome.

All in all, Titan has a pretty solid setup that would satisfy any but the most discerning user. Still, if you’re in for something a bit more lightweight and affordable, I recommend going for Ledger Nano X or Trezor Safe 5 instead.

The content published on this website is not aimed to give any kind of financial, investment, trading, or any other form of advice. BitDegree.org does not endorse or suggest you to buy, sell or hold any kind of cryptocurrency. Before making financial investment decisions, do consult your financial advisor.

Scientific References

1. M. Guri.: ‘Mind The Gap: Can Air-Gaps Keep Your Private Data Secure?’;

2. C. Shalk.: ‘Unforgettable User Defined Seed Phrase for Cryptocurrency Wallets’.