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Block Bitkey or Coinkite COLDCARD Q?

The exact editions, side by side: how you’ll use them and the limits to know.

Coinkite COLDCARD Q

One edition

Wallet 2

Add a wallet

Wallet 3

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In short

Transaction approval (Computer) is confirmed only for Coinkite COLDCARD Q.

Block BitkeyOne edition

Price at Block

Coinkite COLDCARD QOne edition

Price at Coinkite

Approve transactions

Computer: Block Bitkey:
Support for signing is unconfirmed; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:
microSDSparrow · Bitcoin
QRSparrow · Bitcoin
USBSparrow · BitcoinQ already set up and unlocked · USB enabled · data cable required
iPhone: Block Bitkey:
NFCBitkey app · Bitcoin; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:
NFCNunchuk · Bitcoin
iPhone · Nunchuk · NFC · BitcoinSupport for wallet setup is unconfirmed
Android: Block Bitkey:
NFCBitkey app · Bitcoin; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:
NFCNunchuk · Bitcoin
Android · Nunchuk · NFC · BitcoinSupport for wallet setup is unconfirmed

Where they differ

Controls / Display: Block Bitkey:Touchscreen; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:Physical buttonsDisplay: Display without touch input
Wallet recovery: Block Bitkey:Phone, hardware and server keys with assisted recovery. Check service and country availability.; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:Recovery phrase
Battery: Block Bitkey:Rechargeable; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:Replaceable batteries

What they have in common

Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin-only
Both

Not fully confirmed

Operating power: Block Bitkey:Not recorded; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:Batteries or USB power

Before you choose

Consider

Block BitkeyTwo of three keys are needed. Recovery involves your phone, cloud storage and the service, rather than a conventional recovery phrase.

Coinkite COLDCARD QNeeds a compatible wallet app; follow the current COLDCARD advisory for firmware updates and migration of affected existing wallets.

Apps and requirements

Show detailsHide details

Connectivity

Block Bitkey

iPhone · Android

Bitkey appNFCBitcoin

Connection requirements

Needs an NFC phone and the Bitkey app. Setup requires a cloud backup and email alerts; recovery depends on the keys and backup access you retain.

Coinkite COLDCARD Q

Computer

SparrowmicroSDBitcoinWindows · macOS · Linux

Connection requirements

Sparrow exchanges unsigned and signed Bitcoin transaction files (PSBTs) with Q through microSD. Your computer needs a compatible card reader.

SparrowQRBitcoinWindows · macOS · Linux

Connection requirements

Set up Q’s wallet in Sparrow. Q scans the unsigned transaction QR, then Sparrow uses your computer’s camera to scan the signed result from Q.

SparrowUSBBitcoinWindows · macOS · LinuxQ already set up and unlocked · USB enabled · data cable required

Connection requirements

Set up Q’s wallet in Sparrow and exchange unsigned and signed Bitcoin transaction files (PSBTs) over USB. Q must already be initialized and unlocked, with USB enabled and a data-capable USB-C cable.

iPhone · Android

NunchukNFCBitcoinSupport for wallet setup is unconfirmed

Connection requirements

Use Nunchuk on a compatible NFC phone, with an already initialized Q powered on and NFC enabled, to exchange Bitcoin transaction files (PSBTs).

Hardware detailsDifferent: 2 · Same: 1 · Not fully recorded: 10Show details (13)Hide details

Block BitkeyCoinkite COLDCARD Q

Display

Display type: Block Bitkey:OLED; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:LCD
Screen diagonal: Block Bitkey:Not recorded; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:Sources disagreeCoinkite lists 3.2 inches on the Q product page and 2.3 inches in its Q documentation overview. The screen diagonal remains unresolved.
Resolution: Block Bitkey:Not recorded; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:320 × 240 px
Colour mode: Block Bitkey:Not recorded; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:Colour

Size and weight

Dimensions: Block Bitkey:66 × 60 × 13.6 mmDimensions as listed by the manufacturer; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:120 × 75 × 22 mmDimensions as listed by the manufacturer
Device weight: Block Bitkey:79 g; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:Not recorded
Weight without batteries: Block Bitkey:Not recorded; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:93 g