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Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5 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

Recorded differences: Operating power and Battery.

Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5One edition

Price at Coinkite

Coinkite COLDCARD QOne edition

Price at Coinkite

Approve transactions

Computer: Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:
microSDSparrow · Bitcoin
USBSparrow · BitcoinMk5 set up and unlocked · verified current firmware · USB data enabled · data cable; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:
microSDSparrow · Bitcoin
QRSparrow · Bitcoin
USBSparrow · BitcoinQ already set up and unlocked · USB enabled · data cable required
iPhone: Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:
NFCNunchuk · Bitcoin
iPhone · Nunchuk · NFC · BitcoinSupport for wallet setup is unconfirmed; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:
NFCNunchuk · Bitcoin
iPhone · Nunchuk · NFC · BitcoinSupport for wallet setup is unconfirmed
Android: Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:
NFCNunchuk · Bitcoin
Android · Nunchuk · NFC · BitcoinSupport for wallet setup is unconfirmed; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:
NFCNunchuk · Bitcoin
Android · Nunchuk · NFC · BitcoinSupport for wallet setup is unconfirmed

Where they differ

Operating power: Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:USB power; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:Batteries or USB power
Battery: Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:No battery; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:Replaceable batteries

What they have in common

Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin-only
Both
Controls / Display: Physical buttonsDisplay: Display without touch input
Both
Wallet recovery: Recovery phrase
Both

Before you choose

Consider

Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5Needs USB-C power during use. Check the current seed-generation advisory before reusing an older wallet; updating alone does not repair an affected seed.

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

Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5

Computer

SparrowmicroSDBitcoinWindows · macOS · Linux

Connection requirements

Sparrow exchanges unsigned and signed Bitcoin transaction files (PSBTs) with Mk5 through microSD. Your computer needs a compatible card reader.

SparrowUSBBitcoinWindows · macOS · LinuxMk5 set up and unlocked · verified current firmware · USB data enabled · data cable

Connection requirements

Start with a Mk5 already initialized under its setup guide, running the verified current recommended standard firmware. Keep Mk5 unlocked, enable USB data and use a data-capable USB-C cable. Then add its wallet to Sparrow and sign Bitcoin transactions over USB.

iPhone · Android

NunchukNFCBitcoinSupport for wallet setup is unconfirmed

Connection requirements

Use Nunchuk on a compatible NFC phone with an already initialized Mk5, powered on and with NFC enabled. Import the wallet’s public account into Nunchuk before exchanging Bitcoin transaction files (PSBTs).

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: 3 · Not fully recorded: 5Show details (10)Hide details

Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5Coinkite COLDCARD Q

Display

Display type: LCDBoth
Screen diagonal: Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:1.54″; 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.
Colour mode: Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:Monochrome; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:Colour
Resolution: Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:Not recorded; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:320 × 240 px

Power and charging

Replaceable cells: Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:No battery; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:3 × AAA

Device connections

USB port: USB-CBoth
Memory card slot: microSDBoth

Size and weight

Dimensions: Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:Not recorded; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:120 × 75 × 22 mmDimensions as listed by the manufacturer
Weight without batteries: Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:Not recorded; Coinkite COLDCARD Q:93 g