Coldcard Q Review: Is Coinkite's New Hardware Wallet Worth the Upgrade?
Coinkite's Coldcard Q adds a larger screen, QR scanner, and battery power. Here's whether the $240 upgrade makes sense for your Bitcoin security.
The Coldcard Q costs $240 and weighs three times as much as its predecessor. That might sound like a step backward until you realize what Coinkite actually built: arguably the most capable air-gapped Bitcoin signing device on the market.
For holders who take self-custody seriously, the question isn't whether the Coldcard Q is good. It's whether the substantial upgrades over the Mk4 justify the price premium for your specific situation.
What's Actually New
The headline feature is the screen: a 3.2-inch color LCD at 320x240 pixels, roughly four times larger than the Mk4's display. This matters more than you might think. Verifying transaction details on hardware wallets has always been tedious, squinting at tiny screens to confirm addresses character by character. The Q makes this genuinely practical.
Then there's the integrated QR code scanner with LED illumination, something the Mk4 simply doesn't have. This enables fully air-gapped PSBT (Partially Signed Bitcoin Transaction) workflows without touching a microSD card. You display a QR on your computer, scan it with the Q, sign, and display the signed transaction as a QR for your computer to broadcast. Your signing device never connects to anything.
Other notable additions include dual microSD slots instead of one, battery power via three AAA cells (the Mk4 requires USB), a full QWERTY keyboard replacing the numeric pad, and NFC support for those who want it.
The Air-Gap Philosophy
Coldcard has always prioritized air-gapped operation, and the Q doubles down on this approach. You can now choose between three completely offline signing methods: QR codes, microSD cards, or NFC. The device supports cutting traces on the PCB to permanently disable USB data transfer or NFC if you're particularly paranoid.
The dual secure elements (ATECC608A and SAM3X8E) remain, as does the open-source MicroPython firmware. Coinkite has been actively updating the Q; firmware version 1.3.5Q dropped in November 2025, with multiple releases throughout the year improving QR scanning, adding BBQR support, and squashing bugs.
Security Features Worth Knowing
Beyond the hardware, the Q inherits and expands the Coldcard's security toolkit. Trick PINs let you configure fake wallets, brick the device, or wipe it entirely depending on which PIN someone enters under duress. The Seed Vault stores multiple wallets on one device. Decoy wallets provide plausible deniability.
Key Teleport is new: it enables secure cloning of seeds and device settings to another Coldcard via encrypted microSD. If you're upgrading from an Mk4, the migration process preserves your seeds, multisig configurations, and settings. You can verify the transfer worked by checking matching fingerprints in wallet software like Sparrow.
The Q also includes a secure notes feature, essentially a password manager protected by your device's security. Niche, but useful if you're already trusting the device with your Bitcoin.
Who Should Upgrade
The case for the Q is strongest if you regularly verify transactions and want that process to be less painful, if you prefer QR-based workflows over microSD shuffling, or if you want battery-powered portability for multisig signing ceremonies.
At roughly $240 versus $158 for the Mk4, you're paying about $80 for meaningful usability improvements. For someone managing significant Bitcoin holdings, that's trivial insurance against user error during transaction verification.
Who Should Stick With the Mk4
The Mk4 remains an excellent device. If you're budget-conscious, sign transactions infrequently, or don't mind the smaller screen, the Mk4 does everything the Q does from a security standpoint. It's lighter (30g versus 93g), cheaper, and battle-tested.
The Q's weight increase comes from the larger screen and battery compartment. Some will see this as a drawback; others won't care.
The Limitations
Coldcard remains Bitcoin-only. If you hold other cryptocurrencies and want a single device, look elsewhere. This is a feature, not a bug, for Bitcoin maximalists, but it's worth stating clearly.
The device isn't designed for beginners or mobile-first users. There's no companion app, no Bluetooth, no hand-holding. You're expected to understand what you're doing or learn. The documentation is solid, but the learning curve is real.
The price point also puts it in premium territory. A Trezor or Ledger costs less, though neither offers the same air-gap capabilities or Bitcoin-specific focus.
The Bottom Line
The Coldcard Q represents a genuine evolution in hardware wallet usability without compromising on security. The larger screen and QR scanner transform daily operations from tolerable to practical. Active firmware development suggests Coinkite isn't abandoning this device anytime soon.
For serious Bitcoin holders, especially those using multisig setups or conducting regular transactions, the Q earns its price premium. For occasional users or those just starting with self-custody, the Mk4 remains perfectly adequate.
The real question isn't whether the Q is good. It's whether you've reached the point in your Bitcoin journey where these refinements matter to you. If you're asking that question seriously, you probably have.