OneKey Founder Recommends iPhone 17 or Later for Crypto Cold Storage

Smartphones can function as offline cryptocurrency cold wallets, but older hardware may not offer sufficient protection for valuable digital assets. OneKey founder Yishi noted that while an iPhone can be turned into a cold wallet, he recommends using at least an iPhone 17 running iOS 27 or newer software. He cautioned against using an iPhone 16 or earlier models to sign important, long-term asset transactions.

Even with newer smartphone hardware and operating systems, Yishi considers an iPhone 17 setup to be only the baseline minimum for secure storage. For managing substantial capital over long horizons, specialized signing devices remain preferable. Dedicated crypto hardware offers transparent security designs, continuous maintenance updates, and on-device transaction verification that general-purpose smartphones do not match.

Simply disconnecting a phone from the internet is only one layer of protection rather than a complete security solution. Evaluating a device as a cold wallet requires scrutinizing its firmware, supply chain integrity, and key recovery workflows. Factors such as hardware architecture, system patch levels, lock state, passwords, and wallet key management will ultimately determine how safely crypto assets are stored.