Choosing the top-tier implant: Apex Flex or FlexSecure?

VivoKey Apex
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Hello everyone, greetings to all like-minded people and have a good day.

I’m currently choosing an implant and trying to understand the lineup.

Is it correct that Apex Flex and FlexSecure are the two top products in the whole catalog and that the choice should basically be made between these two?

There are so many products on the storefront that it’s a bit overwhelming. Colleagues, did I understand this correctly?

As far as I understand, the difference between them is roughly the following:

— Apex Flex can be used out of the box through the Fidesmo app directly with an iPhone, without additional hardware.

— FlexSecure requires additional equipment such as an NFC reader, PC, and software like GlobalPlatformPro.

— FlexSecure provides more control and more memory, but requires deeper technical involvement.

Are there any radical differences that make it worth dealing with all this extra equipment? With Apex, it seems that an iPhone alone is enough.

My planned use cases are the following:

— Use the implant as a crypto wallet, working with MetaMask and Rabby Wallet.

— I already use a Ledger and would ideally like to fully replace it with the implant. This is my main goal.

— Two-factor authentication through the implant for services such as Element Messenger, Proton Mail, and Google Account would also be a very nice bonus.

Regarding implantation:

— I’m planning to place the implant on the outer side of the forearm, approximately in the middle of the forearm.

— Roughly 5–7 cm above the watch position, on the outer side.

— The inner side of the forearm feels psychologically uncomfortable to me.

— I also don’t really want to place it in the hand.

My reasoning is that this location should protect the implant from damage while still keeping it easily accessible.

What do you think — is this a good location, or am I missing any potential issues?

Also, since I will be using the chip relatively rarely, I am wondering:

— Are there other locations on the body where the implant would be more discreet?

— Places where it would have minimal risk of being crushed or damaged by impact?

— Any locations that you would personally recommend?

I would really appreciate any advice from people with experience.

Thanks in advance!

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Not really, otherwise they wouldn’t make the others :classic_tongue:

Neither can do cloning, neither can do LF, both will be incompatible with certain systems/use-cases

They are the best implants in their class, but they’re also pretty much the only implants in their class…

The FlexSecure does come pre-programmed with some common applets, so you can use it out-of-the-box without any extra tools, but if you want to change what it can do, then you need that stuff

You should definitely look into that beforehand if it’s a deciding factor for you, java-card based crypto-storage is kinda picky as I understand it, and compatibility varies

The apex only has a few Crypto related applets through fidesmo, which you can see on the VK website:

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Make a fist and rotate your hand around. Watch the area. On my forearm, two muscles diverge and make a harsh edge that slashes through the middle of the region. That will not be good for a flex long term. That are not meant to be flexed, they are made on flexible PCB. The solder joints and chip are delicate. We suggest the watch area for the same reason watches are worn there: it is stable, convienent, and experiences a minimum of movement.

Edit: Not that some folks haven’t had luck with that spot.

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Yes, I see that the other implants are simpler and cheaper. From what I understand, only VivoKey Apex Flex and VivoKey flexSecure Java Card Implant provide the kind of functionality that can work as a cold crypto wallet.

So if the goal is specifically to have something similar to a hardware wallet like Ledger Nano X, does that mean the choice should really be between these two implants only?

Or are there any other implants in the catalog that can also function in this way?

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So you would recommend placing it around the area where the watch face usually sits, rather than in the middle of the forearm?

Would that location generally be safer and better protected compared to the middle of the forearm?

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Yes, for your specific use those are the two choices, but they aren’t universally “the best” in the catalog for everyone

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