What is the Avalon Mini 3?
The Avalon Mini 3 is a Bitcoin ASIC miner, developed by Canaan Inc., targeting home or smaller-scale mining. One of its selling points is that it is more practical for non-industrial settings than many of the large “farm-scale” ASICs. It’s designed to be compact, relatively quiet, capable, and reasonably efficient, bridging the gap between hobbyist & semi-serious miners.
Key Specifications
Here are the core specs of the Avalon Mini 3:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Hashrate | ~ 37.5 TH/s (terahashes per second) |
| Power Consumption | ~ 800 W (± some variation) |
| Energy Efficiency | ~ 21.3 J/TH (joules per terahash) |
| Dimensions (without peripherals) | ≈ 760 × 104 × 214 mm |
| Weight (net) | ~ 8.35 kg |
| Noise Level | Up to ≈ 55 dB in full load; lower under lighter loads or quieter modes |
| Operating Environment | Ambient temperature from around −5 to +40 °C; input voltage 110-240V AC (50/60Hz) |
| Interface | Ethernet (network connection) |
Strengths & Advantages
Here are some of the features that make the Avalon Mini 3 appealing:
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Good Balance of Hashrate vs Power – 37.5 TH/s for 800 W gives a reasonable return given current BTC difficulty, especially for home users who can’t afford huge racks. The ~21 J/TH efficiency is competitive among home/small-scale miners.
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Compact and Relatively Manageable – At ~8.3 kg and modest dimensions, it’s more feasible to install in smaller spaces than full-size industrial miners. Also, input voltage compatibility (110-240V) makes power supply more flexible.
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Noise & Thermal Design – While not silent, it has modes / specifications that reduce noise (or at least stay within tolerable levels) if you’re not pushing full load all the time. The thermal design also allows it to act partly like a heater; its exhaust heat is significant, which can be good or bad depending on how you manage it.
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Multiple Use Cases – Because of its size and heat output, some purchasers might use it also to take advantage of its waste heat (e.g. heating small spaces), making the effective cost of electricity somewhat “offset” in cold climates.
Trade-Offs & Limitations
Of course, it’s not all upside. Some important limitations and risks:
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Electricity Cost Sensitivity
Because it uses 800 W, the cost of electricity really matters. If you pay high rates, profitability drops off fast. Ensuring good insulation, airflow, cheap tariff rates etc. are important. -
Noise and Heat
Although quieter than big miners, 55 dB is not negligible (especially at full power). Also, the heat generated needs to be managed (ventilation, cooling). If you’re in a warm environment, its efficiency and performance may degrade. -
Initial Cost & Payback
The purchase price can be steep. Depending on your electricity cost, bitcoin price, mining pool fees etc., payback period may be long. Profitability calculators (like NiceHash or others) should be used. -
Competition & Difficulty Growth
Bitcoin mining difficulty tends to increase over time, and newer ASICs may have better energy efficiency, so your machine may lag behind more efficient ones in the future. -
Space & Safety Considerations
Running high power, high heat devices indoors can pose safety risks if not properly ventilated. Also, they may require strong power circuits and good wiring.
Use Cases / Who It’s Good For
The Avalon Mini 3 makes sense under certain scenarios:
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Hobbyists or semi-serious miners who want something more powerful than very small USB or low-TH machines, but don’t want to run a full farm.
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Home users in colder climates who can use the heat output to reduce other heating costs.
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People who have access to relatively cheap and reliable electricity.
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Those who want to learn/experiment with ASICs, possibly small scale mining, with manageable noise and size.
It may be less appropriate if you want heavy industrial throughput, or have high electricity costs, or restrictions on noise/ventilation.
Profitability & Economics
Some rough points to consider:
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Using the 800 W, you’ll need to calculate how much electricity you’ll spend per day. For example, 0.8 kW × 24 h = ~19.2 kWh/day. Multiply by your electricity rate to get daily cost.
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Then compare that with what value of Bitcoin you might mine given 37.5 TH/s and current network difficulty. Subtract pool fees, upkeep costs, and cooling.
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NiceHash provides a profitability estimate (which of course fluctuates with BTC price, difficulty).
Final Thoughts
The Avalon Mini 3 is a strong choice in the “home / small-scale” ASIC miner segment. It hits a sweet spot: decent hashrate, reasonable efficiency, manageable size and noise (though not trivial). If you can secure good electricity, allow for ventilation, and are okay with upfront investment, it could be a solid device that can generate a return and serve practical dual purposes (e.g. heating).
Canaan Avalon Mini 3 BTC Heater Miner - 37.5 TH/s 800W Bitcoin ASIC - Dual Function Cryptocurrency Mining with Wi-Fi - Solo Mining Stake Pool for Use 110V-240V
Product information
€1,131.01
Product Review Score
4.7 out of 5 stars
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