Avalon Nano 3S vs Bitaxe Gamma: which one to choose?
Canaan’s Avalon Nano 3S and the Bitaxe Gamma are the two most common ways into home mining. The first bets on hashrate and heat, the second on open software and a tiny power draw. Here is the comparison, with the rated figures of each from my reviews.
Published 28 October 2026 · by Pixel
Head to head
| Avalon Nano 3S | Bitaxe Gamma | |
|---|---|---|
| Hashrate | 6 TH/s | 1.2 TH/s |
| Power draw | 140 W | 15 to 18 W |
| Efficiency | ≈ 23.3 J/TH | ≈ 15 J/TH |
| Price | about €60 | |
| Electricity per year | €245 | €32 |
| Block odds per year | 1 / 3,190 | 1 / 16,000 |
| Figures | rated figures | rated figures |
Electricity at €0.20 per kWh, around the clock. Solo odds with the network as of 17 October 2026. “Interface”: figures shown by the machine, without power supply losses.
The difference in short
- Rated hashrate: 6 TH/s for the Nano 3S, about 1.2 TH/s for the Gamma, five times more.
- Rated power draw: about 140 W against 15 to 18 W.
- Efficiency: about 23.3 J/TH rated for the Nano 3S, about 15 J/TH for the Gamma.
- Software: the Avalon Family app and three modes on the Nano 3S, open, finely tunable AxeOS on the Gamma.
- Power supply: 140 W brick included with the Nano 3S, 5 V 6 A supply for the Gamma.
Efficiency and electricity
The Gamma is the more frugal per TH/s: about 15 J/TH, against about 23 for the Nano 3S. Over a year at €0.20 per kWh, count about €32 of electricity for a Gamma and €245 for a Nano 3S, which draws about eight times the power for five times the hashrate.
Heat: a drawback or a perk?
The Nano 3S is designed to heat: its air outlet can be aimed, and its 140 W end up as heat in the room. In winter it is a small space heater that mines. In summer it is a drawback. The 15 to 18 W of a Gamma are not felt in a room.
The full Nano 3S story, unboxing and app included: my Avalon Nano 3S review.
Odds of finding a block
Solo, the Nano 3S has about 1 chance in 3,190 per year of finding a block, against 1 in 16,000 for a Gamma (network as of 17 October 2026). Five times better, at five times the hashrate: either way it is a lottery ticket. The math for your own machine: the solo mining calculator.
Which one should you choose?
- The Avalon Nano 3S if you want more hashrate in a finished box, an app-guided setup, and heat in winter.
- The Bitaxe Gamma if you want open software, fine tuning, the lowest power draw and the smallest budget, about €60: my Bitaxe Gamma review.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Avalon Nano 3S more profitable than a Bitaxe Gamma?
Neither is built to be profitable: in a pool, at French household electricity prices, both earn less than their electricity on average. The Nano 3S has five times the odds of finding a block solo, for about eight times the power draw.
Which one is easier to set up?
The Nano 3S is set up from the Avalon Family app in a few minutes. The Gamma is set up in AxeOS, its web interface: a few more fields to fill, but far more settings available.
Can both mine solo?
Yes. Both mine SHA-256 and connect to the pool of your choice, solo pools included, on Bitcoin as well as Bitcoin Cash.
The full reviews
- Avalon Nano 3S review: the Bitcoin miner that heats the room 6 TH/s rated for 140 W, quiet, and its heat works as a space heater.
- Bitaxe Gamma review: the open-source miner to start with About 1.2 TH/s for fifteen-odd watts, open software and a huge community.
Compare all machines · The solo mining calculator
Figures come from my reviews, where each machine’s origin is stated. If you buy, my partner code for MineShop is in Support.