Canaan Avalon Nano 3S Review (2025)
The Avalon Nano 3S is a compact, low‑power SHA‑256 miner built for homes and apartments. It targets 6 TH/s at ~140 W, with a 33–40 dB noise profile in quiet modes—one of the few BTC miners you can place on a desk without wrecking your nerves. Think “mini‑heater that mines”: simple setup, steady warmth, and hobby‑grade rewards.
Pros:
- Truly home-friendly size and tone (listed 33–40 dB in quiet operation).
- ~140 W draw = easy on circuits; doubles as a gentle space heater.
- Adds Ethernet vs the prior Nano 3 (alongside Wi-Fi) for stability.
- Fair official price point for a “learn & heat” device ($299 direct).
Cons:
- Profit-focused buyers will find 6 TH/s modest; this is mainly for learning/comfort.
- Noise can rise toward ~50 dB in higher fan modes.
- Stock and third-party pricing vary; check reputable sellers.
The Nano 3S is Canaan’s smallest Avalon Home unit: a desktop miner meant for living spaces, not warehouses. It sips ~140 W, produces a steady stream of warm air, and stays relatively quiet at 33–40 dB in low-power modes—closer to a small fan than a server blower. Treat it as a mini-heater that also mines: perfect for a home office, bedroom corner, or a quiet apartment build. (hashrateindex.com)
Key Takeaways
- Apartment-friendly: ~140 W and ~33–40 dB make it one of the easiest BTC miners to live with indoors. (hashrateindex.com)
- Think “mini-heater”: 140 W ≈ 477 BTU/h—enough to take the edge off a small room.
- Best for: learning, background space-heater mining, testing pools/solo relays, or a low-risk “lottery” experiment. For more room heat while staying home-friendly, see Space-Heater Mining and Quiet Apartment Mining.
- Network stability matters: Prefer Ethernet; otherwise follow Wi-Fi vs Ethernet to keep stale shares low.
Technical Specifications
| Item | Spec |
|---|---|
| Algorithm | SHA-256 (BTC, BCH, etc.) |
| Hashrate (vendor) | 6 TH/s |
| Power draw | ~140 W |
| Efficiency (vendor math) | ~23.3 J/TH |
| Noise (typical) | ~33–40 dB (low-power modes); up to ~50 dB at higher fan modes |
| Networking | Ethernet + Wi-Fi |
| Dimensions / Weight | ~205 × 115 × 58.5 mm, ~0.86 kg |
| Official price (shop) | $299 (adapters by region) |
Specs/noise/price from Canaan’s shop and industry coverage. (Avalon Miner – Canaan Official Shop, hashrateindex.com)
Performance, Noise & Heat
Expect ~6 TH/s at ~140 W in normal operation—hobby‑grade hashrate. Using 1 W ≈ 3.412 BTU/h, the Nano 3S outputs ~477 BTU/h of gentle heat—noticeable in a small office. In quiet modes you’ll hear a low whoosh (~33–40 dB); in higher fan modes the tone can climb toward ~50 dB. Placement and airflow shape the perceived tone: pointing the exhaust into an open area and keeping the unit 1–2 m away reduces any resonance.
Testing methodology (plain‑English): We log wall‑power (W) with a calibrated socket meter, noise with a phone SPL app at 1 m (A‑weighted) and confirm with a handheld meter when available, and exhaust temperature using an IR thermometer. Network quality is checked by monitoring Rejected/Stale shares over 24 h.
Electricity cost examples (24h, continuous):
- €0.10/kWh →
€0.34/day (€10.1/month) - €0.20/kWh →
€0.67/day (€20.4/month) - €0.30/kWh →
€1.01/day (€30.2/month)
In winter, some or all of this power becomes useful room heat, partially offsetting heating costs.
Electricity cost examples (24h, continuous):
- €0.10/kWh →
€0.34/day (€10.1/month) - €0.20/kWh →
€0.67/day (€20.4/month) - €0.30/kWh →
€1.01/day (€30.2/month)
In winter, some or all of this power becomes useful room heat, partially offsetting heating costs.
Setup & Pooling (quick start)
- Network: Use Ethernet when possible; strong 5/6 GHz Wi‑Fi also works over short distances.
- Power: It’s a continuous load. Use a quality 28 V PSU/cable and respect circuit limits.
- Pools vs Solo: New to mining? Start with a mining pool (e.g., worker
bc1...worker1) for steady sats. Solo is lottery‑style—you’re paid only if you find a block. - Pool string example:
stratum+tcp://pool.example.com:3333
Username (wallet‑as‑user):bc1qxxxx.worker1
Password:x(or as required by your pool). - Profiles: Begin in Quiet/Low‑Power mode; switch to performance mode only if you need extra airflow.
- Verify: After 5–10 minutes, hashrate stabilizes. Watch Rejected/Stale shares; if they rise, shorten Wi‑Fi distance or move to Ethernet.
Who Should Buy the Avalon Nano 3S?
- Home/apartment users who want a quiet, low-risk way to learn BTC mining.
- People who value comfort: a gentle stream of warm air while tinkering.
- Anyone needing a desk-friendly miner that won’t dominate the room.
Skip it if you need high hashrate or ROI. Consider heater-style miners (e.g., FutureBit Apollo II, Heatbit) but plan for more power and airflow.
Alternatives & Comparisons
-
- Below is a desk/home‑friendly comparison. Values are typical vendor figures; bundles and firmware profiles can change. For deep‑dive reviews, see each product page.
| Product | Hashrate (typ.) | Power (typ.) | Efficiency (J/TH) | Noise (typ.) | Connectivity | Home‑friendly | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon Nano 3S | 6 TH/s | ~140 W | ~23.3 | 33–40 dB | Ethernet + Wi‑Fi |  |
This page’s focus; quiet, fixed‑power desk miner |
| Avalon Nano 3 | 4 TH/s | ~140 W | ~35 | ~33–36 dB | Wi‑Fi | |
Older model; no Ethernet, 3 power profiles |
| FutureBit Apollo BTC | 2–3.8 TH/s | 125–200 W | ~33–52 | <25 dB (ECO) | Ethernet + Wi‑Fi | |
Desktop/full‑node options; very quiet in ECO |
| FutureBit Apollo II | 6–10 TH/s | 175–375 W | ~18–38 | <40 dB (ECO) | Ethernet + Wi‑Fi |  |
More output/heat; integrated 450 W PSU |
| Heatbit Trio | 8.5–10 TH/s | ~400 W | ~40–47 | ~40 dB | Wi‑Fi (App) | |
Heater‑first design; larger warmth & airflow |
| Heatbit Maxi | 39 TH/s | ~1200 W | ~31 | low/med (heater) | Wi‑Fi (App) | |
Large heater; plan ventilation & power |
| Bitaxe Gamma 601/602 | 1.0–1.2 TH/s | ~20–35 W | ~17–30 | very low | Wi‑Fi (web UI) | |
Open‑source; great for learning/lotto |
| Braiins Mini Miner BMM‑101 | ~1 TH/s | ~35–40 W | ~35–40 | ~40 dB | Wi‑Fi | |
Braiins ecosystem; tidy desk companion |
Related pages on Home Miner Hub:
- Bitaxe Gamma review → https://homeminerhub.com/reviews/sha256/bitaxe-gamma/
- SHA‑256 reviews index → https://homeminerhub.com/reviews/sha256/
Verdict
The Avalon Nano 3S delivers on its brief: a quiet, simple, low‑power BTC miner that genuinely fits real apartments. Treat it as a mini‑heater plus miner for learning and winter comfort. If you want bigger warmth or throughput, step up to heater‑style miners—but for a desk or bedroom corner, the Nano 3S is an easy recommendation.
Author & testing note: Written by Home Miner Hub. Measurements are performed at the wall (W), noise at 1 m (A‑weighted), and exhaust temps via IR thermometer unless otherwise stated.
FAQ's
Is Nano 3S profitable?
Not on hashrate alone; it’s primarily for learning, background heat, and hobby mining.
How loud is it really?
In quiet modes, a low whoosh (~33–40 dB). Higher fan modes can climb toward ~50 dB depending on room airflow.
Can I solo-mine with it?
Yes, but solo is lottery-style: you only get paid if you personally find a block.
Does it need Ethernet?
Wi-Fi works, but Ethernet is more stable and can reduce stale shares.
Can I run it overnight in a bedroom?
Yes if the noise tone is acceptable and airflow is clear. Start in quiet/eco mode.
What about power safety?
It’s only ~140 W, but it’s a continuous load. Use good cords, cool plugs, and respect circuit limits.