Antminer KS3 vs Bitmain Antminer R4
Side-by-side specs, profitability, and home mining comparison.
Specifications Comparison
| Antminer KS3 | Specification | Bitmain Antminer R4 |
|---|---|---|
| 9.4 TH/s | Hashrate | 8.7 TH/s |
| 3,500 W | Power Consumption | 845 W |
| 372.3 J/TH | Efficiency | 97.1 J/TH |
| 75 dB | Noise Level | — |
| 16.1 kg | Weight | 2,500.0 kg |
| 11,942 BTU/hr | BTU Output | 2,883 BTU/hr |
| 36/100 | Home Mining Score | 28/100 |
| — | Release Year | — |
| KHeavyHash | Algorithm | SHA-256 |
| Bitmain | Manufacturer | Bitmain |
Profitability Comparison
Antminer KS3
Bitmain Antminer R4
Based on BTC price of $79,027 and current network difficulty as of May 15, 2026. Actual results vary.
Verdict
The Antminer KS3 and Bitmain Antminer R4 finish in a near dead heat in our weighted scoring. There is no wrong answer here — let your electricity rate, noise tolerance and budget break the tie using the breakdowns above.
Spec Deltas
The Antminer KS3 and Bitmain Antminer R4 diverge on the metrics below — each gap expressed as a real percentage, not a vague "better":
- Antminer KS3 8% more hashrate (9.4 vs 8.7 TH/s)
- Bitmain Antminer R4 76% better power draw (3,500 vs 845 W)
- Bitmain Antminer R4 74% better efficiency (372.3 vs 97.1 J/TH)
- Antminer KS3 99% better weight (16.1 vs 2,500.0 kg)
- Antminer KS3 314% more heat output (11,942 vs 2,883 BTU/hr)
- Antminer KS3 29% more home mining score (36.0 vs 28.0)
Cost & ROI Over Time
A miner pays for itself in profit, not specs. These projections track upfront cost against one, two and three years of net earnings at $0.10/kWh.
| Antminer KS3 | Metric | Bitmain Antminer R4 |
|---|---|---|
| $8,000 | Upfront cost (MSRP) | — |
| -$8.06 | Daily net profit | -$1.71 |
| -$10,941 | Net after 1 year | -$625 |
| -$13,882 | Net after 2 years | -$1,249 |
| -$16,824 | Net after 3 years | -$1,874 |
| Does not pay back at current rates (negative daily profit) | Payback period | — |
Projections assume continuous operation, a flat $0.10/kWh rate, and no hardware degradation, pool fees, or BTC price change. Real-world ROI varies.
Best For...
Best for Profitability
TieBoth miners produce similar daily profit.
Best for Home Mining
Antminer KS3Score: 36/100. 75 dB noise level.
Best for Efficiency
Bitmain Antminer R497.1 J/TH — lower electricity cost per terahash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Antminer KS3 or Bitmain Antminer R4 more profitable?
At the current BTC price and a $0.10/kWh electricity rate, the Bitmain Antminer R4 is more profitable at $-1.71/day compared to $-8.06/day for the Antminer KS3. Profitability depends heavily on your electricity rate — use the selector above to calculate with your actual costs.
Which is quieter, the Antminer KS3 or Bitmain Antminer R4?
The Antminer KS3 is quieter at 75 dB compared to the Bitmain Antminer R4 at 0 dB. For home mining, lower noise levels make a significant difference in livability.
Antminer KS3 vs Bitmain Antminer R4: which fits a residential setup better?
The Antminer KS3 scores 36/100 on our Home Mining Score (vs 28/100 for the Bitmain Antminer R4). This composite score factors in noise, power requirements, heat output, size, and setup ease — all critical for residential mining.
What is the efficiency difference between Antminer KS3 and Bitmain Antminer R4?
The Antminer KS3 runs at 372.3 J/TH while the Bitmain Antminer R4 runs at 97.1 J/TH — a difference of 275.2 J/TH. Lower efficiency means less electricity per terahash of mining power, directly reducing operating costs. In relative terms that is 74% better efficiency (372.3 vs 97.1 J/TH).