Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th) vs MicroBT WhatsMiner M78
Side-by-side specs, profitability, and home mining comparison.
Specifications Comparison
| Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th) | Specification | MicroBT WhatsMiner M78 |
|---|---|---|
| 288.0 TH/s | Hashrate | 464.0 TH/s |
| 4,896 W | Power Consumption | 6,728 W |
| 17.0 J/TH | Efficiency | 14.5 J/TH |
| 50 dB | Noise Level | 75 dB |
| 13.8 kg | Weight | 18.0 kg |
| 16,705 BTU/hr | BTU Output | 22,956 BTU/hr |
| 44/100 | Home Mining Score | 30/100 |
| — | Release Year | — |
| SHA-256 | Algorithm | SHA-256 |
| Bitmain | Manufacturer | MicroBT |
Profitability Comparison
Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th)
MicroBT WhatsMiner M78
Based on BTC price of $79,091 and current network difficulty as of May 15, 2026. Actual results vary.
Verdict
Weighing six performance factors, the MicroBT WhatsMiner M78 comes out ahead — it takes 2 of 5 (efficiency, hashrate). Where it pulls away hardest is 61% more hashrate (288 vs 464 TH/s). That said, the Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th) isn't beaten everywhere — it still wins power consumption and home mining score and noise level. The right pick still depends on your power cost and noise tolerance — the breakdowns above make that call concrete.
Spec Deltas
The Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th) and MicroBT WhatsMiner M78 diverge on the metrics below — each gap expressed as a real percentage, not a vague "better":
- MicroBT WhatsMiner M78 61% more hashrate (288 vs 464 TH/s)
- Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th) 27% better power draw (4,896 vs 6,728 W)
- MicroBT WhatsMiner M78 15% better efficiency (17.0 vs 14.5 J/TH)
- Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th) 33% better noise (50.0 vs 75.0 dB)
- Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th) 23% better weight (13.8 vs 18.0 kg)
- MicroBT WhatsMiner M78 37% more heat output (16,705 vs 22,956 BTU/hr)
- Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th) 47% more home mining score (44.0 vs 30.0)
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.
| Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th) | Metric | MicroBT WhatsMiner M78 |
|---|---|---|
| $1,498 | Upfront cost (MSRP) | — |
| -$1.27 | Daily net profit | $0.74 |
| -$1,961 | Net after 1 year | +$270 |
| -$2,424 | Net after 2 years | +$541 |
| -$2,887 | Net after 3 years | +$811 |
| 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
MicroBT WhatsMiner M78$2.01/day higher profit at current rates.
Best for Home Mining
Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th)Score: 44/100. 50 dB noise level.
Best for Efficiency
MicroBT WhatsMiner M7814.5 J/TH — lower electricity cost per terahash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th) or MicroBT WhatsMiner M78 more profitable?
At the current BTC price and a $0.10/kWh electricity rate, the MicroBT WhatsMiner M78 is more profitable at $0.74/day compared to $-1.27/day for the Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th). Profitability depends heavily on your electricity rate — use the selector above to calculate with your actual costs.
Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th) vs MicroBT WhatsMiner M78: which runs at a lower noise level?
The Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th) is quieter at 50 dB compared to the MicroBT WhatsMiner M78 at 75 dB. For home mining, lower noise levels make a significant difference in livability.
For mining at home, should I pick the Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th) or the MicroBT WhatsMiner M78?
The Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th) scores 44/100 on our Home Mining Score (vs 30/100 for the MicroBT WhatsMiner M78). This composite score factors in noise, power requirements, heat output, size, and setup ease — all critical for residential mining.
Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th) vs MicroBT WhatsMiner M78: how much does the efficiency gap matter?
The Bitmain Antminer S21e Hyd (288Th) runs at 17.0 J/TH while the MicroBT WhatsMiner M78 runs at 14.5 J/TH — a difference of 2.5 J/TH. Lower efficiency means less electricity per terahash of mining power, directly reducing operating costs. In relative terms that is 15% better efficiency (17.0 vs 14.5 J/TH).