Canaan Avalon A1246 vs A1346: Which Is the Better Buy in 2026?

Canaan's Avalon lineup has long been a solid alternative to Bitmain for Australian Bitcoin miners who want reliable hardware without paying a premium for the Antminer badge. The A1246 and A1346 sit at different points on the efficiency curve — both SHA-256 miners, both capable of running in a home or small shed environment, but with meaningful differences in power draw, efficiency, and purchase price that make one a better fit depending on your situation.

This comparison breaks down exactly where each unit wins, where it falls short, and which one makes more sense for the typical Australian home miner in 2026.

Specifications at a Glance

The Key Difference: Efficiency

The most important number in this comparison is joules per terahash. The Avalon A1246 runs at approximately 38 J/TH, while the Avalon A1346 improves that to around 30 J/TH. That's a meaningful step forward — not a generational leap, but enough to change the maths on profitability at Australian electricity rates.

Here's what that looks like in practical daily running cost terms, using common Australian residential electricity rates:

The daily cost difference looks modest — roughly $1–$1.50 per day at typical rates. But the A1346 delivers that saving while also producing 20 TH/s more hashrate. You're paying less per terahash both in purchase price per TH and in ongoing electricity cost. Over a 180-day warranty period, that efficiency gap compounds into a real difference in net return.

For a deeper look at how electricity rates affect mining profitability in Australia, see our guide on what electricity rate makes home mining profitable.

Hashrate: 90 TH/s vs 110 TH/s

The A1346's 110 TH/s represents a 22% hashrate advantage over the A1246's 90 TH/s. In pool mining, that translates directly to a proportionally higher share of block rewards. Against a global Bitcoin network hashrate in the hundreds of exahashes, the difference between 90 and 110 TH/s is small in absolute terms — but it matters when you're comparing purchase options at similar price points.

If you're running multiple units and looking to maximise output per square metre of floor space (and per circuit), the A1346 is simply the more productive machine.

Power Draw: A Closer Look

Here's something that surprises many buyers: the A1346 actually draws less power than the A1246 — 3300W versus 3420W — despite producing 20 TH/s more. That's the efficiency improvement at work. The A1346's newer chip architecture delivers more hashes per watt, so you get a better outcome on both sides of the equation simultaneously.

Both units require an external PSU rated appropriately for their load. Australian miners should confirm any PSU is rated for 240V/50Hz operation and sized with adequate headroom above the rated draw — a 3600W or 4000W PSU is a sensible minimum for either unit. MinerHub stocks a 2000W modular ATX mining PSU suitable for smaller rigs; for these larger units, a higher-capacity industrial PSU is required.

Both units draw enough power to warrant a dedicated circuit. If you're not sure your home wiring can handle this load, consult a licensed electrician before installation — particularly relevant in older homes across Perth, Adelaide, and regional areas.

Who Should Buy the A1246?

The A1246 makes sense in a few specific scenarios:

• Budget is the primary constraint. If the A1246 is meaningfully cheaper in your market and you can't stretch to the A1346, it remains a capable machine — just less efficient.
• You already own one and are evaluating a second unit. If you're familiar with the A1246's setup and performance in your environment, adding a second unit of the same model keeps your management simple.
• Short-term deployment. If you're planning to mine for a defined period and then sell the hardware, the lower purchase price may make more sense depending on the resale market at your exit point.

That said, if the price delta between the two models is small, it's hard to build a case for the A1246 on pure economics in 2026. The efficiency gap is real and ongoing.

Who Should Buy the A1346?

The A1346 is the stronger buy for most Australian miners in 2026:

• More hashrate, less power. The combination of higher output and lower draw makes the A1346 strictly better on the metrics that matter most.
• Better efficiency at high electricity rates. At 30 J/TH, the A1346 handles Australia's above-average residential rates better than the A1246. Every joule you save is profit retained.
• Longer viable operating life. More efficient hardware stays profitable further into a difficulty increase cycle. If you're planning to run this machine for 18–24+ months, starting with the better efficiency baseline gives you more runway.

How Do They Compare to Other Options?

It's worth placing both units in context against the broader market. The Canaan Avalon series has historically been a reliable if conservative choice — solid build quality, good support infrastructure, and consistent performance. Our full Bitmain vs MicroBT vs Canaan brand comparison covers how Canaan stacks up on support, firmware maturity, and long-term reliability for Australian buyers.

If you're considering whether either Avalon model is the right upgrade from older hardware, our data-driven guide to upgrading your miner walks through the efficiency crossover calculation — the point at which a newer, more efficient machine saves enough in electricity to justify the capital outlay.

For buyers primarily focused on the A1246, our dedicated Canaan Avalon A1246 honest review covers the unit in more depth, including real-world performance observations and who it suits best.

If you want to explore other SHA-256 options in a similar tier, the Bitcoin miners collection includes units from Bitmain and MicroBT alongside the full Canaan range.

The Verdict

In a direct head-to-head, the Avalon A1346 wins on every efficiency and output metric that matters. It hashes more, draws less power, and costs less per terahash to operate — a combination that's genuinely rare when comparing successive models in the same lineup.

The A1246 isn't a bad machine. It's proven, reliable Canaan hardware that will mine Bitcoin steadily. But unless the price gap between the two models is substantial — or you have a specific reason to prefer the lower hashrate — the A1346 is the better investment for anyone setting up or expanding a home mining operation in Australia in 2026.

View the Canaan Avalon A1246 and Canaan Avalon A1346 on MinerHub, or browse the full Bitcoin miners range.