Are you still considering mining Bitcoin in 2026? Honestly, there’s still a chance to get in now. Recently, Bitcoin’s price has been fluctuating around $75K, and I checked the payback periods for several popular mining rigs, finding that some models can still be profitable, as long as you choose the right equipment.

First, let’s talk about a few mainstream brands. Bitmain’s S21 Pro is currently the most powerful, with 180 TH/s hash rate and 19.2 J/TH power consumption ratio. Although it costs $5200, it can generate about 0.00047 BTC daily. At the same price point, MicroBT’s M60S offers 165 TH/s, slightly lower, but with better power efficiency—20.0 J/TH—and costs $200 less.

If your budget is limited, I favor a few mid-range options. Canaan’s A1366 Pro costs only $3900, with 140 TH/s hash rate, which isn’t the top, but its 23.0 J/TH power efficiency is hard to find at this price. Also, iPollo’s G1 Ultra offers 145 TH/s with 22.6 J/TH, and only 70 dB noise level, making it suitable for use in dorms or at home without being too loud.

If you want to save money, MicroBT’s M50S ($2900) and Goldshell’s KS6 ($2200) are also good choices. The M50S maintains MicroBT’s reliability, earning about 0.00033 BTC daily at 126 TH/s. The KS6 is the cheapest; with 100 TH/s hash rate, it’s the lowest performance but only produces 68 dB noise and consumes 2750W, making it especially suitable for home mining.

The most important metrics for choosing a Bitcoin mining rig are: first, power efficiency (the lower J/TH, the better); second, noise level (consider if mining at home); third, cooling design (which affects long-term stability). Currently, the average electricity cost is $0.24/kWh. The S21 Pro’s daily electricity cost is about $19.83, while the M50S costs only $18.14. Although the difference seems small, over a year, it can save thousands of dollars.

Based on the current Bitcoin price of $75.2K, the S21 Pro’s daily profit is about $16-18 (after electricity costs), with a payback period of roughly 300 days. Mid-range models take about 400-500 days to break even. The entry-level KS6 has a daily profit of only $5-6, but can still pay off in just over a year.

My advice is: if you have $3000-5000, go for high-end or mid-range models to get it all done in one step; if you only have a little over $2000, choosing between the M50S and KS6 isn’t a bad idea; if you want to try your luck, KS6 is the safest bet. Whatever you choose, remember to calculate your electricity costs carefully, especially since summer air conditioning will increase power consumption. Also, regularly cleaning dust from the heat sinks is important—these machines can last 3-5 years with proper maintenance.