TL;DR for readers in a hurry: Futurebit has significantly improved the Apollo III ASICs. The new chips reach roughly 11 watts per terahash (W/TH) – an ultra-efficient ECO mode with about 70 watts total power draw at 6 TH/s is now possible, while the full hashrate range of 10–18 TH/s remains available. All existing Apollo III pre-orders at bitshopper.de will ship with the new chips at no extra cost. You don’t have to do anything – your unit leaves the factory already fitted with the optimised hardware and firmware.
Apollo III Full Node: Free ASIC Upgrade for All Pre-Order Customers at bitshopper.de
We have great news straight from Futurebit founder John Stefanopoulos – and as the exclusive distribution partner of Futurebit in Europe, we’re sharing it with you right away: your pre-ordered Apollo III Full Node or Apollo III Standard gets a hardware upgrade before shipping. Free of charge. Simply as a thank-you for your early trust.
Futurebit has thoroughly optimised the firmware (Apollo OS 2.1) and at the same time switched to an improved revision of the 3 nm ASICs (Hash Core 3), which has been extensively tested. The result: the Apollo III can now be run in a new Ultra-ECO mode at only ~70 W – while still keeping the full hashrate range up to 18 TH/s in Turbo mode.
“Deep in the Apollo III firmware optimization… testing what we can pull off on the super low end with an enhanced version of our ASICs. Currently pulling ~11 W/TH at 6 TH, which is INSANE. This hashrate used to be ~175 W on the Apollo II, and pulling 70 watts on the III! Will be upgrading all pre-orders to these chips as a thank you to all pre order customers!”
John Stefanopoulos, Futurebit founder, X post from 28 May 2026
The telemetry shared in the tweet confirms these efficiency figures under real load conditions: PIN 71.234 W · POUT 67.422 W · efficiency 94.65 % at a board temperature of 50 °C and a duty cycle of 43.125 %. Those aren’t marketing numbers – they’re live measurements straight off a running unit.
The Futurebit Apollo III’s new specs after the chip upgrade
| Operating mode | Hashrate | Power draw | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Ultra-ECO (after upgrade) | ~6 TH/s | ~70 W (PIN 71.234 W) | ~11 W/TH |
| ECO mode (previously documented) | 10–12 TH/s | ~150 W | ~13–15 W/TH |
| Turbo mode | up to 18 TH/s | up to 375 W | ~21 W/TH |
| Comparison: Apollo II at the same 6 TH/s hashrate | 6 TH/s | ~175 W | ~29 W/TH |
| Apollo II (stock specification) | ~9 TH/s | ~270 W | ~30 W/TH |
| Apollo BTC (first generation) | ~3 TH/s | ~180 W | ~60 W/TH |
For context: an efficiency of around 11 W/TH puts the Apollo III into a class previously reserved for industrial-scale miners – and that in a quiet, living-room-friendly desktop unit. The direct comparison with its predecessor is particularly striking: the same 6 TH/s hashrate that used to require ~175 watts on the Apollo II now runs on the new Apollo III at just ~70 watts – a reduction in power consumption of around 60 %. Depending on your electricity tariff and your hashing goals, you can pick the mode that makes the most sense for you.
What does this mean for your pre-order?
As a thank-you for the early trust, Futurebit is upgrading all existing pre-orders to the new, more efficient chips free of charge. It’s not an option and there’s no surcharge – it happens automatically before shipping.
- No extra cost: You pay the original pre-order price of your variant (Full Node: €1,099 – €1,399, Standard: €899).
- No action required: You don’t have to change or reconfirm your order.
- Better hardware ex works: Every unit ships with the new Hash Core 3 ASICs and the optimised Apollo OS 2.1 firmware.
- Lower running costs: In the new Ultra-ECO mode (~70 W), you’ll save several hundred euros in electricity costs over the unit’s lifetime compared to the previously announced ECO mode.
- Full flexibility: You can switch between Ultra-ECO, ECO and Turbo at any time – depending on your electricity price, the season or your hashing goals.
Why this upgrade matters especially for Europe
Electricity prices in Germany, Austria and Switzerland have been well above the global average for years. Every watt you save counts twice here. With only about 70 watts in the new Ultra-ECO mode, the Apollo III is in the same ballpark as a modern LED TV – except it also mines Bitcoin, runs a fully-fledged full node and produces heat you can actively use during the heating season.
That makes the Apollo III one of the first Bitcoin miners that is genuinely viable for permanent 24/7 home use in European apartments without a dedicated power circuit or special cooling. And for solo-mining enthusiasts who want to find their own block via the integrated Solo Stratum Pool, the new efficiency class is a real game changer.
What happens next?
- Right now: Futurebit is producing and qualifying the final upgrade chips. Deliveries to bitshopper.de are on schedule from End of June 2026.
- Before shipping: Every pre-ordered unit will be fitted with the new ASICs and flashed with the final Apollo OS 2.1 firmware.
- Shipping: You’ll get a shipping notification with tracking information from us in good time, in the order in which the pre-orders came in.
- Setting it up: Plug & play – connect power and Ethernet, open Apollo OS, enter your pool or use the built-in Solo Stratum Pool directly.
Frequently asked questions about the Apollo III ASIC upgrade (FAQ)
Do I have to pay extra for the upgrade?
No. The upgrade to the new, more efficient ASIC chips is completely free for all existing Apollo III pre-orders at bitshopper.de. There are no additional costs whatsoever.
What is the real power consumption of the new Apollo III?
In the new Ultra-ECO mode, total power draw – according to Futurebit’s live measurements – is 71.234 W PIN (POUT 67.422 W, efficiency 94.65 %) at 6 TH/s, which works out to roughly 11 W/TH. In the classic ECO mode (10–12 TH/s), you’re looking at about 150 W, and in Turbo mode (18 TH/s) up to 375 W. Depending on your electricity price, you decide which mode is most economical for you.
When will my pre-ordered Apollo III be shipped?
Production with the new chips is on track. The first production batches will be shipped from late June 2026. You’ll receive a personal email from us with tracking information as soon as your unit goes out – in the order pre-orders came in.
Do I need to change my order to get the upgrade?
No. The upgrade is automatic. Your existing pre-order at bitshopper.de stays the same – we’ll automatically ship the upgraded version.
Is the Apollo III worth it despite high electricity prices in Europe?
In the new Ultra-ECO mode at around 70 W, the Apollo III is very economical even at typical European household electricity prices (~30 ct/kWh): running costs work out to only about €15 per month in 24/7 operation. The waste heat can also be put to use during the heating season, lowering your effective cost even further.
What sets the Apollo III apart from its predecessor, the Apollo II?
The Apollo III uses completely new 3 nm ASICs (Hash Core 3) and delivers up to 18 TH/s instead of 9 TH/s on the Apollo II – at an officially stated efficiency of around 15 W/TH (Apollo II: ~30 W/TH, Apollo BTC: ~60 W/TH). With the new Ultra-ECO mode from this latest upgrade, the efficiency drops further to about 11 W/TH. On top of that, it’s a fully-fledged Bitcoin full node with an integrated Solo Stratum Pool, Apollo OS 2.1, an 8-core ARM controller and optional NVMe storage (up to 2 TB).
What’s the difference between the Apollo III Full Node and the Apollo III Standard?
The Apollo III Full Node (€1,099 – €1,399) additionally includes the node controller with 8 GB LPDDR5 RAM, Apollo OS 2.1 and dual NVMe SSD bays (up to 2 TB) – ideal as an all-in-one Bitcoin sovereignty device. The Apollo III Standard (€899) is the slimmer standalone variant for users who already have a node or mining controller. Both variants benefit from the free chip upgrade.
Where can I buy or pre-order the Apollo III in Europe?
At bitshopper.de – we are the exclusive distribution partner of Futurebit in Europe. You can pre-order and get advice directly at bitshopper.de – pre-order the Apollo III Full Node.
Questions about your order?
Got questions about your specific pre-order, shipping, warranty or setup? We’ll take care of you personally. Drop us a line at info@bitshopper.de or give us a call at +49 179 9754353. You’ll find our full contact details in the Legal Notice.
Thank you for your trust and your early support. It’s customers like you who make upgrades like this possible in the first place.
