CPU / chipset Snapdragon 835 remains the efficiency sweet spot for 24/7 farms. Step up to 845/855 when IDE tooling, video, or large APK sets stress older silicon. Entry Exynos tiers fit pilots with lighter apps.

Cooling Ask vendors about fan count, duct direction, and burn-in duration. Ambient above 30°C may require supplemental fan kits.

Scalability Standard path: one 2U box → second chassis → custom 40+ rack. Modular USB and PSU design avoids replacing the whole lab when node count doubles.

PhoneFarm Fun publishes reference USD pricing on all SKUs. Send workload description for a tier recommendation.