As a beginner to bitcoin mining, I've come to realize the impracticality of mining on my PC alone and have expressed desires to invest in hardware to enhance the process. However, I'm incapable of affording anything relatively expensive and would like a more compact and proficient setup. I was thinking about working with USB Miners, but haven't been able to find any that I could purchase that would be up to date. I'd appreciate any help or recommendations for efficient mining hardware or shopping sites for future hardware.
The most recent usb miners are the compacs. They are good lotto miners, but not really going to turn a ROI. It is not the fault of the compacs though, it is just with USB miners there is a lot of cost's for very few chips/one chip depending on stick miner. So it is much much cheaper as far as price per hash to get a full size miner. There then is possible noise/heat that 1 usb stick will not have but it is much better cost for your hashing power.
To help recommend what is your electrical price (including taxes/fees), and what is your starting budget? Those two things are very important in knowing is there is a viable solution for you to mine.