Whether you're a digital nomad or your job requires you to travel frequently, here's why you should know about Starlink's new mini satellite dish. The Starlink Mini dish is available virtually everywhere in the US. It comes with an up-front cost of $499 for the small antenna and a monthly subscription of $50 to $165, depending on your chosen plan.
Thanks to seven thousand low-orbit satellites, Starlink has the unique ability to send a low latency high-speed internet service just about anywhere. Standard service is great for home internet in rural areas, while the provider's Roam service and new portable dish are ideal for staying connected on the go.
The small antenna comes with an up-front cost of $499. There are two plans available. The Mini Roam costs $50 a month and gets you 50GB of portable or in-motion data each month, or about 20 hours of HD streaming. The Roam Unlimited plan costs $165 and provides unlimited mobile data, in-motion use and two months of international use. Starlink Roam has no contracts, so you can start and stop service anytime, and it comes with a 30-day trial.
The Mini is a satellite dish and Wi-Fi router all in one that's about the size of a laptop. According to Starlink's website, it uses approximately half the power of Starlink's standard dish. It can be powered with a portable USB battery and can "melt snow and withstand sleet, heavy rain and harsh winds."
Starlink says the Mini will work anywhere in North America. Setting up the Starlink Mini is as simple as finding a clear view of the sky (which you can do with the help of the Starlink app) and plugging your equipment into a power supply. The Starlink Mini install guide features easy, straightforward steps to getting online quickly when on the go.
Don't let the size of this satellite dish fool you; you can connect up to 128 devices, and it promises low latency. This is especially important for achieving a lag-free online gaming experience. In other words, you can game comfortably wherever your travels take you.
This is the first time high-speed internet is available on the go in areas not reached by cell towers. You could backpack the Appalachian Trail or take your RV on a cross-country road trip and stream your favorite holiday movies at the end of the day. Your Starlink Mini kit will come with a small power cable and power supply, but you can also purchase a mini car adapter for $45. You won't ever have to miss a beat on the go, as you can power your Starlink mini using your car via a USB-C.
Watch this: Elon Musk Teases New Starlink Mini Dish
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According to Starlink's broadband labels, your download speeds typically range from 30 to 100Mbps and 5 to 25Mbps in upload. More importantly, in June, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk took to X to discuss the Mini, writing, "I just set it up right now and am writing this post through space. Took less than 5 mins. Easily carried in a backpack. This product will change the world." Musk then showed speed test results of 100Mbps download speed, 11.5Mbps upload speed and 23ms latency. That pretty much falls within the range of the typical speeds customers can expect.
The device measures 16.92 by 13.14 by 3.11 inches and weighs a little under 15 pounds. Starlink says it works in temperatures between -22 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit. It's IP67 dust- and water-resistant.
At around 17 by 13 inches, the new Starlink Mini Dish is much smaller than the standard dish.
Oleg Kutkov/SpaceXStarlink Mini FAQs
Where is the Starlink Mini available?
Is the Starlink Mini expensive?
Hardware alone will cost you upwards of $499 and, depending on your chosen plan, the subscription will run between $50 to $165 per month. Starlink boasts the fastest speeds among satellite internet providers like Hughesnet and Viasat, but its service is also more costly. For instance, Hughesnet's plans cost between $50 to $95 a month with an upfront equipment cost of up to $450. Even if you're on Hughesnet's fastest speed tier, your first monthly bill will likely come down to $545 vs. $664 with the Starlink Mini regional plan.
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