Satellite internet has come a long way. It used to mean a roof-mounted dish, an unnecessarily loud power supply, and even a visit from an installer. Then the Starlink Mini showed up in 2024 and the whole kit and kaboodle was now the size of a small backpack. But it always carried one asterisk. The “portable” dish still had to be plugged into something. SpaceX just changed the game with the new Starlink Mini 2.
The Power Bank Just Lost Its Job
The headline move is a removable 71Wh battery that clips onto the back with a quick-release latch (and no are tools are required). One charge buys up to 4.5 hours of satellite internet, and swapping in a spare (sold separately) stretches that to roughly nine.
The pack weighs just over a pound, shows its remaining charge on LED indicators, and is even cleared for carry-on luggage under FAA rules.
And in a bit of a role reversal, it pushes up to 60W back out over USB-C. The dish that used to drain your power bank can now top off your laptop. Well done.
An Inch Thick and Dressed for Bad Weather
The rest of the hardware got the same treatment. The body measures just 23.1mm thick and 3.5 pounds with battery and kickstand, and Starlink’s own photos show it tucked under an arm like a laptop headed to a coffee shop.
Inside sits a Wi-Fi 6 router covering up to 1,800 square feet, which is a healthy bump over the original’s Wi-Fi 5 and 1,200. The enclosure is IP67-sealed against rain and sand, there’s a standard 1/4″-20 tripod thread, and SpaceX included its first ever power button on a dish.
Charging runs through a common 60W USB-C port, and Startlink officially retired the old barrel plug and its 100W power-supply demands.
Mind the Narrower Slice of Sky
Field of view drops from 110 degrees to 55, and this means the Mini 2 needs a cleaner patch of sky along with more deliberate aiming than its forgiving predecessor. And it will also struggle under tree cover.
SpaceX has started lofting its gigabit-class V3 satellites aboard Starship, and the company frames the Mini 2 as hardware built for that faster era. Starlink also claims it gets you online within 60 seconds of finding open sky.
Spec Sheet
Model: Starlink Mini 2
Dimensions: 10.35 x 12.36 x 0.91 inches
Weight: 3.5 lb (with battery and kickstand)
Battery: Removable 71Wh quick-swap pack (1.08 lb)
Battery Life: Up to 4.5 hours per charge
Charging: 60W USB-C (60W charger and 10-ft cable included)
Power Output: Up to 60W via USB-C
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6, up to 1,800 sq ft of coverage
Field of View: 55°
Durability: IP67
Mounting: Integrated kickstand, 1/4″-20 tripod thread
Price: $999 (preorder, includes one year of Roam Unlimited)
Pricing & Availability
Starlink Mini 2 preorders are currently invitation-only in the US at $999, which sounds steep next to the original Mini’s $149. But, you do get a year of Roam Unlimited service baked in (a plan SpaceX values at $2,100). Invited buyers report shipping starts in December, and the first-gen Mini stays on sale for the tree-cover crowd. Head over to Starlink’s website to register for an invite.
Recap
SpaceX Starlink Mini 2
SpaceX’s first battery-powered dish serves up 4.5 hours of off-grid satellite internet, costing $999 with a year of Roam Unlimited baked in.
