Calling all digital nomads and van-lifers: SpaceX’s Starlink Mini is now available everywhere in the US. The small antenna costs $599 and requires a monthly subscription of either $50 or $165, depending on what plan you choose.
Thanks to thousands of low Earth orbit satellites, Starlink has the unique ability to send high-speed internet 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, portable antenna costs $599 upfront and requires a monthly subscription to a Starlink Roam plan, starting between $50 and $165. 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.”
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 in your equipment to a power supply. The Starlink Mini install guide features easy, straightforward steps to getting online quickly on the go.
This is the first time that high-speed internet is available on the go in areas that aren’t reached by cell towers. You could backpack the Appalachian Trail or take your RV on a cross-country road trip and still stream your favorite holiday movies at the end of the day.
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.
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.
Starlink says the Mini will work anywhere in North America. 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.
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.
Starlink Mini FAQs
Where is the Starlink Mini available?
Is the Starlink Mini expensive?
Hardware alone will cost you upwards of $599 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. $764 with the Starlink Mini regional plan.
How fast is the Starlink Mini?
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