SpaceX begins selling the Starlink Mini for $599 in select locations

SpaceX started offering some users a new StarLink kit small enough to fit in a backpack, so the user can take it wherever they want and have access to the company’s satellite internet service. O Starlink Mini it will cost users $599 upfront, according to emails SpaceX sent. That’s $100 more than the standard dish kit, and users will need to have an existing standard service plan because they can only join the Mini Roam service for an additional fee of $30 per month. As TechCrunch notes that a Starlink residential customer will have to pay $150 per month in total if they also purchase the Mini.

The smaller plate might not cost as much forever. SpaceX said in its message that it is working to make Starlink more accessible as a whole and that it is only offering a limited number of Mini kits “in high-usage regions” for now. A few days ago, the company’s head Elon Musk spoke about Mini on X (formerly known as Twitter) and called it a “great low-cost option”. He also said it will cost “about half the price of the standard dish for purchase and monthly subscription.”

In SpaceX’s message, it said that the Starlink Mini antenna comes with a built-in Wi-Fi router, so it is not only smaller than the standard version, but also needs fewer components to access the internet. It also consumes less power, has DC power input, and is capable of download speeds in excess of 100 Mbps. In addition to the antenna itself, the kit will be shipped with a support, tube adapter, power supply and cable with a USB-C connector on one end and a cylindrical connector on the other.

As the company mentioned in its message, it is currently only being rolled out in select areas with high usage. But Michael Nicolls, vice president of Starlink Engineering, said on X that the company is increasing production of the Mini and that it will soon be available in international markets.