SpaceX launches Starlink Mini 2 with a swappable battery and Wi-Fi 6

The original Starlink Mini was designed to make satellite internet portable, but it still needed an external power source. SpaceX has addressed that limitation with the Starlink Mini 2, announced on Tuesday, which has a detachable battery that clips onto the back of the dish and provides up to 4.5 hours of use.

The 71Wh battery weighs 490g and can be attached or removed without tools. It has its own USB-C port and LED indicators showing the charge level, allowing users to charge a spare separately and swap batteries when needed.

The dish itself charges through a 60W USB-C connection, replacing the proprietary power cable used by the original Mini. A physical power button also replaces the previous plug-and-play setup.

SpaceX has upgraded other parts of the hardware too. The Mini 2 uses Wi-Fi 6 instead of Wi-Fi 5, increases coverage from 112 to around 167 square metres and is thinner, measuring 23.1mm compared with 38.5mm for the original. With the battery and kickstand attached, it weighs 1.6kg and retains its IP67 rating.

The pricing, however, is less straightforward. SpaceX opened preorders on Tuesday to selected customers in the US, offering the device for $999 with a year of Roam Unlimited service included. Shipping is expected to begin in mid-December.

There may be a cheaper option once the device becomes generally available. Backend code on Starlink’s website lists a $249 Mini 2 beta kit and a $50 spare battery, according to YouTuber DISHYtech, as Digital Trends reported.

SpaceX has not published standard retail prices, so the figures appear to refer to different packages. The $999 offer includes a year of service, while the $249 listing seems to cover the hardware.

Including a year of connectivity in the launch offer is a first for Starlink. The original Mini currently starts at $149 in the US, but its reliance on an external power source led to a market for third-party batteries that could be attached to the dish. SpaceX has now incorporated that feature into its own hardware.

The launch also comes as Starlink looks for growth beyond its established customer base. Its subscriber numbers more than doubled to 10.3 million in the year to March, but average revenue per user declined, making expansion into new markets and customer groups increasingly important, as we have previously reported.

A battery-powered dish is particularly suited to travellers, campers, van owners and sailors, who are among the customers targeted by Starlink’s Roam plans. It also gives the company a product to sell in markets where it is expanding, including Vietnam.

Starlink has become a major part of SpaceX’s connectivity business, which helped underpin the company’s IPO filing this year.

The Mini 2 gives customers another reason to choose the service, removing the need to carry a separate power source. For now, however, the $999 offer is available only to invited US customers.

Introducing Mini 2, the next-generation portable Starlink. Get up to 4.5 hours of connectivity on a single charge with the quick-swap battery, or plug in with USB-C.

With built-in Wi-Fi, all you need is a clear view of the sky to get online in 60 seconds.

Preorders are now open by invitation in the US. Be the first to know when it’s available → https://t.co/t2pSI1buaW

— Starlink (@Starlink) November 10, 2026