The upcoming laptop-sized Starlink Mini may be the best device for off-grid travel.
A new, more portable, smaller satellite dish is available from SpaceX’s Starlink internet division.
The 100Mbps-capable laptop-sized Starlink Mini device uses less power than the full-sized Standard model.
Currently, sales are restricted to regions in which coverage has been “unaffordable or completely unavailable.”
It is becoming increasingly simpler to stay connected when off the grid.
SpaceX’s satellite internet subsidiary Starlink is now selling a new, more compact, portable dish it calls the Starlink Mini.
The laptop-sized device, measuring 11.75 inches by 10.2 inches and weighing less than 2.5 pounds, can achieve 100Mbps and is easily portable, fitting into a backpack.
The Verge estimates that the Starlink Mini can run on a 100W USB-C PD battery pack, which could give you roughly an hour of runtime on a 10,000mAh pack. It also draws less power than the full-sized Standard.
“I’m currently writing this post through space after setting it up. Less than five minutes,” Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, wrote on X. “This product will change the world.”
Musk stated that the remarkably low 23 ms latency of his connection was sufficient for online gaming.
Sales of the unit are currently by invitation only as an add-on service to residential service plans, it is currently $599 in the US.
Customers in Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Panama can currently purchase a Starlink Mini at a discounted price with a unique standalone service option, additional regions will be added in the future.
“Our goal is to reduce the price of Starlink, especially for those around the world where connectivity has been unaffordable or completely unavailable,” said Starlink.
The idea was well received on X by both digital nomads and outdoor enthusiasts.
Ron Stauffer Says, “This would be a game-changer for me.” “Over the past ten years, I’ve found it awkward to move between coffee shops, restaurants, and coworking spaces while using my iPhone as a tether. Since I usually carry my backpack with me, this seems like the ideal fix.”
