Starlink Mini Review – PCMag

🔍 Summary:

The Starlink Mini, a new offering from SpaceX, is designed to provide portable and fast internet connectivity for digital nomads and travelers. Priced at $599, this compact satellite dish is a smaller, more travel-friendly version of the traditional Starlink V4 dish used in residential settings. It features an integrated Wi-Fi router and is easy to set up, making it ideal for use in vehicles, remote work locations, and outdoor activities like camping.

The Mini is significantly lighter and smaller than its residential counterpart, with a dish face measuring 11.8 by 10.2 inches and a thickness of just 1.5 inches, weighing only 2.6 pounds. It boasts an IP67 Type 4 weatherproof rating and includes a snowmelt feature for maintaining clear reception. The device supports Wi-Fi 5 connectivity and can handle up to 128 connected devices, suitable for a range of environments from RVs to temporary offices and emergency response scenarios.

For internet access, Mini users must subscribe to the Starlink Roam plan, which is specifically tailored for mobile or frequently moving users. The plan offers two options: a 50GB plan for $50 per month and an unlimited plan for $165 per month. The Mini kit comes with all necessary components for setup, including a power cable, power adapter, and mounting hardware.

In testing, the Starlink Mini showed variable performance, with download speeds ranging from 5Mbps to 140Mbps, though the speeds were generally lower than those provided by the residential Starlink setup. The device also demonstrated good latency, comparable to the residential version, making it a viable option for on-the-go internet needs, despite some limitations in speed and consistency.

Overall, the Starlink Mini is a robust solution for those needing reliable internet access while traveling or in remote locations, though it may not completely replace the need for a traditional residential connection for some users.

📌 Source: https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/starlink-mini