Starlink Mini V2 Enters Production With Built-in Battery

SpaceX is rapidly iterating its satellite internet hardware to cater to travelers, campers, and mobile users who need reliable connectivity on the go. While Starlink’s “Standard” residential hardware handles stationary configurations, the portable “Mini” dish is getting a massive upgrade to make it completely self-contained.

According to leaks from Oleg Kutkov (@olegkutkov), SpaceX has officially started producing the second-generation Starlink Mini dish. Sharing specs and hardware schematics on X, Kutkov revealed that the “Starlink Mini 2” is entering production with a built-in battery. The addition of an internal power source marks a major departure from the original Mini dish, completely changing how users will deploy the hardware in remote areas.

Shrinking the Dish and Adding a Battery

The upcoming second-gen hardware revision, tracked under the code name mini2_prod1, further shrinks the antenna panel's overall footprint. As detailed by Kutkov, the new terminal is slightly smaller than the original Starlink Mini. Its PCB measures 225 × 273 mm, compared with 236 × 276 mm for the dish it will replace.

@olegkutkov / X

Engineering a more compact design makes total sense. SpaceX unveiled the new V5 standard Starlink dish just days ago, which is closer in size to the original Mini than the V4 residential dish. For a product line focused purely on portability, the smaller SpaceX can make the receiver, the better it fits into a backpack.

@SawyerMerritt / X

Notably, the Mini V2 is powered by the same “Catapult” SoC as the first model. That said, the built-in 4S lithium battery is the real star of the show (and possibly why SpaceX couldn’t reduce the size any more). The system is rounded out by a BQ40Z-series Battery Management System (BMS) chip and charges via USB-C (11-24V input range). The initial leaks don’t mention the exact capacity of the internal battery or how many hours of continuous runtime it will deliver. It's also unknown how much power the new Starlink Mini will draw. We’ll have to wait for more leaks or for Starlink to announce the new Mini dish to learn more.

Trade-offs For Unplugged Connectivity

Operating entirely on an internal battery means power management has to be incredibly strict. To keep the power draw low, SpaceX is dramatically lowering the transmit duty cycle from 75% down to just 11%. This change helps the dish stay inside its strict electrical boundaries, but there’s a chance it might also result in lower uplink speeds for consumers running heavy uploads.

The new Mini dish retains an integrated GPS system that’s explicitly configured for in-motion use, making it ideal for vehicle roofs. SpaceX has also increased the thermal throttling ceilings up to 95°C and 99°C (from 79°C and 83°C on the original) so it can handle intense outdoor heat. There’s no official word yet on when the new hardware will be available to order, but entering mass production indicates a launch is getting very close. We might even get to see steep discounts on the original Mini as Starlink moves to clear stock ahead of the new model’s launch.