Starlink Mini Dish Launched – Disappointing “Mini Roam” Data Plan Dashes Nomadic Dreams

This week has been a roller coaster in the world of Starlink.

We reported earlier in the week on all the new details revealed in posts by Elon Musk and on the Starlink website about the upcoming Starlink Mini - and it all seemed potentially too good to be true.

• A smaller, lighter, and much more portable all-in-one Starlink system.
• Substantially lower power consumption - with support for direct DC power.
• In motion usage supported.
• A cheaper price for the hardware, and potentially even a cheaper data plan.
• Compromised performance compared to Starlink Standard - but still plenty fast enough for 4K streaming and most typical nomadic needs.

But today SpaceX revealed the accompanying "Mini Roam" data plan details, and sent out emails to a select group of current customers inviting them to be the first to be able to buy the Starlink Mini.

And today's new details turn the Starlink Mini from the most exciting new development in mobile internet this year into a huge disappointment.

Higher hardware costs and extremely limited data plans have dashed the hopes of many.

No unlimited data, no international roaming, no in motion usage.

No fun at all!

But this is only a preliminary launch - SpaceX may reduce the price and improve the plan offerings over time once the initial demand is met.

But unless the trajectory veers in a better direction - SpaceX has us worried that it might be moving to jack up prices all around to make mobile Starlink data more expensive than it has ever been in the past.

So what's the bad news?

Let's dive in...

Starlink Mini Roam Video

 

Starlink Mini Introductory Offer

SpaceX has sent out an email to a "small group of customers" in the USA who currently have Starlink Residential service, offering them the opportunity to be the first to purchase a Starlink Mini system for $599.

This is $100 more than the current $499 price of Starlink Standard hardware - and is a huge jump from the $299 promotional price for Starlink Standard residential systems currently being offered in 29 states.

We had expected the Starlink Mini to come out at $250 - based on Elon Musk's post this past weekend saying Starlink Mini would cost:

"About half the price of the standard dish to buy and monthly subscription"

Clearly the Starlink marketing team didn't get the memo.

SpaceX's newly published Starlink Mini FAQ indicates that the hardware price may fall over time: 

"Starlink Mini will expand to other markets over time. However, we do not have estimated dates to provide at this time. Stay tuned for updates on the wider release of Starlink Mini!

Our goal is to reduce the price of Starlink, especially for those around the world where connectivity has been unaffordable or completely unavailable. But in regions with high usage, where Starlink Mini places additional demand on the satellite network, we are offering a limited number of the Starlink Mini Kits to start for $599."

Early adopters - beware!

But overall - regardless of the price, the Starlink Mini hardware seems to be a fabulous fit for nomadic users.

With support for direct DC power input, lower power consumption, and an overall small form-factor - it is seemingly the ideal Starlink offering for many RVers and cruisers.

Read our story from earlier in the week for all the hardware and power consumption details:

UPDATED: Elon Teases Starlink Mini Details – Cheaper Hardware and Subscription Cost?

The bigger disappointment today is in the newly revealed Starlink Mini data plan.

Starlink “Mini Roam” = Maxi Limitations

The $30/mo "Mini Roam" data plan is being offered exclusively as an add-on for current $120/mo Starlink Residential customers - bringing the total monthly Starlink cost for these customers up to $150/mo.

Starlink's theory seems to be that fixed residential customers will be willing to pay extra each month to have a second more portable Starlink system they can take with them on the road.

But this "Mini Roam" data plan is surprisingly limited:

• USA coverage only. No traveling to Mexico or Canada.
• In motion and on water usage is "not allowed" - though presumably nearshore and under 10 mph usage will remain supported, just like current Starlink systems.
• Pausing service when not needed is not supported.
• The "Mini Roam" plan is tied to the residential plan - canceling your residential service will also cancel the Mini Roam plan.

But the biggest surprise and disappointment is that Starlink is imposing a cap on data usage - and it is just 50GB per month!

Additional data is $1/GB.

While the Starlink Mini may be capable of 4K video streaming - with data priced that high, 4K streaming is not going to be worthwhile for most.

Customers who do want unlimited data on a Starlink Mini can upgrade to the $250/mo "Mobile Priority 50GB" plan - which gives unlimited lower priority data, and includes 50 GB of priority data.

At the moment - there does not seem to be any option for Starlink Mini customers to opt instead for the $150/mo Starlink Mobile Regional plan that has been the typical pick for RVers and boaters up until now.

Nor is there any Starlink Mini offering for full time nomads who do not want or need to keep an activated Starlink Residential plan hanging around.

Concluding Thoughts

The Starlink Mini seems like the ideal Starlink system for most nomadic users - and we've been waiting patiently for over a year since the first details were revealed in March 2023.

So far - every indication seems to point towards the Starlink Mini hardware being a home run.

It may lack POE power input and Wi-Fi 6, but in almost every other way it delivers exactly what is needed.

But by coming out with such an underwhelming data plan, SpaceX has seemingly flubbed the Starlink Mini launch - offering the Mini as an expensive add-on exclusively to Starlink Residential customers who already have Starlink service.

 Nomads who want to make the Mini their only Starlink system are being left out in the cold with the initial offering.

As are travelers who want to roam into Canada and Mexico, or beyond.

And though Elon has demonstrated that the Starlink Mini is capable of fast enough performance to watch multiple 4K video streams, the only data plans available for the Mini makes this capability quite expensive to put to use.

We can only hope that SpaceX will soon offer other, more worthy, data plans for the Starlink Mini.

If priced right - the Mini has the potential to become a must-have component of nearly every mobile internet arsenal.

But we worry - what if the Mini Roam plan is just a taste of things to come?

Does SpaceX now value reduced speed mobile data at $1/GB, and have plans to bring data limits and overage charges to other Starlink Roam plans too?

All we can do is cross our fingers and hope that SpaceX figures out how to truly maximize the Mini's appeal.

If for some reason the Starlink Mini and Mini Roam plan does meet your needs, presently the only way to get it is if you receive a specific personalized invite email from Starlink.

If Starlink follows their normal launch trajectory, the Starlink Mini will become available to all customers soon. 

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