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Starlink Mini 2 Adds a Battery as Invite-Only Preorders Open

The portable satellite terminal promises up to 4.5 hours on a charge. An initial U.S. offer bundles a year of service.

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Conceptual illustration of a portable satellite internet terminal and separate battery beneath a satellite, with the headline Starlink Mini 2 Battery on Board.
Conceptual editorial illustration · not an actual product photo
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A portable dish gets a battery

November 11, 2026, 7:35 a.m. Central.

Starlink has introduced a new portable satellite internet terminal with a removable battery, and its first preorders are limited to invited customers in the United States.

The Mini 2 can stay connected for up to 4.5 hours on one charge, Starlink said in its November 10 announcement. The dish can also run on USB-C power and has built-in Wi-Fi. The original Mini needed an external source of power, even when carried away from an outlet.

SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk quoted Starlink’s announcement on X on Wednesday, describing the service as portable internet that works where Starlink is legal. It was a quote-post of the company’s announcement, not a reply to another individual. A clear view of the sky, service availability and network conditions still matter.

X did not allow direct access during this check; Newstro verified the post’s text, date and quoted announcement through a public mirror.

What the first offer costs

Reports citing invitations sent to customers put the initial U.S. offer at $999 plus tax, including the terminal and one year of Roam Unlimited service. That is a bundle price, not a confirmed standalone hardware price.

The invitation calls for a refundable $100 deposit, with the remaining $899 plus tax due when the kit ships, according to the Mobile Internet Resource Center. Initial shipments are estimated to begin in mid-December; that is a target, not a guarantee.

The offer’s terms matter. The outlet reports that unused service time is not refunded if the service is canceled after the 30-day return window, and normal service pricing applies after the included year. Customers should check their own invitation for current terms.

What changes — and what remains unknown

The Next Web reports that the new device has a 71-watt-hour quick-swap battery and Wi-Fi 6. Starlink’s “up to” battery figure is a company estimate; actual endurance will depend on use and conditions. The terminal still needs a satellite connection and an appropriate service plan.

The broader launch date and regular hardware-only price have not been announced in the reporting reviewed by Newstro. Some early reports discussed lower prices found in website code, but those are not a confirmed general retail offer. Starlink has not yet published expected Mini 2 download and upload speeds, according to SoyaCincau.

A question users were already asking

Months before this announcement, a participant using the name CounterI wrote in an r/Starlink discussion that a built-in battery would be a deal-breaker if it could not be replaced. That was one user’s concern during earlier speculation, not a reaction to this week’s launch. Starlink now describes the Mini 2 battery as quick-swap.

The rollout so far

2024: Starlink introduced the original portable Mini, which could use an external battery for power. November 10, 2026: Starlink announced Mini 2 and invitation-only U.S. preorders. November 11: Musk quote-posted the announcement. Mid-December 2026: the reported initial shipping estimate; wider availability remains unannounced.

Sources and visual credits

Starlink on X · Elon Musk on X · The Next Web · Mobile Internet Resource Center · r/Starlink discussion.

Hero and thumbnail: conceptual editorial illustration, not a photograph or an exact depiction of the Mini 2.