Starlink Mini is, ironically, a big step towards disbursing internet connectivity across every nook and cranny of the globe. Introduced as the next stage in Starlink’s long-standing satellite connectivity service, the Starlink Mini gadgetry seems to bring this advanced technology a step closer to fully mobile connectivity, something which the Elon Musk-led space enterprise is working on in the future.
However, Starlink Mini isn’t the best that SpaceX’s satellite broadband division has to offer. In fact, those willing to get the Mini version have to put up with a lot of compromises and that’s where the older service still seems to be a better choice.
The Starlink Standard plan sticks to the older AC-powered antenna and modem system offering all the bells and whistles. If you read through the terms and conditions, the Standard plan is crucial even to the Starlink Mini plan.
Since SpaceX and Starlink have yet to clarify the differences in their services, we decided to hunt in the massive pile of brochures and do a Starlink Mini vs Starkink Standard plan comparison to obtain clarity.
If Starlink’s service is available in your area and you seek to try it out, this comparison has everything you need to know before making up your mind.
Starlink Mini vs Starlink Standard
Whether you choose the Standard or Mini plan, there’s one aspect that’s going to stay common – the core technology. Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite broadband service relies on a mesh of satellites orbiting the Earth at lower space altitudes to beam down internet signals to its receivers. This negates the need for cell towers and ensures that you have access to internet connectivity, regardless of your location on the globe.
If you are unable to see Starlink Mini listed on the website, don’t panic yet. It is still in its early testing phases and is available only to select customers of Starlink Standard. Moreover, the Starlink Mini is a variant of the Roam plan and is designed for those who seek mobility over higher download seeds. For subscribers of the Residential and Boats plans, nothing has changed yet.
To clarify the differences, here’s a laydown of where and how they differ.
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Core differences between Starlink Mini and Starlink Standard: From specifications to pricing
Gear
With Starlink Standard, you get the usual Gen 3 dish antenna bundled with a Wi-Fi router and necessary cables as well as adapters. The Standard gear requires to be plugged into an AC power outlet, withdrawing up to 62W of power. This kind of power for a roaming kit needs to come from a vehicle’s batteries or other beefy power sources like houses, generators, etc. The Standard and Standard Actuated kits are heavy and not easy to carry around.
On the other hand, Starlink Mini is designed to work anywhere with lower power inputs. The dish antenna is almost as big as an average-sized 14-inch laptop and unlike the Standard router, it incorporates the Wi-Fi router inside. All you need to do is plug in the DC power cable to a power bank or any other suitable power source to get it running (100W USB-C PD).
Starlink says that the Mini antenna takes only five minutes to set up and start accessing internet speeds.
Download speeds
With a smaller footprint, you expect the Starlink Mini to suffer with lower broadband speeds, which is true. Starlink Mini with its low-rated power input and the integrated Wi-Fi router can deliver download speeds of up to 100Mbps. However, Starlink seniors with early access to the device have reported speeds of up to 180 Mbps in the US. Upload speeds are unknown at the moment.
As for Starlink Standard, the conventional antenna-Wi-Fi router setup manages to deliver download speeds in the range of 50-250 Mbps. That’s slightly higher than what Starlink Mini is capable of. The upload speeds are in the range of 5 to 20 Mbps, which is decent for a roaming broadband service. However, the standard roam plan sticks to Starlink’s deprioritised mode, which means you could get slow speeds and high latency. The Mobile Priority plan is where the standard gear delivers its full speeds.
Note that Starlink promises to eventually achieve download speeds of up to 10Gbps as the firm works on adding more satellites to its constellation and reducing the latency.
Pricing
This is where it gets complicated. Starlink Mini is tied to the Starlink Residential service and acts as an extension to the Starlink Residential plans. The Residential plan in the US costs USD 50 per month, excluding the price of the kit. The Starlink Mini kit costs USD 599 and you need to pay an additional USD 30 per month for the Mini Roam mobile data plan, which gives you access to 50GB of data per month.
Additionally, the Mini kit is only available via an invite to select customers of Starlink’s service. However, the price of the Mini kit is expected to drop substantially once it hits mass production.
For now, though, you need to be subscribed to an active Starlink Residential plan in order to utilise the Mini kit’s benefits and pay a hefty price.
The Starlink Standard kit costs USD 499 to own and you have to purchase a subscription plan of USD 150 per month. This gives you access to higher data speeds and connectivity on the go. However, the gear consists of the antenna and the Wi-Fi router as separate units. You also need access to an AC power outlet.
Starlink Mini vs Starlink Standard: Our take
Our pick: Starlink Standard
The Starlink Mini is a great leap for making satellite broadband more accessible to the masses. The ability to access high-speed internet in remote locations without needing access to an AC power source could help explorers, wanderers, archaeologists, scientists and students stay in touch with the world. However, Starlink’s complicated and high pricing makes it a less value-for-money proposition and unless the price of the kit drops, we won’t recommend the Starlink Mini kit.
Until then, the Starlink Standard with the Roam plan makes more sense and hence, is our recommendation for most people.
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(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Starlink)
