SpaceX is developing a second-generation Starlink Mini terminal, according to newly surfaced hardware specifications. Details shared by hardware researcher Oleg Kutkov indicate the device, identified by the revision code mini2_prod1, is already in active development and introduces several notable design changes over the original compact dish.
A Slightly Smaller Footprint and Redesigned Antenna
Physical dimensions suggest the Starlink Mini 2 will be marginally more compact than its predecessor. The internal antenna panel has been reduced from 236 × 276 mm to 225 × 273 mm. Beyond the size reduction, the phased-array antenna itself uses a new layout, cutting the number of antenna elements from 571 down to 549. This points to optimization of the array rather than a simple downsizing of the original hardware. GPS support is retained, and the terminal is explicitly configured for in-motion use, keeping it suitable for vehicles, boats, campers, and other mobile applications. The core processor remains the same Catapult SoC found in the first-generation Mini.
Integrated Battery and USB-C Charging
One of the most significant changes is the addition of a built-in battery. The leaked specifications reveal a 4-cell, 4S lithium battery managed by a BQ40Z-series battery management system. While exact capacity has not yet been disclosed, charging will take place over USB-C Power Delivery, with a supported input voltage ranging from 11V to 24V. This marks a clear departure from the original Starlink Mini, which required a continuous external power source, and positions the new model as a more self-contained connectivity solution for portable use.
Adjusted Performance and Thermal Envelope
The inclusion of a battery has consequences for radio performance. The Mini 2 operates with a slightly lower average EIRP of 27.4 dBW, compared to 27.57 dBW on the current Mini. More noticeably, the transmit duty cycle has dropped significantly, from 75 percent to just 11 percent. Such a reduction will likely impact sustained uplink speeds, a trade-off that Kutkov attributes to operating within a tighter power budget when running from the internal battery.
SpaceX has also revised thermal limits upward. Medium access control layer throttling now engages at 95°C and 99°C, a substantial increase from the 79°C and 83°C thresholds of the first-generation Mini. Battery thermal shutdown is configured at 80°C. These adjustments suggest the hardware is engineered to tolerate harsher environmental conditions while preserving stability.
- Antenna panel: 225 × 273 mm (down from 236 × 276 mm)
- Antenna elements: 549 (down from 571)
- Average EIRP: 27.4 dBW (down from 27.57 dBW)
- Transmit duty cycle: 11% (down from 75%)
- MAC thermal throttling thresholds: 95°C and 99°C (up from 79°C and 83°C)
- Battery thermal shutdown: 80°C
- Battery configuration: 4-cell (4S) lithium with BQ40Z-series BMS
- Charging: USB-C Power Delivery, 11V–24V input
- GPS and in-motion use: Retained
- System-on-chip: Catapult SoC (unchanged)
SpaceX has not publicly announced the Starlink Mini 2 or provided a timeline for its release. The original Mini has carved out a distinct niche among users who need connectivity away from fixed installations, competing indirectly with other portable satellite internet offerings. An integrated battery would push the product further into the territory of truly grab-and-go satellite terminals, while the adjusted power and thermal profile reflects the engineering compromises such a design demands.
Source: x.com