What Starlink’s New Slim Dishes Are and Why They Matter
Starlink’s new slim dishes are next-generation satellite internet terminals designed with a thinner profile and lighter hardware to make portable satellite internet more practical for travelers, mobile workers, and remote sites than previous Starlink equipment. In a new video interview, Elon Musk appears with two unreleased Starlink terminals at his side, describing them as “the new Starlink terminals, which we made in much higher volume than the current terminals.” Both units look notably slimmer than the existing standard and Mini dishes, and early impressions suggest they are compact enough to fit in a backpack. The hardware has not yet appeared on the official Starlink site, but the public tease, coming as SpaceX talks up its IPO, signals that a significant Starlink terminal redesign is nearing launch and that on-the-go satellite connectivity is becoming a central focus.
Two Models, One Goal: Make Satellite Internet Travel-Friendly
The teaser shows two distinct Starlink slim dishes: a successor to the current standard terminal and a tougher Mini-style unit aimed at portable use. According to PCMag’s reporting on the video, both dishes appear thinner and lighter than today’s hardware and are likely small enough for backpack storage, aligning with Musk’s ambition for “a few hundred million Starlink terminals” in the field. The design direction is clear: flatter panels, reduced bulk, and a form factor that suits camping, overlanding, remote work sites, and mobile professionals who need travel-friendly satellite dishes. While technical specifications remain undisclosed, the visual redesign alone indicates a shift from permanent rooftop installs toward equipment that can move easily between locations without special mounts, tools, or large power setups.
Firmware Clues: ‘rev5’ and a Rugged Mini With Battery Power
Long before Musk placed the prototypes on camera, firmware watchers had already spotted hints of a Starlink terminal redesign. Ukrainian repair expert Oleg Kutkov found references in recent Starlink firmware to two new hardware variants. The first, labeled “rev5,” appears to be an evolution of the standard dish that began shipping in late 2023, suggesting improved internals to match the slimmer exterior. The second looks like a ruggedized Mini model, tailored for harsher environments. Code snippets also point to a built-in battery and a USB-C port for the new Mini-class unit, which would be a major step for portable satellite internet because it could cut reliance on external power banks and simplify single-cable setups. Together, the firmware evidence and the video teaser reinforce that mobility is a core design target.
What Consumers Can Expect – and What We Still Don’t Know
For consumers, the direction is encouraging: travel-friendly satellite dishes that are slimmer, lighter, and easier to pack for trips or remote projects. A built-in battery in the rugged Mini-style terminal, if confirmed in final hardware, would reduce setup friction and make pop-up connectivity in off-grid locations more realistic. At the same time, key information is missing. SpaceX has not confirmed pricing, regional availability, or a launch window for either model, and neither dish appears on official sales channels yet. The only clear signal is strategic. Starlink has passed 12 million active customers and reported 10.3 million paid subscriptions in Q1 as it heads toward an IPO, so higher-volume, more portable terminals are likely meant to expand the addressable market rather than replace current options overnight.
A Step Toward Ubiquitous On-the-Go Connectivity
The new Starlink slim dishes are part of a broader push to make satellite internet feel less like specialized infrastructure and more like everyday gear. Musk’s comments in the same interview about AI-focused satellites and orbiting data centers highlight SpaceX’s ambition to turn space hardware into a backbone for digital services, but it is the terminals on the ground that determine how people connect. By shrinking and simplifying Starlink hardware, SpaceX is edging closer to a world where a satellite terminal is as travel-ready as a laptop or camera bag. Until official specifications and prices arrive, expectations should remain measured. Still, the combination of firmware hints, visual evidence, and high-volume manufacturing plans suggests the next wave of Starlink terminals will put portability at the center of the user experience.
