Code in recent Starlink firmware suggests that SpaceX might soon release a version of its smallest internet dish with an integrated battery. A battery-powered Starlink Mini would offer untethered portability for vanlifers, emergency responders, and anyone who wants fast, low-latency internet from almost anywhere on the planet.
University researcher Jinwei Zhao spotted a number of strings hinting at the integrated battery in a May firmware release, according to PCMag. The “message DishBatteryStats” line suggests code designed to return specific fields from an integrated battery, including the current state_of_charge. If the dish were simply being plugged into an external, third-party power bank, the Starlink firmware wouldn’t be able to natively read the battery’s exact charge percentage or charging state.
The firmware also contains code referring to three distinct power states, suggesting the unit can run off a direct USB-C power source, its own internal battery, or both simultaneously. That kind of pass-through support should extend the battery’s health to prevent the dish from becoming an expensive paperweight after a few hundred cycles.
Right now, the Starlink Mini must be tethered to an AC wall outlet or portable battery to latch onto those 10,000-plus satellites operating in low Earth orbit. You can also buy batteries like the impressive PeakDo LinkPower series, which slot right into the back of the Starlink Mini. But PeakDo’s software is janky, and the batteries are expensive compared to similarly-specced external power banks.
A Starlink Mini with an integrated battery would presumably work seamlessly in the Starlink app, be supported by SpaceX’s warranty, and allow the dish to be constructed as compactly as possible — likely around an airline-friendly 99Wh battery, which could yield over five hours of runtime based on my testing.