Starlink's second-generation Mini dish has a swappable battery, and invited buyers will pay $999 for it, a price that includes one full year of Roam Unlimited.
The hardware changes are practical ones. The Mini 2 adopts a Wi-Fi 6 modem, the newer wireless standard that handles more connected devices at once than older versions. It also takes power over USB-C, a port most people already own cables for. Access is by invitation for now, so not everyone can order one.
The $999 figure needs a closer look. It is a bundle, not a hardware price. Roam Unlimited is a service plan, and Starlink hasn't disclosed how the $999 splits between the dish and that year of service. That matters because the headline number invites comparison with the original Mini, and a bundled price makes that comparison unreliable.
The USB-C port raises a similar question. It suggests you could run the dish from a power bank or a car charger, which is the point of a travel-sized terminal. But Starlink hasn't disclosed which USB-C chargers the dish supports, and power delivery over USB-C varies widely between chargers.
The swappable battery is the most interesting change. A dish meant for camping, boats and vehicles is only as portable as its power supply, and a battery you can swap out turns a dead cell into a short pause rather than a stop.
Until Starlink breaks out the split, $999 can't be compared cleanly with the original Mini's price or with what a standalone year of Roam Unlimited costs.