SpaceX unveils Starlink Mini 2 with a removable battery

SpaceX has unveiled the Starlink Mini 2, a portable satellite dish for people who need internet away from regular networks.

The original Starlink Mini needed an external power source, but the new model has a removable 71Wh battery that can provide up to 4.5 hours of internet on a charge.

Users can swap in another battery or connect the dish to a USB-C power source when the battery runs out.

The Mini 2 also adds Wi-Fi 6, an IP67 rating and a slimmer design, and weighs 1.6kg with its battery and kickstand.

SpaceX is taking preorders from selected US customers, but has not said when it will be available more widely or outside the United States.

A website listing cited by a YouTuber shows a possible $249 beta kit and a $50 spare battery, while some invited customers have reportedly been offered a $999 package with a year of Roam Unlimited service.

Those prices are not confirmed final retail prices, so the cost and broader availability remain uncertain.