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SpaceX Launches Starlink Mini For $599 In Selected Regions
The compact, portable dish features a built-in Wi-Fi router and is small enough to fit inside a backpack.
SpaceX has introduced a new Starlink kit, known as the Starlink Mini, which is compact enough to fit inside a backpack. Users will now be able to carry the miniature dish anywhere and access SpaceX’s satellite internet service on the go.
According to emails sent out by SpaceX, the Starlink Mini will be priced at $599 upfront — $100 more than the standard dish kit. Users must already have a standard service plan to add the Mini Roam service, which costs an extra $30 per month. In total, Starlink residential customers will spend $150 per month if they opt for the Mini.
Starlink MINI (REV MINI1_PROD2) with built-in WiFi.
28.9×24.8 cm (11.4″ x 9.8″) pic.twitter.com/0AQKicaOk4— Oleg Kutkov 🇺🇦 (@olegkutkov) June 16, 2024
The cost of the smaller dish might decrease in the future. SpaceX mentioned in its email that it is working towards making Starlink more affordable overall. Currently, the company is offering a limited number of Mini kits “in regions with high usage”. Recently, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk discussed the Mini on X (formerly Twitter), describing it as a “great low-cost option”. He also mentioned that it would eventually cost “about half the price of the standard dish to buy and monthly subscription”.
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The Starlink Mini dish includes a built-in Wi-Fi router, making it a more compact package and requiring fewer additional components than the standard version. The Mini also consumes less power, features a DC power input, and can achieve download speeds exceeding 100 Mbps. The new kit includes the dish, a kickstand, a pipe adapter, a power supply, and a cord with a USB-C connector on one end and a barrel jack on the other.
Currently, the Starlink Mini is only available in select high-usage regions. However, Michael Nicolls, Vice President of Starlink Engineering, stated on X that the company is increasing production of the Mini and plans to make it available internationally in the very near future.
News
Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024
The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.