SpaceX last night updated the official Starlink store to add the Router Mini for US customers. It's much cheaper than the existing Gen 3 router, which arrived at $199 before dropping to $120.
Router Mini is a lower-performance device that will provide "basic Wi-Fi needs" in smaller spaces, including wireless dead spots within a home, SpaceX says in a support page.
“It works well in most basic residential setups and is a good option for extending coverage. However, in homes where rooms have multiple barriers between them (mirrors, multiple walls, brick or stone walls), you may notice a drop in performance unless you use wired connections,” the company adds.
In contrast, the existing Gen 3 router is more powerful and can better serve multiple devices over a wider Wi-Fi range.
The standard Starlink dish already comes bundled with a Gen 3 router, which is mesh-compatible. So, it looks like SpaceX is offering a cheaper way for customers to form a mesh network inside their homes, rather than solely relying on the Gen 3 model.
"If you need simple, reliable Wi-Fi and want to keep costs down, the Router Mini is a solid option. But if you’re looking for stronger, more consistent performance across a larger or busier home, the Gen 3 Router is the way to go,” the company adds.
Both routers support Wi-Fi 6 speeds and can operate in wired or wireless mesh mode. However, the dual-band Router Mini features fewer antennas, specifically “2x2 2.4 GHz, 2x3 5 GHz MU-MIMO.” The tri-band Gen 3 router can transmit and receive more than four antennas.
The Router Mini first appeared in an FCC filing earlier this month. SpaceX then updated the Starlink app to
mention a new “mini mesh” device. Its support pages confirm the Router Mini can also connect to a Starlink Mini dish, giving the device a boost to its limited Wi-Fi range.
