A battery-powered Starlink Mini is likely on the way | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyNotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.NotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.A battery-powered Starlink Mini is likely on the wayNotificationsNotificationsComments DrawerNotificationsCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechScienceCloseSciencePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All ScienceSpaceCloseSpacePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All SpaceA battery-powered Starlink Mini is likely on the wayTruly portable internet from space.Truly portable internet from space.by Thomas RickerCloseThomas RickerDeputy EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Thomas RickerMay 26, 2026, 8:55 AM UTCLinkShareGiftThis, but no cable. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeThomas RickerCloseThomas RickerPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Thomas Ricker is a deputy editor and Verge co-founder with a passion for human-centric cities, e-bikes, and life as a digital nomad. He’s been a tech journalist for 20 years.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.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Thomas RickerCloseThomas RickerDeputy EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Thomas RickerScienceCloseSciencePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All ScienceSpaceCloseSpacePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All SpaceSpaceXCloseSpaceXPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All SpaceXTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularFerrari reveals its first EV, with design help from Jony IveSennheiser’s new Momentum 5 headphones have upgraded ANC and a replaceable batteryGoogle’s new anything-to-anything AI model is wildTHE PEOPLE DO NOT YEARN FOR AUTOMATIONVideoCox Media fined after bragging it spied on users through their phonesThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Recent code within Starlink firmware suggests that SpaceX may soon release a version of its smallest internet dish incorporating an integrated battery, which would provide genuinely portable internet from space. This development addresses the current tethered dependency of the Starlink Mini, which must rely on an AC wall outlet or external power banks to operate. University researcher Jinwei Zhao identified strings in a May firmware release, specifically the message DishBatteryStats, that hint at integration within the dish. This message implies the presence of code designed to return specific battery fields, such as the current state of charge, indicating that the firmware is capable of natively reading battery status. Furthermore, the firmware contains code referencing three distinct power states, suggesting that the unit can operate using a direct USB-C power source, its internal battery, or both simultaneously. This level of pass-through support is crucial for extending the battery's lifespan and preventing the dish from becoming obsolete through numerous charge cycles. Currently, the Starlink Mini necessitates an external power source, with available options including third-party batteries like the PeakDo LinkPower series, although these introduce issues regarding software functionality and cost compared to other external power banks. If a Starlink Mini were equipped with an integrated battery, it would integrate seamlessly with the Starlink application and maintain compatibility with SpaceX warranties. Estimates suggest the integrated battery could be designed to be compact, potentially around a 99Wh capacity, which might provide over five hours of runtime. Such a feature would greatly enhance portability for users such as vanlifers and emergency responders who require fast, low-latency internet access from remote locations.