ELON MUSK PREVIEWS TWO NEW STARLINK DISHES
WHAT SPACEX CONFIRMED, WHAT THE VIDEO SHOWS AND WHAT REMAINS SPECULATION
THE SHORT ANSWER
Elon Musk has shown two new Starlink user terminals during a SpaceX video recorded at the company's manufacturing site in Bastrop, Texas.
One terminal is larger and one is smaller. Both appear to be thin, flat rectangular designs. Musk confirmed that they were new Starlink terminals and said SpaceX intended to manufacture them in much greater volume than its current hardware.
That is where the confirmed product information ends. SpaceX has not announced their names, exact dimensions, weight, speed, power use, price, release date or whether either model contains a battery.
Update, 13 June 2026: a recently granted SpaceX patent has added a possible clue about reliability. It describes a user terminal receiving multiple candidate satellite paths and switching locally to another path when connection quality deteriorates or an obstruction is expected. SpaceX has not linked the patent to either of the two previewed terminals.
This article keeps confirmed facts, patent evidence, independently reported clues and our own speculation in separate sections.
WHERE DID THE NEW STARLINK DISHES APPEAR?
SpaceX posted a technical discussion on 8 June 2026 about large-scale satellite manufacturing, Starship, Starlink V3 technology and the company's proposed orbital AI satellites.
Elon Musk appeared alongside SpaceX presenter Dan Huot and Starlink executive Ian Dahl. Two previously unseen flat terminals were placed on the table directly in front of them.
Near the end of the discussion, Huot said SpaceX was still making Starlink user terminals at the Bastrop site and was switching on new production lines. Musk then identified the devices on the table as new Starlink terminals.
MUSK'S CONFIRMATION
These are the new Starlink terminals.
He added that SpaceX planned to make them in much higher volume than the current models.
WHAT HAS SPACEX ACTUALLY CONFIRMED?
| DETAIL | STATUS | WHAT WE CAN SAY |
|---|---|---|
| Two new terminals exist | Confirmed | Musk identified both devices as new Starlink terminals. |
| Higher-volume manufacturing | Confirmed intention | SpaceX is preparing new production lines and expects much larger terminal volumes. |
| Two physical sizes | Visible | The video clearly shows one larger and one smaller rectangular unit. |
| Specifications or price | Not announced | No official product pages or specification sheets have appeared. |
| Independent satellite-path switching | SpaceX patent; product link unconfirmed | A patent describes terminals selecting among candidate satellites and switching paths when quality falls or an obstruction is predicted. |
WHAT CAN WE SEE IN THE VIDEO?
The larger device has a broad rectangular face with rounded corners. It appears smaller than the present Standard dish but larger than the current Mini.
The second device is narrower and more compact. Its size suggests a portable product, although the video alone cannot prove how SpaceX intends to market it.
Both units appear to have cleaner edges and less visible side cladding than the current Standard hardware. They also look thin when viewed from the angle used in the interview.
There is no clear view of their ports, rear casing, kickstands, mounting system, power supply or router. The footage therefore cannot confirm whether Wi-Fi is integrated, whether the products use external routers or how they will be installed.
VISUAL OBSERVATION IS NOT A SPECIFICATION
The devices look thinner and more compact, but dimensions cannot be measured reliably from a video without a known scale and a straight-on view.
WHAT HAS NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED?
| UNANSWERED QUESTION | CURRENT POSITION |
|---|---|
| Official product names | Unknown |
| Exact dimensions and weight | Unknown |
| Download and upload performance | Unknown |
| Power consumption | Unknown |
| Integrated Wi-Fi | Unknown |
| Battery or USB-C charging | Unknown |
| Purchase or rental price | Unknown |
| Release date and launch countries | Unknown |
HOW DO THEY COMPARE WITH THE CURRENT STANDARD AND MINI?
Official Starlink specification sheets give us useful reference points, but the new terminals cannot be measured accurately from the interview footage.
| CURRENT STANDARD 4 X | CURRENT MINI | NEW PREVIEWED DEVICES | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panel dimensions | 594 × 383 × 39.7mm | 298.5 × 259 × 38.5mm | Not announced |
| Dish weight | 2.9kg without stand | 1.10kg without stand | Not announced |
| Average power | 75 to 100W | 25 to 40W | Not announced |
| Wi-Fi | Separate Router 3 | Integrated Wi-Fi 5 | Not announced |
| Likely role | Fixed home installation | Portable and travel use | SpaceX has not said |
The larger new terminal appears visually closer to a compact Standard replacement. The smaller device appears closer to the portable Mini category. Those are visual comparisons, not confirmed product positions.
UNCONFIRMED TECHNICAL CLUES
Independent Starlink researcher Oleg Kutkov reported several days before the SpaceX video that a new Rev5 user terminal had entered a production-stage revision known as rev5_pez_prod2.
He estimated dimensions of roughly 274 × 350mm, placing the reported unit between the current Mini and Standard in surface area. He also reported 820 antenna elements, a 54V input and maximum power around 111W.
Other reported details include new front-end chips with the code name Pez and the possibility that the terminal does not contain a GPS receiver.
IMPORTANT
SpaceX has not verified these specifications or confirmed that the larger device shown by Musk is the reported Rev5 terminal. They should be treated as informed third-party reporting, not official product data.
NEW UPDATE: A SPACEX PATENT POINTS TO SMARTER SATELLITE-PATH SWITCHING
A new report on 13 June highlighted US Patent 12,647,863, granted to SpaceX on 2 June 2026. The patent is titled System and method for selecting among multiple satellite network paths at a user terminal.
The document describes a terminal receiving a schedule containing at least two candidate satellites for a given time slot. Each candidate can lead through a different gateway and an independent route to the internet. The terminal can begin using one path, monitor end-to-end connection quality and switch to another candidate if latency, packet loss, decoding errors or other quality measures cross a threshold.
It also describes proactive switching based on locally stored obstruction information. In practice, a terminal could move to another available satellite before the first one passes behind a tree, building or another blocked part of the sky.
WHAT THIS DOES AND DOES NOT CONFIRM
The patent supports the idea of faster, locally controlled failover between independent Starlink paths. It does not confirm that either of the two dishes shown by Musk contains this feature, and it does not by itself prove that ordinary customer data will be combined over two satellites simultaneously.
| PATENT DETAIL | POSSIBLE CUSTOMER BENEFIT | STATUS FOR THE NEW DISHES |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple candidate satellites in one scheduled time slot | More than one route may be available when a satellite or gateway path has a problem. | Not confirmed |
| Local quality monitoring | The terminal may react to latency, packet loss or decoding errors without waiting for central instructions. | Not confirmed |
| Obstruction-aware switching | Fewer interruptions when a moving satellite approaches a blocked line of sight. | Not confirmed |
| Simultaneous aggregated broadband over two satellites | Potentially more capacity if supported by future hardware and network software. | Not established by this patent |
WHY DOES HIGHER-VOLUME PRODUCTION MATTER?
Musk's main point was not speed. It was scale.
SpaceX already manufactures Starlink equipment in large numbers, but its long-term ambitions require far more terminals. Musk said the company believes there could eventually be several hundred million Starlink terminals in use.
A design intended for much higher volume usually needs fewer parts, faster assembly, a more efficient supply chain and less expensive testing. Smaller hardware can also reduce packaging, warehousing and delivery costs.
That does not automatically mean customers will pay less. SpaceX could use lower production costs to subsidise rentals, reduce purchase prices, improve margins or expand into countries where the present hardware remains too expensive.
WHAT COULD THIS MEAN FOR EXISTING CUSTOMERS?
Nothing changes immediately. Current Standard and Mini products remain the published Starlink hardware, and SpaceX has not told customers to delay orders.
A new terminal does not normally make an existing dish stop working. Starlink has kept older generations online while introducing newer hardware.
Customers considering an expensive permanent installation may still want to watch for official details. A smaller replacement could use a different mount, cable, power supply or router.
The biggest near-term question is pricing. Starlink has recently added a monthly equipment charge to some new residential rental orders in the UK and USA. Cheaper-to-build terminals could affect future rental offers, but SpaceX has not linked the new hardware to that fee.
SEPARATE SPECULATION: WHAT WE THINK THE TWO DISHES MAY BE
Everything in this section is inference unless stated otherwise.
1. The larger unit is probably the next mass-market home terminal
Its apparent size places it between the current Standard and Mini. That would make sense for a cheaper Standard successor that uses less material, fits into a smaller box and is easier to ship in very large quantities.
The reported Rev5 dimensions also fit this theory, although SpaceX has not connected the leak to the device shown in the video.
2. The smaller unit may replace or expand the Mini range
The smaller device looks suited to travel, emergency use and portable power. It could be a cheaper Mini, a rugged Mini or a separate low-cost terminal for markets where the current Standard kit is too expensive.
3. A built-in battery is possible, but not proven
Reports in May suggested SpaceX was developing a rugged portable terminal with possible battery support and USB-C charging. The smaller device shown by Musk could be related, but the video does not reveal a battery, charging port or product label.
4. The new designs may reduce the cost of £0 and $0 upfront rentals
Starlink is increasingly using rentals and no-upfront-cost hardware offers. A terminal that is cheaper and faster to manufacture would make those offers easier to expand while still charging a monthly equipment fee.
5. Speed may not be the main upgrade
Neither Musk nor SpaceX mentioned faster broadband. The most important changes may instead be manufacturing cost, power efficiency, portability and easier installation.
6. SpaceX may launch them gradually by market
Previous Starlink products have not always launched worldwide at the same time. SpaceX may begin in the USA or in selected high-volume markets before expanding to the UK and other countries.
OUR MOST LIKELY SCENARIO
The larger device becomes a lower-cost Standard replacement, while the smaller one becomes a new portable model. Lower manufacturing cost is more likely to be the headline improvement than a dramatic speed increase.
WHAT SHOULD WE WATCH FOR NEXT?
| NEXT SIGNAL | WHY IT MATTERS |
|---|---|
| Official specification sheets | These will confirm dimensions, power use, weather rating and Wi-Fi. |
| Regulatory filings | Radio approvals can reveal model numbers and technical limits before launch. |
| Documentation for multi-path failover | This would show whether the newly highlighted patent is implemented in either retail terminal. |
| Starlink shop listings | A listing will confirm price, included equipment and country availability. |
| Mount and accessory pages | New accessories can reveal the intended fixed or portable use. |
| Rental checkout changes | The new terminals may replace current kits in £0 or $0 upfront offers. |
OUR VIEW
The new hardware looks important, but the reason is manufacturing rather than a confirmed leap in broadband performance.
SpaceX wants Starlink to grow from millions of users to a far larger global service. Reaching that scale requires terminals that can be produced, shipped and replaced cheaply.
The two devices shown by Musk appear to address different needs: one for mainstream fixed broadband and one for portable use. That is the most logical reading of the footage, but it remains an interpretation until SpaceX publishes the products.
The newly highlighted SpaceX patent suggests reliability and faster path switching may be part of the wider technical direction. However, a patent is not a product specification, and SpaceX has not connected it to either device on the table.
For now, any claim about a battery, simultaneous dual-satellite broadband, gigabit speeds, exact dimensions, pricing or release date should be treated cautiously.
SOURCES
SpaceX: 8 June 2026 technical update video
Transcript of the SpaceX discussion
The Verge: New Starlink dishes are coming
Starlink: Standard 4 X official specifications
Starlink: Mini official specifications
Oleg Kutkov: Unconfirmed Rev5 technical report
ISPreview: Earlier rugged and battery-powered Mini report
USPTO: US Patent 12,647,863, granted 2 June 2026
Justia: Full text of SpaceX multi-path user-terminal patent
ISPreview: 13 June report on next-generation Starlink path switching
FAQS ABOUT THE NEW STARLINK DISHES
HAS SPACEX OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED TWO NEW STARLINK DISHES?
Musk confirmed that the two devices in the video were new Starlink terminals. SpaceX has not yet published their product details.
WHAT ARE THE NEW TERMINALS CALLED?
No official names have been announced. Rev5 has been reported independently, but SpaceX has not confirmed that name.
ARE THE NEW DISHES SMALLER?
They appear compact and thin in the video. SpaceX has not released measurements, so exact comparisons are not yet possible.
DOES THE SMALLER DISH HAVE A BATTERY?
There is no confirmation. Earlier reports discussed a possible battery-powered Mini, but it has not been linked officially to the previewed device.
HOW MUCH WILL THE NEW STARLINK DISHES COST?
SpaceX has not announced prices. Higher-volume manufacturing could lower costs, but it does not guarantee cheaper retail or rental pricing.
WHEN WILL THEY BE RELEASED?
No release date or launch market has been announced.
WILL THE NEW DISHES CONNECT TO TWO SATELLITES AT ONCE?
A SpaceX patent granted on 2 June 2026 describes a terminal receiving multiple candidate satellite paths and switching locally to another path when quality falls or an obstruction is expected. SpaceX has not confirmed that either previewed dish uses the system. The patent also does not establish that normal customer traffic will be aggregated over two satellites simultaneously.
WAIT FOR THE SPECIFICATION SHEETS
SpaceX has confirmed two new terminals and higher-volume production. A new patent adds evidence of smarter satellite-path switching, but SpaceX has not tied it to either dish. Product names, battery support, speeds, pricing and release dates remain unconfirmed.