Every Starlink dish available and the differences between them

If you’ve been looking into satellite internet, you’ve most likely heard of Starlink. It’s one of the most talked-about options for getting online, especially if you live in a rural area or need internet in places where no service from traditional providers is available.

With many Starlink dishes available, figuring out which one is right for you can be tricky. Each model is designed for specific needs including but not limited to having a stable connection at home, in your RV, or even on your boat as you sail into the open sea.

In this article, we break down every Starlink dish available, explain the differences, and help you decide which one fits your lifestyle. From the compact residential models to the rugged, high-performance options, we’ve got you covered.

Starlink Mini Dish

The Starlink Mini represents the smallest and most portable option in the current lineup, measuring 16.92 by 13.14 by 3.11 inches and weighing just 2.43 pounds.

This compact dish is about the size of a laptop, making it almost ideal for travelers and outdoor enthusiasts. Despite its small footprint, the Mini reportedly delivers impressive performance for those needing connectivity on the go.

Priced at $499, the Mini costs more than the Standard dish. This higher price is reflective of its specialized portable design and advanced technology packed into a smaller form factor.

The complete kit includes the dish itself, a kickstand for easy setup, a pipe adapter for alternative mounting, a DC power cable, power supply, and Starlink plug.

What makes the Mini stand out is its power efficiency. According to Starlink, it uses approximately half the power of Starlink's standard dish and can be powered with a portable USB battery, giving you true mobility.

The Mini works in temperatures ranging from -22°F to 122°F (-30°C to 50°C) and comes with IP67 dust and water resistance, allowing it to withstand harsh outdoor conditions including snow, sleet, heavy rain, and strong winds.

For service options, you can choose between two plans: Mini Roam at $50 per month provides 50GB of data (equivalent to about 20 hours of HD streaming), while Roam Unlimited costs $165 monthly for unlimited data with in-motion use and two months of international access.

Both plans come with no long-term contracts, allowing you to start and stop service anytime, plus a 30-day trial period.

Setup takes under five minutes. You simply find a spot with a clear view of the sky using the Starlink app, set up the kickstand, and connect to power.

This simplicity makes the product perfect for camping trips, backpacking adventures, outdoor events, or as a backup internet solution during home service outages.

Starlink Standard Dish (Gen 3)

The Standard dish serves as Starlink's primary residential option, designed for fixed home installations rather than portability.

Measuring 23.4 inches tall and 15.07 inches wide (59.4 × 38.3 cm), it provides nearly twice the surface area of the Mini, allowing for better signal quality and more consistent performance for everyday home internet use.

Priced at $349, the Standard dish offers the best value in the Starlink lineup for permanent installations.

The complete kit includes the dish itself, a kickstand for initial setup, a Starlink cable, AC cable, power supply, and most importantly, a Gen 3 router.

This advanced router is a significant upgrade over previous generations, featuring tri-band 4×4 MU-MIMO WiFi 6 technology with two latching ethernet LAN ports and WPA2 security.

The included Gen 3 router can support up to 235 connected devices simultaneously, making it suitable for even the most connected homes.

It's also compatible with up to three Starlink mesh nodes from both Gen 2 and Gen 3, allowing you to expand your network coverage throughout larger homes or properties.

This combination of dish size and advanced router technology makes the Standard dish perfect for residential users needing reliable internet for streaming, video calls, online gaming, and other everyday applications.

Setting up the Standard dish requires manual positioning, unlike the older actuated models. You download the Starlink app to find an ideal placement location, then prop up the dish using the included kickstand.

After connecting the router and plugging it in, the app guides you through optimizing the dish's position and configuring your network settings.

While the kit includes a temporary kickstand, you can separately order permanent mounts from the Starlink Shop or explore third-party mounting options for more permanent installations.

Starlink Standard Actuated Dish (Gen 2)

The Standard Actuated dish represents Starlink's previous generation hardware and offers unique advantages not found on newer models.

Measuring 20.2 inches tall and 11.9 inches wide (51.3 × 30.2 cm), it's slightly smaller than the current Standard model but includes sophisticated motorized positioning capabilities that newer dishes lack.

What truly sets this dish apart is its automated orientation system. Unlike the Mini and current Standard, which both require manual position adjustment using the app, the Standard Actuated dish incorporates motorized self-orienting technology.

Once installed, the dish automatically maneuvers to maintain the optimal orientation for connecting with Starlink satellites as they move across the sky.

This self-adjustment capability provides more consistent connectivity without requiring user intervention after the initial setup.

The original kit for the Standard Actuated included the dish itself, a mounting base for the motorized system, a Starlink cable, an AC cable, and a dual-band 3×3 MIMO WiFi 5 router.

This router, while not as advanced as the Gen 3 model included with newer Standard dishes, should still provide reliable enough connectivity for most households. It's worth noting that the Standard Actuated dish doesn't have the in-motion capabilities found in newer models, as it was designed primarily for fixed installations.

Starlink has discontinued the Standard Actuated for direct purchase, but many units remain available on the second-hand market.

If you're considering a used Standard Actuated dish, you should double-check that all original components are included, particularly the mounting base and cables, before parting with your money.

You'll also need to ensure proper ownership transfer to avoid issues establishing Starlink service with the second-hand hardware.

Starlink High Performance Dish

The High Performance dish takes Starlink connectivity to the next level. It's designed for users whose needs aren't served by what the standard residential models provide.

With a noticeably squarer shape measuring 22.6 inches tall and 20.1 inches wide (57.4 × 51.1 cm), this dish offers enhanced features for power users and business applications.

The larger antenna size allows the High Performance dish to connect with more Starlink satellites simultaneously, resulting in faster speeds and greater bandwidth capacity.

This improved connection makes it rather suitable for power users, businesses, and enterprise applications where multiple individuals need simultaneous high-bandwidth access.

According to Starlink, the High Performance dish "allows better speeds at high temperatures, can connect to more satellites, and is more resilient to extreme environments".

Beyond raw performance, the High Performance dish is more resistant to bad weather and other environmental nature challenges. This hardware is designed to remain functional in challenging conditions, unlike the standard models. This includes improved heat tolerance for maintaining speeds during high temperatures and enhanced durability. Starlink claims the product offers better connectivity in areas with limited satellite visibility as compared to the offerings discussed above.

Like the Standard Actuated model, the High Performance dish features motorized self-orienting capabilities, automatically adjusting its position to maintain an optimal connection with passing satellites.

The original full package includes the dish, mounting base, power supply, Starlink cable, ethernet cable, router cable, a WiFi 5 router, and AC cables for both the power supply and router.

While Starlink no longer sells the High Performance dish directly through its store, these units can still be found on the second-hand market.

Potential buyers should double-check that the components listed above are all included and function well before making the purchase. The motorized capabilities require the complete mounting system to function correctly, so be prepated inspect the hardware thoroughly when considering a used unit.

Starlink Flat High Performance Dish

The Flat High Performance dish is Starlink's specialized solution for mobile applications and challenging environments.

This dish maintains many of the advanced features found on the standard High Performance model but with a design optimized specifically for mobility and in-motion use.

Priced at $2,500, this dish represents a significant investment compared to other Starlink options. The higher cost is reflective of its design, specialized for maintaining connectivity while in motion, something most other dishes cannot achieve. With a wider field of view and enhanced GPS capabilities, it is designed to connect to more satellites than the basic dishes.

The complete kit includes a wedge mounting kit designed for installation on vehicles and other moving objects, a power supply along with a power supply mount, a Starlink cable and an ethernet cable, and an AC cable.

Unlike most other Starlink options, the Flat High Performance dish comes with no router, allowing you to pair it with your preferred networking equipment for customized setups. This flexibility may prove valuable for specialized mobile applications with unorthodox networking requirements such as commercial RVs, construction sites, outdoor events, boats, and more.

Starlink Enterprise Dish

The Enterprise dish targets businesses and organizations with substantial connectivity demands, offering flexibility and customization options not available with consumer models.

Despite its advanced capabilities, the Enterprise dish costs $699, significantly less than the Flat High Performance model. Measuring 23.4 inches tall and 15.07 inches wide (59.4 × 38.3 cm), the Enterprise dish shares the same physical dimensions as the Standard model.

However, its similarities with consumer options end there. The Enterprise kit includes a power supply, power supply mount, an exceptionally long 164-foot enterprise cable, AC cable, ethernet cable, and mounting fasteners.

This extended cable length provides some extra flexibility for complex installations in larger buildings or campus environments where the dish and network equipment may need to be far away from each other.

What truly distinguishes the Enterprise dish is the focus on integration with existing business network infrastructure.

Unlike most Starlink products, no router comes included with the Enterprise dish. This deliberate omission allows businesses to integrate the dish into their existing networking setup or purchase a suitable router separately based on their specific needs.

For organizations that prefer Starlink's native equipment, the Enterprise dish remains compatible with all Starlink routers.

Making the right choice for your needs

Selecting the right Starlink dish boils down to how and where you plan to use it. Each model offers specific advantages tailored to different use cases.

For travelers and outdoor enthusiasts, the Mini dish provides unmatched portability. Its compact size, low weight, and power efficiency make it a great option for camping, RVs, or as a backup internet solution.

The ability to run it off portable power sources means you can stay connected virtually anywhere, provided the sky isn't blocked by anything.

For permanent home installations, the Standard (Gen 3) dish delivers the best value. Its lower hardware cost ($349) combined with the advanced Gen 3 router makes it ideal for residential users seeking reliable internet for everyday applications.

The need for manual positioning makes initial setup involved but also increases long-term reliability.

For business applications, the Enterprise dish offers flexibility and integration options essential for commercial environments. The extended cable length and compatibility with third-party networking equipment allow for seamless integration with existing systems. For businesses with substantial connectivity demands, this model provides the best balance of performance and customization.

For specialized mobile applications requiring in-motion connectivity, the Flat High Performance dish stands out. While its $2,500 price tag puts it beyond casual use, for applications where maintaining connectivity during movement is essential, no other Starlink option offers comparable capabilities.

Each Starlink dish connects to the same satellite network, but their different designs provide varying levels of connectivity, convenience, and environmental tolerance.