Starlink brings back free Mini kit perk for Residential Max plan

SpaceX has quietly restored a popular hardware perk for its satellite internet service, once again offering a free Starlink Mini rental for new customers subscribing to the top-tier Residential Max plan. The company previously removed the benefit in June but has now updated its website to include the optional kit for customers in the US and Canada.

The promotion waives the monthly hardware rental fee for the compact dish as long as the user maintains an active $130 per month Residential Max subscription. Additionally, eligible customers receive a 50% discount on the Roam plans required to operate the Mini dish for portable use.

While the return of the Mini perk offers more flexibility for premium subscribers, the company is simultaneously restricting features on its newest standard hardware. SpaceX recently updated its support documentation to confirm that the newly released Starlink V5 dish does not support the $10 per month Standby Mode.

This tier typically allows users to pause their standard service and maintain a low speed 0.5Mbps backup internet connection. The limitation means customers utilizing the smaller, more power efficient V5 terminal will not be able to downgrade to the cheaper backup tier during periods of non use. The V5 dish is currently bundled exclusively with the $55 per month Residential 100Mbps plan, omitting the GPS chip required for in-motion use and capping maximum download speeds at 375Mbps.