Uh oh, SpaceX has suddenly increased the price for a Starlink Wi-Fi router by 150%.
On Thursday, users spotted the official Starlink shop posting the new $100 price for the “Router Mini,” which used to sell for a mere $40.
The Router Mini was launched last year as an affordable way to increase the Wi-Fi range of a Starlink dish. But the $100 price is already making consumers think twice about purchasing the product. The older, but more powerful Gen 3 Router continues to sell for $120. It’s also bundled with the standard Starlink dish.
(Starlink.com)
SpaceX didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. But the price increase might be related to the ongoing memory shortage. Counterpoint Research warned last month that the rising prices for DRAM and NAND flash are not only affecting smartphones, but also routers and gateways.
“The prices for ‘consumer memory’-based broadband products jumped almost 7x. Routers are hit the hardest, especially for OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) with an unsecured supply and weaker negotiating power,” Counterpoint wrote. “Memory is now contributing more than 20% of the total bill of materials (BOM) in low-to-mid-end routers, up from around 3% exactly a year ago.”
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That said, SpaceX hasn’t released technical specs for the Router Mini, making it unclear how much memory it uses. Still, we also wonder if SpaceX is increasing the product’s price to offset how the company has been offering the Router Mini as a free perk to customers on the re-branded Residential Max plan, which was introduced in January. The official Starlink shop also briefly de-listed the Router Mini before re-opening sales, but at the $100 price.
The good news is that the Router Mini remains available on Amazon for $40, although it looks like it’ll take over a week for the shipment to arrive.
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About Our Experts
Brian Westover
Principal Writer, Hardware
Experience
From the laptops on your desk to satellites in space and AI that seems to be everywhere, I cover many topics at PCMag. I’ve covered PCs and technology products for over 15 years at PCMag and other publications, among them Tom’s Guide, Laptop Mag, and TWICE. As a hardware reviewer, I’ve handled dozens of MacBooks, 2-in-1 laptops, Chromebooks, and the latest AI PCs. As the resident Starlink expert, I’ve done years of hands-on testing with the satellite service. I also explore the most valuable ways to use the latest AI tools and features in our Try AI column.
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Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
Experience
I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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