Starlink has a new, smaller dish that consumes less power

SpaceX has launched Starlink V5, a satellite internet kit that comes with a smaller dish that's also more power-efficient than its predecessor.

If you're hoping for faster downloads, stop right there: Internet speeds have actually gone down a little: from 400+ Mbps to 375+ Mbps.

Still, the V5 dish has a significantly lower footprint than the V4 version, and it's also lighter than before. The V4's dimensions are 594 x 383 x 39.7 mm, while the V5 is 384 x 306 x 34 mm. The new version weighs just 1.1 kg, while the old one was nearly triple that at 2.9 kg.

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The difference in size and weight shows why the Starlink V4 dish, which was launched in 2023, needed an upgrade.

As for power consumption, the V4 version used an average of 75 - 100 W, while the new one is far more efficient at 35 - 50 W.

Starlink V5 kit is available in "select areas" in the U.S. starting today. There's no details on which areas these are, but the company did say that as production ramps up, Starlink V5 will be available in "additional areas."

Notably, SpaceX points out that Starlink V5 is not intended for in-motion use; for that, you'll have to wait for the new Starlink Mini kit, which the SpaceX CEO Elon Musk briefly demoed in June.