Starlink’s Mesh Makeover: New $40 Router Mini + Gen 3 Router Price Drop

Starlink is giving its mesh WiFi lineup a makeover, launching a brand new $40 router and slashing the price of their flagship Gen 3 router by 33%. Expanding your Starlink WiFi coverage has never been more affordable, but now you have a tough decision to make.

New $40 “Router Mini” Launched

The first part of Starlink’s new mesh strategy is the affordable “Router Mini”. Recently launched in the Starlink shop for just $40, it’s an inexpensive way to add WiFi coverage to your home. The Router Mini costs about the same as a WiFi extender or booster, but has much better performance and is easier to set up.

The Router Mini lives up to its name, measuring just 5.4” x 3.3” x 1” (138 x 83.6 x 27 mm). That’s about the same footprint as a modern smartphone. Inside you get dual-band WiFi 6 technology that covers around 1,200 sq ft. On the outside you will find a WAN port, LAN port, power input, and a factory reset button. The Router Mini comes with a removable stand that can also be used as a wall mount.

On the front you’ll find the familiar Starlink logo, which depicts an orbital transfer ellipse from Earth to Mars. I wrote about the Starlink logo in my post 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Starlink. There is also a status LED in the lower left corner.

Despite being called the Router Mini, this new mesh WiFi router isn’t exclusively for the Starlink Mini antenna. The Router Mini can easily pair with other Starlink routers in a wired or wireless mesh configuration. It can also pair with the Mini’s internal WiFi router. Adding a Router Mini to your Starlink network is an easy way to add WiFi coverage to stubborn areas that aren’t getting a good signal from the main router.

Check out my Starlink Mesh Guide for more information on pairing and setting up a Starlink mesh network.

Gen 3 Mesh Router Price Drop

Starlink’s mesh makeover also involves a significant price drop for the flagship Gen 3 Mesh Router. Originally launched at $199, the Gen 3 router is now just $80 in the Starlink shop. That’s the second price reduction this year, down 33% from the $120 price we’ve seen for the past several weeks.

The Gen 3 Mesh Router is aging at this point, but the specs are still acceptable in 2025. It’s a tri-band WiFi 6 router with an impressive 3,200 sq ft of coverage. In my Gen 3 router review, I got 4 times the WiFi speeds compared to the older Starlink Gen 2 router. The Gen 3 router can act as the main router in your Starlink system, or it can pair as a mesh access point in a wired or wireless configuration.

At just $80, the Gen 3 router offers an affordable way to increase the WiFi coverage in your home. It’s also a good upgrade for older Starlink systems, bringing the WiFi technology up to modern standards.

Router Mini vs Gen 3 Mesh Router

With all Starlink routers now priced under $100, customers looking for affordable mesh WiFi will have a tough decision to make. Do you get the Router Mini for $40, or spend extra and go for the flagship Gen 3 Mesh Router?

The Router Mini is intended for small spaces and low demand WiFi networks. It’s a great choice for extending WiFi to a corner room or garage. The tradeoff for the low price is a weaker WiFi antenna, which covers significantly less area compared to the full size Starlink routers. It’s also dual-band instead of tri-band, meaning wireless mesh performance will not be as good compared to the Gen 3 router.

With the Gen 3 router you pay twice the money, but get nearly triple the WiFi coverage compared to the Router Mini. The Gen 3 router is best for larger homes and Wifi networks with a lot of devices connecting simultaneously. The additional mesh Wifi band improves wireless mesh backhaul, allowing for better speeds and connection reliability between mesh nodes.

Here’s how I would decide: If you just need to cover an extra room, or want a better travel router for your Starlink Mini, get the Router Mini. If you need to cover a larger area, or you want to upgrade an older Starlink router, get the Gen 3 router. If your situation is more complex than that, feel free to leave a comment below and I will try to help you out. You can also post your question in my new Starlink forum.

How is Starlink Lowering Prices?

I’m excited about Starlink lowering prices on their mesh WiFi routers. It makes them extremely competitive, and a great value compared to aftermarket alternatives. But it got me thinking, how in the heck are they lowering prices at a time when most companies are doing the opposite with technology?

Part of the answer is on the regulatory label on the back of every Starlink router. Starlink still manufacturers the antennas in the USA. They used to make the WiFi routers here, too. But Starlink has recently started expanding the manufacturing of some accessories overseas, to places like Vietnam, Thailand, and even China.

The Gen 3 routers that I own are all made in the USA. I purchased them in late 2023 and early 2024. But if you buy a Starlink Gen 3 router today, you’ll notice that it’s now made in Vietnam. The same goes for the Router Mini. By moving production overseas, Starlink can save quite a bit of money on manufacturing. Perhaps they are passing the savings on to customers by reducing prices.

One wildcard is the ongoing tariff situation. Imports of Starlink routers from Vietnam currently face 10% tariffs, but that could soon increase to nearly 50% in July. If that happens, it would certainly cause Starlink to adjust pricing, or move manufacturing for some markets.

Final Thoughts

I find myself saying this a lot, but it’s a good time to be a Starlink customer. You now have two affordable options to expand your WiFi coverage. The $40 Router Mini is great for covering smaller areas, while the $80 Gen 3 Mesh Router is suited for larger homes and more demanding WiFi networks.

Stay tuned for my full Router Mini review that’s coming in a few weeks. If you aren’t already signed up, join my email newsletter to have new articles sent directly to your inbox!