Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, has begun shipping Router 4, its first Wi-Fi 7 router, to new residential customers in the United States and Canada. The company confirmed the rollout on November 6, according to Notebookcheck, two months after it first showed the hardware on September 9.
Key facts
- Notebookcheck reports that Router 4 now comes bundled with Starlink V4 Kits on the Residential 200 Mbps and Residential Max plans, with orders open through Starlink’s residential sign-up page; the same outlet says those plans previously shipped the Standard 4X kit with Router 3.
- Notebookcheck says Starlink rates the router for indoor coverage of up to 325 m² (3,500 sq ft) and up to 510 simultaneously connected devices.
- According to the same report, it uses tri-band radios spread across the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, with one radio dedicated to mesh traffic and no 6 GHz radio.
- Notebookcheck describes the outgoing Router 3 as a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 unit rated for 297 m² (3,200 sq ft) and up to 235 devices.
- In the US, Residential 200 Mbps costs $85 a month and Residential Max $130 a month following a June price increase, Notebookcheck reports.
- SpaceX received FCC authorization for the router, model UTR-261, in August, the same report says.
Why it matters
Until this launch, Starlink had relied on Wi-Fi 6 hardware across its entire router line-up, Notebookcheck reports. Set the two spec sheets the outlet publishes side by side and the coverage rating grows by about 9% while the supported device count more than doubles — arithmetic from those published figures, not a comparison Notebookcheck itself draws.
That makes the device ceiling, rather than the coverage area, the substantive change for households: a satellite internet subscriber running cameras, smart plugs and streaming boxes off one router gains far more headroom than the extra 300 sq ft suggests. The gain is also restricted to people signing up now, which turns the router into a sweetener for new orders in the two markets where Starlink’s consumer pricing has moved most recently. The company has cut 30% off its Residential and Roam plans in Canada, while in the US it has introduced dynamic pricing that can reach $156 a month.
Notebookcheck notes that the missing 6 GHz band is the one many rival Wi-Fi 7 routers rely on for their widest channels and fastest wireless links. On that basis Router 4 sits at the conservative end of the Wi-Fi 7 equipment now being marketed to home broadband customers — a reading of the published specifications rather than a comparison either outlet makes.
What is in the box
Router 4 supports the 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be standards and pairs a 4×4 antenna setup on 2.4 GHz with a 4×5 setup on 5 GHz, alongside MU-MIMO, OFDMA, WPA2 and WPA3, Notebookcheck reports. Wired connectivity runs through two Ethernet ports with water-resistant covers, both of which support Power over Ethernet. The unit weighs 0.4 kg and is designed for indoor use only.
What Starlink has not said
Starlink has not published a standalone price for Router 4 or a router-only upgrade route for existing subscribers, according to Notebookcheck. The outlet adds that the shipping announcement left out the Residential 100 Mbps tier, Roam and business plans, and that a separate free kit offer for owners of first-generation dishes still lists Router 3 rather than the new model. Starlink availability beyond the United States and Canada has not been announced.
From September reveal to shipping
Starlink first announced Router 4 on September 9, 2026, calling it the first router in its range built around a Wi-Fi 7 chipset and aimed at streaming, gaming and everyday home use. In the company’s words, as quoted by Tesla North: “Router 4 is the first Starlink router with a Wi-Fi 7 chipset, built for streaming, gaming, and everyday use.”
Tesla North reported that the post framed Router 4 as a hardware step-up for residential kits rather than a dish redesign, pointed customers to an email sign-up for Starlink availability updates, and promised the unit “soon in select areas.” The outlet placed the announcement alongside other Starlink connectivity news at the time, including kit for 6,000 rural schools across Argentina.
The two reports differ slightly on regulatory timing. Notebookcheck dates the FCC authorization for model UTR-261 to August, while Tesla North said SpaceX secured US equipment authorization for a Wi-Fi 7 Starlink router “earlier this summer,” after the FCC gave the company a temporary path to keep selling some foreign-made Wi-Fi gear. Tesla North described the September 9 marketing post as the first clear consumer-facing name tied to that next-generation Wi-Fi hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Starlink dishes work with Router 4?
Starlink’s support documentation lists Router 4 as compatible with the Standard 4, Standard 4X, Starlink Mini, Performance (Gen 1) and the original Standard Circular dish, according to Notebookcheck. The same report says owners of Gen 2 kits can run Router 4 as their Wi-Fi router by adding a Starlink Ethernet adapter and switching the Gen 2 router to bypass mode.
How is Router 4 powered, and does it come with a plug?
Notebookcheck reports that Router 4 can draw power through its WAN connection or over USB-C, and that both of its Ethernet ports support Power over Ethernet. On Starlink’s Dual PoE kits, including the Standard 4 Upgrade Kit, the router acts as the main Wi-Fi router and takes power from the Dual PoE supply; that Upgrade Kit does not include a wall power brick.
Will Router 4 make my Starlink connection faster?
Notebookcheck notes that Residential Max advertises download speeds above 400 Mbps and Residential 200 Mbps caps downloads at 200 Mbps, and that both figures sit well below what Wi-Fi 7 hardware can carry. On that basis the outlet says the satellite link, not the router, is the limit on peak speeds.
Is Router 4 available in Zimbabwe or anywhere else in Africa?
Neither report names any market outside the United States and Canada. Notebookcheck says the November 6 shipping confirmation covered new residential customers in those two countries, and Tesla North reported that Starlink’s September 9 announcement did not publish a full country list, a price or a firm ship date.
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