Starlink phone: Musk signals SpaceX could someday build an AI-focused handset
Elon Musk has indicated that SpaceX could eventually develop a “very different” kind of mobile device as the company explores new ways to expand Starlink beyond fixed satellite internet, including direct-to-device connectivity and other services. The comments come as SpaceX’s Starlink business becomes a central driver of the company’s revenue and growth plans, according to Reuters.
Asked on X about the prospect of a SpaceX phone, Musk said it was “not out of the question at some point,” while cautioning that any such device would not be a conventional smartphone clone. He described it as something “very different,” designed to run neural-network workloads with high energy efficiency, aligning with efforts to make devices more capable for AI applications.
Starlink phone and SpaceX’s broader Starlink expansion
SpaceX has been expanding Starlink’s role from home and enterprise broadband toward services intended to connect standard mobile phones in areas with limited terrestrial coverage. The company is pursuing “direct-to-device” connectivity, a push aimed at extending cell-like access using satellites, rather than replacing traditional mobile operators outright.
A proprietary handset, if pursued, would allow tighter integration across hardware, software and satellite connectivity, giving SpaceX more control over how devices connect, how AI features run on-device, and how power consumption is managed in challenging connectivity environments.
Starlink’s financial scale underpins new product exploration
Starlink’s growing subscriber base and satellite constellation have strengthened SpaceX’s capacity to invest in new markets. Reuters reported that Starlink accounts for a large share of SpaceX’s earnings and that the company has been evaluating several Starlink-adjacent products as it prepares for an expected IPO timeline.
Any move into smartphones would place SpaceX in direct proximity to the Apple-Google ecosystem that dominates modern handset software and app distribution. Musk has previously said he did not want to make a phone unless circumstances forced it, citing concerns about platform control and censorship. His latest remarks suggest the idea remains a contingency rather than a confirmed product roadmap.
“Stargaze” and other services tied to the Starlink constellation
Alongside consumer connectivity, SpaceX has been developing additional services that leverage Starlink’s infrastructure, including a space-tracking product referred to as “Stargaze.” The concept is to use onboard satellite sensors and cameras to monitor activity and objects in low Earth orbit, offering an additional layer of space situational awareness.
The US company’s ability to scale these services is closely tied to its next-generation launch capacity and satellite upgrades, as SpaceX works to deploy more capable satellites and expand coverage while maintaining network performance.
SpaceX has not announced a timeline for any “Starlink phone,” and Musk’s remarks did not confirm development or launch plans, but they signalled the company’s willingness to consider a handset as part of a longer-term expansion strategy.
