Gene Munster says SpaceX’s spectrum push could eventually lead to a smartphone, raising competitive questions for Apple and Samsung

Apple and other handset makers may eventually face competition not just in phones, but in the communications pipe that connects them, investor Gene Munster said, pointing to SpaceX’s agreement to acquire nationwide low-band spectrum.

Munster, speaking in the context of Starlink hardware and connectivity, argued that Elon Musk “eventually” will make a phone, despite the CEO’s prior statements indicating he does not want to build one. In Munster’s view, the growth of Starlink-connected devices could become a “bigger problem” for Apple and Samsung than most mobile observers currently anticipate.

The comment comes as SpaceX moves to secure spectrum coverage that can carry wireless services more broadly, rather than limiting them to a satellite-only model. Low-band spectrum is typically valued because it can travel farther and penetrate buildings more effectively than higher-frequency bands, which can improve coverage for mobile-style connectivity.

Munster’s assessment frames Starlink not simply as a satellite internet service but as the platform for a wider set of consumer and potentially mobile experiences. If Starlink’s device strategy evolves in ways that bring users onto a network path that is competitive with traditional cellular carriers and phone-centric distribution, the industry’s competitive balance could shift.

For Apple, the risk is less about a new brand name showing up on a store shelf and more about control of the connectivity experience. Apple’s iPhone business depends on mobile services access that is, in most markets, anchored in carrier relationships, roaming agreements, and handset capabilities that can interoperate with existing networks.

For Samsung, similar concerns apply. Even if a handset remains the focal point for consumers, the underlying “system” for getting messages, calls, and data reliably into devices can determine customer switching costs and the pace of feature adoption.

Munster’s argument rests on speculation about a future product direction, and the public comments described in the report do not detail any near-term timeline for a SpaceX phone. The post also does not lay out specific technical plans for how Starlink would integrate into smartphone operating systems, modems, or app ecosystems, or whether a device would be positioned as a standalone phone or as a complement to existing handsets.

What to watch next is whether SpaceX’s spectrum move translates into commercial services or device announcements that more closely resemble mainstream mobile offerings. If Starlink-connected products broaden beyond its current role and begin to compete directly with carriers and handset functions, Apple and Samsung may need to reassess how much differentiation depends on hardware alone versus end-to-end connectivity.