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AirPort Base Stations: Will Apple Ever Return to Wi-Fi Router Market?

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Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Apple offered a line of Wi-Fi routers that it referred to as AirPort base stations. There was a standard AirPort Express, a higher-end AirPort Extreme with more advanced networking features, and an AirPort Time Capsule that doubled as an external storage drive for backing up a Mac with Time Machine.

Apple AirPort Routers
A few days ago, Apple added a few more AirPort models to its obsolete products list, which reignited discussion about the products.

The big question: Will Apple ever return to the Wi-Fi router market?

Apple discontinued the AirPort line in 2018, but the company could return to the Wi-Fi router market in an unexpected way in the future.

Back in December, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple was developing its own Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip that will debut in new Apple TV and HomePod mini models later this year. He said the chip is "so sophisticated" that it could "theoretically" turn these devices into a wireless access point. However, it is unclear if Apple will actually follow through with that idea, so temper your expectations for the time being.

Apple's chip will support Wi-Fi 6E, according to Gurman, whereas the final AirPort models supported what is now known as Wi-Fi 5. However, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu believes the chip will actually support Wi-Fi 7.

It remains to be seen if the Apple TV and HomePod actually become Wi-Fi routers, but Apple is seemingly developing technology that allows for it.

Top Rated Comments

D
darngooddesign
10 months ago
I wish they would.
Score: 44 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
turbineseaplane
10 months ago
Probably not, and it bums me out.

There's something to be said for the simplicity and control via software (Apple App) they offered.

It was a very polished offering that I really enjoyed.
I only stopped using my Airport Extreme about 2 years ago.

It's still sitting over to my right as I type this.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
Ctrlos
10 months ago
1. Build in an SSD and resurrect the Time Machine.

2. Let us localised wireless backups and take ownership of our data from cloud services.

3. Let it act as a home NAS as well, caching your music library for local lossless or preloading movies for streaming when the network is busy.

4. Sell multiple of them to customers to RAID the storage so if one gets hacked the rest cut it off preventing data access.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
E
Etc_
10 months ago

They should've bought Ubiquity and really up their game for enterprise networking and compute offering but not VR is more important.
God, please no. The last thing we need is another company for Apple to slowly suffocate through neglect and poor management, leaving nothing behind, exactly what’s happening to Pixelmator right now.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
turbineseaplane
10 months ago
I'm honestly really surprised they've stayed away from this given the pricing I've seen on some mesh systems.

Some of these systems are nearly $2k ... at that price, surely Apple could figure out how to make it something worth their time?




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Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
211 Avatar
211
10 months ago
If the rumours are true that Apple will finally focus on the home, this is a big missed opportunity, especially when they had done WiFi networks before.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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