Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
While my Airport worked well enough, I always had erratic connections in a densely populated NYC neighborhood. This affected speeds and AirPlay would often skip in my 750 sq ft apartment. I recently swapped it out for a 2 pack of EERO and am absolutely floored by the difference. Te mesh networking makes the connection reliable, i no longer have buffering in Netflix on AppleTV or airplay, and my connection is a stable 100+ mbps. I will miss the time machine backup though, may just add my airport extreme on as an addition to the eero for backups.
 
I think there is some skew to these rumors.

While it's been 3 years since we've seen a new Time Capsule/Airport Extreme, wireless technology hasn't really created a need for new hardware just yet. Think about it - these are 3 years old yet still taking the gold medal from an accolades perspective.

In addition, has Apple confirmed all development has ceased? They rarely comment on anything, but this doesn't deny nor confirm facts.

I think we'll see Time Capsule's and Time Machine go away in favor of iCloud backups. And then I think the Airport Extreme technology of a wireless router will be embedded into an Apple "home device hub". This device will act as the Apple TV5, acting as the Apple TV and Wireless Router.

Later on we'll see other "home" devices that rely on this new "home device hub", similar to Amazon Echo Dots.

This is just my speculation, based on Apple moving away from HW storage and more to the cloud, and being rumored to build a "killer home device."
 
I hope Apple doesn't discontinue their AirPorts. Other than their lack of OpenVPN support, they're excellent. Before this, I'd been hoping Apple would update them (either hardware or software) with support for HomeKit automation instead of an Apple TV.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: sos47 and AlexH
This is a bit misleading. Apple router ranks highest among the old technology routers. They should include eero and other mesh networking routers. WAY BETTER experience. I know, I switch from Apple routers to mesh and am super happy. I still have the time capsule for backup, but disabled the wifi router component.
 
I think all the bloggers have overlooked the biggest reason Apple is getting out of the router biz: most every ISP in the country now, or will soon include router and wi-fi capabilities built-in as part of their modem hardware.

Hard to compete with "free"...
 
I love my Airport Extreme - it gives me great performance and the right level of control without all the zillion technical options of some of the other devices. In a personal test, an Airport Extreme and Express outperformed two Netgear Orbi's.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Robert.Walter
It's a big loss all right, but I've already moved on to eero. I was hoping Apple would enter the mesh network market to add Time Machine capability, but PROFITS PROFITS PROFITS
 
  • Like
Reactions: idunn
When will Apple fans stop "thinking inside the box" of existing products and start giving Apple the benefit of the doubt? Because even when they make great products, people find no end to their complaints.

Last time I gave Apple the benefit of the doubt they redesigned the Mac Pro into the current debacle. ie. A glossy cylinder that is in too many ways inferior to its predecessor.
 
I think all the bloggers have overlooked the biggest reason Apple is getting out of the router biz: most every ISP in the country now includes router and wi-fi capabilities as part of their required modem hardware.

Hard to compete with "free"...

Yes, I do suspect this is a factor. Satisfaction level and quantity sold are two very different things.
 
Has it occurred to anyone that there isn't any need to continue "development" of them? They are fine the way they are...if my current Airports still work 15 years from now, I'll still be using them as is.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.