Apple's Discontinued Line of AirPort Wi-Fi Routers Could Return in an Unexpected Way

[MacRumors]

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 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 is reportedly aiming to make a bigger push into smart home products, with the company rumored to be planning an all-new smart home hub for release later this year. Apple is also said to be planning a HomeKit-enabled smart home camera that can connect to the hub, and together the products could serve as a home security system. If future Apple TV and/or HomePod models could effectively double as AirPort routers for Wi-Fi, that would be another way for Apple to expand its presence in the smart home market.

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.

Article Link: Apple's Discontinued Line of AirPort Wi-Fi Routers Could Return in an Unexpected Way

 

[jbachandouris]

Give me the included hard drive and SSD and I’m sold. Still rocking mine with 2TB.

 

[JPack]

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.

So does that mean iPhone 17 will take a step backward this September?

 

[tennisproha]

This is great but it would really need an sfp port to be usable with my fiber.

 

[MarkHeijnekamp]

Lets hope they also update the airport app that is automatically installed on MacBooks

 

[Dr McKay]

The guys from Apples network hardware team went and started their own networking company, their hardware and app seem very apple-like to me. I hope new Apple routers would be just as good without them.

 

[jayducharme]

I'm not sure how useful an Airport router would be these days. I loved the ones I had; they were really reliable. But now nearly every ISP gives you a decent wireless router for free. And most have a USB port for connecting a hard drive. There would need to be a bigger reason to switch to an Apple router.

 

[jent]

Yes please! I love the Apple ecosystem and the “it just works” user experience. Bring back Time Capsule backups and I’ll pay a pretty penny.

 

[xiJulian_]

Having a smart home ecosystem without a good base (router) means nothing, so I can see them making a router and I really hope they do.

 

[al256]

Apple please… sell the time capsule again.

 

[Doomtomb]

Give me the included hard drive and SSD and I’m sold. Still rocking mine with 2TB.

Sadly, I had to give mine up. IIRC the transfer speeds you can enjoy are up to 10 MB/s!

 

[johntherazz]

The Time Capsule was probably the least 'it just works' Apple product I've ever had the misfortune to squander money on, but half my friends have old AirPort Expresses hooked up to their stereos letting them AirPlay to them. They still work fine

 

[dannyyankou]

This would not surprise me. Ring’s alarm base station has a built in eero router built in. Apple TV and HomePods are already considered a home hub, so the next logical step would be to add WiFi capabilities too.

Also, I imagine this would make communication with home accessories more efficient too.

 

[alchemistmuffin]

He said the chip is "so sophisticated" that it could "theoretically" turn these devices into a wireless access point.

What I heard from industrial chatter, yes, Apple has tested this and yes, it might happen. In fact, Apple went one step further on Apple TV, they tested one with 5G chip as well. Cellular companies that offer home internet want something all in one, home tv box, internet modem and WiFi router all in one, and Apple is likely testing this solution. Of course, it could be couple years away as C series chip will need more upgrades to support stuff like Ultra Wideband and etc that is key to wireless home internet.

But as for WiFi router built into Apple TV and HomePod, might be coming as Apple wants to build something that is the ultimate home kit hub. Google and Amazon might be working on something similar and could be announced soon. (Google might announce it during this year’s Google I/O)

 

[Apple_Robert]

Grasping at straws. It won’t happen (re: separate router again).

 

[Johnny Applesuede]

I'm not sure how useful an Airport router would be these days. I loved the ones I had; they were really reliable. But now nearly every ISP gives you a decent wireless router for free. And most have a USB port for connecting a hard drive. There would need to be a bigger reason to switch to an Apple router.

If the rumor is true, I would expect Apple to emphasize easier setup and usage, tighter integration, and better security.

 

[chas_m]

I could see possibly adding a Wi-Fi repeater/booster to Apple TV/HomePods, but the majority of North Americans get a "free" Wi-Fi router from their ISP, which should cover (depending on where it's placed) up to three floors of a modest home or condo.

I don't see Apple declaring war on Comcast or the other big home internet providers. That said, improved security and ease of setup COULD hurt Netgear's "ugly mutant spider" Wi-Fi hardware sales, so I'm all for that.

 

[Exponent]

This is great but it would really need an sfp port to be usable with my fiber.

If a customer is running fiber, I don't think they'd be using an AppleTV as a wireless access point!
Those are two completely different customer bases.

 

[Olde Dave]

The Time Capsule was probably the least 'it just works' Apple product I've ever had the misfortune to squander money on, but half my friends have old AirPort Expresses hooked up to their stereos letting them AirPlay to them. They still work fine

I had the same experience. No matter what I tried I could never get mine to work. Did one exchange and the replacement had the same issues. The only Apple product I’ve ever had to return because it didn’t work for me.

 

[mk313]

I am not against this, but probably also would not switch to them. I loved my Airport Routers & used them up to last year. When mine finally died (at 10 pm on a work night & I work remotely), I had to replace them quickly. I bought a set of eeros from Amazon hat were delivered by 6 Am the next day & they work amazingly well.

The big hook for me with the airports was how simple they were to use, but I think the eeros are every bit as simple. Would be nice to see Apple get back into this, but it's a much different market than it was when they exited.

 

[novagamer]

I think this rumor is bogus and the author is grasping at straws but I want a high end airport more than almost any other product from Apple.

People have no idea how compromised most other solutions are, you basically have to get into corporate level gear before security starts to actually be what you think it is. Apple owning the entire stack / manufacturing / the assurance improvements they've made over the last decade both with dedicated hardware and software boot processes etc. would make this a very good option for consumers.

I don't think it will happen anytime soon unless the home hub integrates it which I doubt will happen, but it is something they could and should do.

 

[JimKas]

I love the concept, and can’t wait to see what they come up with.

I currently have 8 HomePod minis and 3 Apple TVs around the house. Making all of those wireless access points would allow me to dump my expensive Orbi mesh hardware.

They’ll have to come up with a way connect the Apple hardware to my modem.

Perhaps and Apple modem too???

 

[McWetty]

I would happily buy a new version of the AirPort Extreme. But I’m not sure Apple can price it to be competitive with other similar options. I’m dropping $300/AP on Firewalla AP7’s. I imagine a comparable Airport would be $400-500/AP.

 

[ThomasJL]

The guys from Apples network hardware team went and started their own networking company, their hardware and app seem very apple-like to me. I hope new Apple routes would be just as good without them.

What is the name of that networking company?

 

[Ctrlos]

Why do they not merge the Airport, Time Machine and HomePod and sell a smart speaker device with its own onboard LLM and SSD that can be used for localised backups, cache streaming media can control your smart devices without needing a server?

Apple could sell it as the ultimate privacy solution where iCloud only works as a bridge and the user has to do very little setup.