How good is AirPort Extreme as router in 2022?

[dumastudetto]

We still use a cluster of AirPort Extremes across our entire enterprise. They seamlessly integrate with all our Apple devices to provide immersive connectivity experiences. Speed and security is all best-in-class.

Everything is connected wirelessly too, so we can roam freely around our office space for ultra productivity.

 

[FirDerrig33]

I love the AP extremes and expresses. right now it's only extremes (Ac ones for the actual internet) and the N ones to work as ethernet switches. it's awesome. One day I'll set up my expresses to make a whole home music streaming funhouse like Sonos but cheaper.

 

[diamond.g]

I sometimes miss using my AirPort Extremes, switched to Ubiquiti when I wanted to do a home security system (that didn't rely on external connectivity).

 

[pullman]

Once we get our fiber connection I'll be wiring a second AEBS to the top floor to improve connectivity.

 

[EugW]

I finally stopped using my AirPort Extreme as a router. Now I just use my several AirPort Extremes as access points, and let my internet gateway be the router, the reason being I just moved up to a 10 GbE Mac mini M4 on 1.9 Gbps internet service. Most of my home network backbone is still Gigabit, and that's what the AirPort Extremes hang off of, but there is a dedicated CAT6* line going from the modem in the basement to the Mac mini in the home office on the second floor.

I still love the AirPorts Extremes as access points though, since they're so stable and they work so well with Apple devices, even brand new ones (like recent iPhones, my iPad Pro M4, etc.). So, over the years, I've been slowly collecting them cheap on the used market to build out the coverage on my large and oddly shaped house, and to build out the WiFi network into the backyard too. Here is my current setup:

I've actually run outdoor CAT6 into the yard into the cabane and to the gazebo. Fortunately, the guy who built the house ran power to both. The two AirPort Extremes work just fine through our Canadian winters.

*I had two runs from the basement to the 2nd floor home office, one being CAT5e and the other being CAT6. My M1 Mac mini was running off the CAT5e fine on Gigabit. After I swapped in the 10 GbE M4 Mac mini, it initially negotiated fine at 2.5 Gbps, but I noticed it later dropped down to 1 Gbps. I've since switched it over to the CAT6 line to ensure stability of the connection.

 

[pullman]

That's a very nice setup. They're so inexpensive these days that it's tempting to buy more. Our house currently doesn't motivate it for me though. A few years ago I tried one of those tall Extremes but strangely enough that resulted in much worse coverage and speeds in our house so I returned it and reinstalled the square AEBS which is rock solid and has good reach.

I finally stopped using my AirPort Extreme as a router. Now I just use my several AirPort Extremes as access points, and let my internet gateway be the router, the reason being I just moved up to a 10 GbE Mac mini M4 on 1.9 Gbps internet service. Most of my home network backbone is still Gigabit, and that's what the AirPort Extremes hang off of, but there is a dedicated CAT6* line going from the modem in the basement to the Mac mini in the home office on the second floor.

I still love the AirPorts Extremes at access points though, since they're so stable and they work so well with Apple devices, even brand new ones (like recent iPhones, my iPad Pro M4, etc.). So, over the years, I've been slowly collecting them cheap on the used market to build out the coverage on my large and oddly shaped house, and to build out the WiFi network into the backyard too. Here is my current setup:

View attachment 2450447

I've actually run outdoor CAT6 into the yard into the cabane and to the gazebo. Fortunately, the guy who built the house ran power to both. The two AirPort Extremes work just fine through our Canadian winters.

*I had two runs from the basement to the 2nd floor home office, one being CAT5e and the other being CAT6. My M1 Mac mini was running off the CAT5e fine on Gigabit. After I swapped in the 10 GbE M4 Mac mini, it initially negotiated fine at 2.5 Gbps, but I noticed it later dropped down to 1 Gbps. I've since switched it over to the CAT6 line to ensure stability of the connection.

 

[Che Castro]

anybody still using one in 2025 ?

im tempted to go back to them , i have 2 of the last airport extremes
my current router is a wifi 6E wyze router pro that i dont really like , i bought a wyze router because it was the cheapest "mesh" at the time

 

[iAssimilated]

Still using mine (A1521) and have a backup in case it dies. Still works perfectly for my setup.

 

[erihp]

I’ve got airport expresses on my network still, but just for wired airplay 2 support in every room, no radios on or routing happening on them.

 

[Lioness~]

Both the Extremes and Expresses were really, really great, for some distant time ago.

The Extremes I left many years ago, when they became way too slow, unfortunately.
But I threw away my last Express just recently, but thanked Steve and the Express dearly for its very long and great service 🥲
My new Pioneer Bluetoth speakers are a few decades better though, then the express+some old speakers, in every way, so just a big bonus.

But the Steve era and its products was so fabulous!

 

[erihp]

Both the Extremes and Expresses were really, really great, for some distant time ago.

The Extremes I left many years ago, when they became way too slow, unfortunately.
But I threw away my last Express just recently, but thanked Steve and the Express dearly for its very long and great service 🥲
My new Pioneer Bluetoth speakers are a few decades better though, then the express+some old speakers, in every way, so just a big bonus.

But the Steve era and its products was so fabulous!

those expresses are still sought after! gen 2 anyway. you threw it away???

airplay 2 beats bluetooth in every way

 

[Lioness~]

those expresses are still sought after! gen 2 anyway. you threw it away???

airplay 2 beats bluetooth in every way

It died, belive me we tried tio resurrect it - but as I recall it was the same story with tho other one I had that gave up maybe ~2 years ago.
I am really pleased with the BT Speaker I got though, instead of the old speakers and airplay.

Have no idea what gen mine was, but I would assume gen 1 - and I was thrilled of my purchase and how it worked at that time.

 

[erihp]

It died, belive me we tried tio resurrect it - but as I recall it was the same story with tho other one I had that gave up maybe ~2 years ago.
I am really pleased with the BT Speaker I got though, instead of the old speakers and airplay.

Have no idea what gen mine was, but I would assume gen 1 - and I was thrilled of my purchase and how it worked at that time.

gen 1 has the power prongs built into the device and only supports airplay 1, gen 2 has a power cord and supports airplay 2.

gen 1 rightfully belongs in the trash.

 

[pullman]

Still using mine (A1408). I connected it with ethernet to the ISP's box and it easily covers our entire house and serves three iPhones, two Mac Pros, three MacBooks and an ATV4k. I have a second one which I'll connect by wire to improve the speeds (not the coverage) on the third floor, but haven't got around to that yet.

It's a brilliant utterly stable router, imho.

 

[Herbit]

I'm still using mine. Think about upgrading now, because I have a new MacBook Pro which supports WIFI 6E. I just moved the TimeMachine drive to a linux server I think about replacing the AirPort Extreme with an Ubiquiti UniFi 7 Lite. For LAN I have the cable modem router (which crappy WIFI is disabled).

 

[Boyd01]

Still using mine in just the same way as I posted in 2022.

 

[Che Castro]

does the apple airport extreme AC get any more security updates from apple ?

like when a big security risk is out there

 

[FirDerrig33]

I'm still using mine almost the same way I was in October of 2024. Now though I have 5 "new" extremes and using 3 prevgen extremes as wired switches for older machines. Basically I only use WiFi for devices that require it. And as long as my internet bandwidth doesn't match or exceed what the extremes can handle; then I'm good.

I am also hoping that Apple will get back into the router business. I don't have any evidence of this of course but I think with how well all of their devices connect and their support for modern and faster connections; I think it could be profitable. Maybe one central Home Device to rule them all? That would be cool.

 

[Che Castro]

I decided to go back to 2 AirPort Extremes AC version That I had laying around
From 1 Wyze 6e router
Both AE are in different rooms connected using Ethernet

I did a Speedtest before and after changing routers and I’m getting the same numbers on both Ethernet and WiFi

So I will keep using the AirPort Extreme maybe until I get a WiFi 7 router in the future