Roberta Aguirre
Apple Airport is a range of Wi-Fi routers, also known as Base Stations, that were developed and sold by Apple Inc. The first Apple Airport Base Station was released in 1999, with the last iteration, the sixth generation, released in 2013. Apple Airport routers were discontinued in 2018, but they continue to have a dedicated user base, with some consumers holding out for Apple to re-enter the router market.
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What You'll Learn
Apple discontinued its Airport routers in 2018
Apple Airport is a brand name for the company's Wi-Fi networking products. In April 2018, Apple announced it was discontinuing its AirPort routers, nearly 20 years after the first AirPort device launched. The AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule Wi-Fi routers were all part of this decision.
The decision to exit the wireless router business was not entirely unexpected. In November 2016, Bloomberg reported that Apple had disbanded the team responsible for developing its routers. The company had not updated its routers since 2013, and they were becoming increasingly dated, especially for their premium price.
Apple commented that it might return to the space in the future if it found a meaningful way to progress routers further. In the meantime, Apple will continue to offer bug fixes and security patches for the devices, and it will help customers obtain required parts for at least five years.
The AirPort Extreme, for example, combined the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS, as well as other functions. It recorded one of the fastest peak 802.11ac speeds at the time of its release, with an average of 578 Mbps at short range and 540 Mbps at a 10-metre distance. However, there have been complaints of the device overheating and sometimes losing signal.
The end of the AirPort line is a blow to fans of Apple's design, manufacturing, and stance on security and privacy. However, newer routers have taken design cues from Apple's now-discontinued AirPort line, adopting cleanly shaped white towers and unassuming pucks.
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Airport routers are stuck on WiFi 5
Apple Airport is a brand name for a range of Wi-Fi networking devices, including routers. The AirPort Express is a lightweight router designed for music sharing, while the AirPort Extreme is a more powerful router with additional ports and features. The Time Capsule is an AirPort Extreme with a built-in hard drive for wireless file sharing and backup.
Apple discontinued its lineup of wireless routers in 2016, exiting the router market entirely in 2018. While Apple is no longer making new AirPort devices, the company has stated that it will continue to provide hardware and software support and help customers obtain required parts for the next five years.
Despite their age, many people still use Apple Airport routers. However, one downside is that these routers are stuck on WiFi 5, while newer WiFi 6 and 6E routers have been released, and WiFi 7 is expected to be released soon. The newer versions of WiFi offer better speeds, range, device management, and security.
However, some people may not need the newer features of WiFi 6 and above. For example, if you have a limited number of wireless devices and don't require high speeds or bandwidth, an older Airport router may still meet your needs. Additionally, some people may prefer the simplicity and ease of use of the Airport routers compared to newer, more complex options.
In conclusion, while Apple Airport routers are stuck on WiFi 5, they may still be sufficient for some users who don't require the latest features and performance of newer routers.
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The Airport Extreme is a more powerful router with additional features
The Airport Extreme has gone through several design iterations, with the original 2003 model featuring a "flying saucer" shape and support for up to 50 simultaneous connections for Macs or PCs. Later generations adopted a more rectangular form factor, with the 2013 model taking on a taller, vertical design.
The Airport Extreme offers dual-band broadcasting, with theoretical throughputs of 450 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1300 Mbps on the 5GHz band. However, it only has three Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, while four ports are standard in competitive products.
Despite its advantages, Apple disbanded the team that developed the Airport Extreme and Time Capsule in 2016 and formally discontinued the products in 2018, exiting the router market. This decision was reportedly made to sharpen the company's focus on consumer products that generate the bulk of its revenue.
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The AirPort Express was a portable router that could play music
Apple AirPort is a brand name for Apple's Wi-Fi networking products. These products are known as Base Stations and include the AirPort Express, Extreme, and Time Capsule. The AirPort Express is a lightweight router designed for music sharing and was introduced by Apple as a way of streaming music from iTunes on a Mac to a Hi-Fi. The AirPort Express was also a portable router that could charge iPods and allow printers to be used wirelessly. The AirPort Express was updated in 2008 and redesigned in 2012.
The AirPort Express was not Apple's primary Wi-Fi router, a title that went to the AirPort Extreme. The AirPort Extreme is a more powerful router with additional ports and features. The AirPort Time Capsule is an AirPort Extreme with a built-in hard drive for wireless file sharing and Time Machine backup. The AirPort Extreme was released in 2003, with the second generation released in 2007, and the third, fourth, and fifth generations released in 2009 and 2011, respectively. The AirPort Extreme recorded one of the fastest peak 802.11ac speeds at 706 Mbps, with an average of 578 Mbps at short range and 540 Mbps at a 10-metre distance.
In 2016, Apple disbanded the wireless router team that developed the AirPort Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme. In 2018, Apple formally discontinued the products, exiting the router market. Apple has since discontinued developing its lineup of wireless routers, but as of 2023, continues limited hardware and software support.
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The AirPort Time Capsule was a router with a built-in hard drive
Apple AirPort is a brand name used by Apple for its Wi-Fi networking products, including routers. The AirPort Time Capsule was a router with a built-in hard drive for wireless file sharing and Time Machine backup. It was essentially an AirPort Extreme with a hard drive included. The Time Capsule was available with either a 500GB or 1TB hard drive when it was first released, with 2TB and 3TB options introduced in 2011.
The AirPort Time Capsule was part of the AirPort Extreme line of residential gateways, which also included the AirPort Express and the AirPort Extreme Base Station. The AirPort Extreme combined the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS, as well as other varied functions. The AirPort Express was a lightweight router designed for music sharing, while the AirPort Extreme was a more powerful router with additional ports and features. The AirPort Extreme Base Station was released in 2003 and supported up to 50 simultaneous users.
The AirPort Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme were discontinued by Apple in 2018, along with the rest of the AirPort line. Apple disbanded the wireless router team that developed these products in 2016, and the current AirPort Extreme model has not been updated since 2013. Despite this, Apple has continued to provide limited hardware and software support for AirPort products, and firmware updates are still available to keep them secure and functioning.
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Frequently asked questions
Apple AirPort is the brand name for Apple's Wi-Fi networking products. Apple AirPort devices, known as Base Stations, are essentially Wi-Fi routers. The last iteration of them was the sixth-generation AirPort Extreme.
There are three types of Apple AirPort: AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule. The AirPort Express is a lightweight router designed for music sharing, while the AirPort Extreme is a more powerful router with additional ports and features. The AirPort Time Capsule is an AirPort Extreme with a built-in hard drive for wireless file sharing and Time Machine backup.
Apple disbanded its wireless router team in 2016 and formally discontinued the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsule in 2018, exiting the router market.
If your internet service provider (ISP) has provided you with a modem/router or gateway device that combines the functions of a modem and router, then you do not need an Apple AirPort. However, if your provider has only furnished you with a simple modem, then you will need a router like an Apple AirPort.
