Ruth Haines
Apple Airport is a discontinued line of wireless routers and network cards that were developed by Apple Inc. using Wi-Fi protocols. The original AirPort Base Station was released in 1999, with an update in 2001 that added a second Ethernet port to the device. The AirPort Extreme, a later version of the AirPort Base Station, was released in 2003 and featured 802.11g wireless technology. The AirPort Time Capsule, a variant with a built-in hard disk for automated backups, and the AirPort Express, a compact router, were also part of the AirPort line. While the AirPort routers offered sufficient speed and connectivity, they were more expensive than other routers with similar specifications and failed to keep up with advancements in the market. Apple disbanded its wireless router team in 2016 and formally discontinued the AirPort line in 2018, exiting the router market.
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What You'll Learn
- Apple discontinued its AirPort line in 2018
- AirPort Extreme is a line of residential gateways that combine the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS
- AirPort routers are stuck on WiFi 5, while WiFi 6 and 6E have been released
- AirPort Express can be used as a portable travel router, audio streaming device, and USB printer-sharing device
- AirPort Time Capsule is a version of AirPort Extreme with a built-in hard drive
Apple discontinued its AirPort line in 2018
The AirPort Extreme is a line of residential gateways made by Apple that combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS, as well as other functions. While the AirPort Extreme was well-loved for its simplicity and design, Apple discontinued its AirPort line in 2018, exiting the router market.
The death of Apple's router business had been a long time coming, with Bloomberg reporting in 2016 that Apple had disbanded the team responsible for developing its routers. The company's AirPort line was also becoming increasingly dated, especially for its premium price, without a mesh tri-band system available. Apple's decision to leave the business was "a boon for other wireless router makers," according to Bloomberg News.
Apple commented that the company might return to the space in the future if it finds a meaningful way to progress routers further. In the meantime, Apple is pointing customers to AirPort alternatives, such as eero, which offers the best app experience for set-up and management.
While Apple no longer sells its AirPort products, customers can still expect support for years to come, although not indefinitely. Apple will also continue to offer bug fixes and security patches for the devices.
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AirPort Extreme is a line of residential gateways that combine the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS
Over the years, Apple has released several updated versions of the AirPort Extreme, with the latest model being the 6th generation, which supports 802.11ac networking. This latest version also includes three-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology, offering a maximum data rate of 1.3 Gbit/s, which is nearly three times faster than its predecessor.
The AirPort Extreme base station can serve a maximum of 50 wireless clients simultaneously and includes features such as AirPort Disk, which allows users to plug a USB hard drive into the AirPort Extreme for use as a network-attached storage (NAS) device. Additionally, users can connect a USB hub, printer, and other devices to the base station. However, it is important to note that the performance of USB hard drives attached to an AirPort Extreme may be slower than if connected directly to a computer due to processor speed differences.
In 2016, Apple disbanded the team that developed the AirPort wireless routers, and in 2018, the company formally discontinued the product line, exiting the consumer router market. Despite this, Apple continues to provide limited hardware and software support for the AirPort Extreme as of 2023.
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AirPort routers are stuck on WiFi 5, while WiFi 6 and 6E have been released
Apple's AirPort Extreme is a line of residential gateways that combine the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS, along with other functions. The latest model, the 6th generation, supports 802.11ac networking, which is also known as WiFi 5.
While the AirPort Extreme offers a simple and aesthetically pleasing design, it has not been updated in almost a decade. In 2016, Apple disbanded the team that developed the AirPort Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme router, and in 2018, Apple formally discontinued both products, exiting the router market.
Since then, WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E have been released, offering faster speeds, lower latencies, and greater spectrum availability. WiFi 6E, in particular, utilizes the 6GHz band, which provides additional non-overlapping channels to reduce congestion. However, it is important to note that WiFi 6E is still tangled in regulatory approvals, and the signal range of 6GHz routers is currently limited, especially when compared to 2.4GHz and 5GHz routers.
If you are in the market for a new router and want something future-proof, you may want to consider a WiFi 6 or 6E model, as they offer improved performance and capacity. However, it is worth considering that WiFi 6 is not a significant upgrade over WiFi 5 in terms of speed, and the benefits may not be noticeable unless you have a large number of connected devices or are experiencing wireless congestion.
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AirPort Express can be used as a portable travel router, audio streaming device, and USB printer-sharing device
The AirPort Express is a versatile device that can be used for various purposes, including as a portable travel router, an audio streaming device, and a USB printer-sharing device.
When used as a travel router, the AirPort Express allows you to connect to the internet when you are away from home. It can be easily set up by connecting it to an available port on your router and following the configuration process. This makes it ideal for those who need internet access on multiple devices while travelling.
As an audio streaming device, the AirPort Express excels at providing high-quality, bit-perfect audio streaming from the internet to your audio system. It is known for its rock-solid connectivity and absence of sonic issues, ensuring a seamless listening experience.
Additionally, the AirPort Express can be used to share a USB printer over a network. By connecting your printer to the AirPort Express and then to your Mac or PC, you can access the printer from any device on the network, making it convenient for multiple users to utilise a single printer.
The AirPort Express is a powerful tool that offers not just routing capabilities but also enhances your audio and printing experiences, all while maintaining a portable and compact form factor.
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AirPort Time Capsule is a version of AirPort Extreme with a built-in hard drive
The AirPort Time Capsule is a version of the AirPort Extreme with a built-in hard drive. Apple introduced the AirPort Time Capsule on January 15, 2008, and released it on February 29, 2008. The device has been upgraded several times, with the latest model, introduced in 2013, featuring 802.11ac and a 3 TB hard drive.
The AirPort Time Capsule combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS, as well as other functions. The built-in hard drive allows for automatic wireless backup of system and files, eliminating the need for an external backup drive. This backup feature is Apple's Time Machine, which creates hourly images of files being changed and condenses backup images as they get older to save space.
The AirPort Time Capsule has several versions, including flat square ones and the tall rectangular brick-like version, which has more capacity. The 5th-generation Time Capsule, released in 2013, features a name change to AirPort Time Capsule and a redesign with smaller square dimensions and increased height. The 2013 models feature the same I/O ports on the back as previous generations and come in the same capacities as the 4th-generation models.
The AirPort Time Capsule provides a convenient and automatic wireless backup solution for Apple users, but it has faced some challenges with hard drive failures and expandability concerns. In 2016, Apple disbanded its wireless router development team, and in 2018, the company discontinued the AirPort Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme, exiting the router market.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, your Apple AirPort is a router.
AirPort is a discontinued line of wireless routers and network cards developed by Apple Inc. using Wi-Fi protocols.
Apple disbanded its wireless router team in 2016 and discontinued the AirPort line in 2018, exiting the router market.
Yes, you can still use your Apple AirPort router. Apple still provides firmware updates to keep them secure and functioning.
