Owais Crawford
Apple's AirPort Extreme was a Wi-Fi router that offered sufficient speed and connectivity for most households. However, it was discontinued in 2018 and is no longer supported by Apple. While some users have praised its reliability and ease of setup, others have criticised its performance and lack of standout features compared to other routers on the market. With the availability of more advanced and affordable alternatives, it may not be the best option for those seeking a high-performance router. However, for Apple enthusiasts seeking a simple and stable solution, the AirPort Extreme could still be a viable choice.
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What You'll Learn
Apple Airport Extreme's discontinuation
Apple's AirPort Extreme was a line of residential gateways that combined the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, NAS, and other functions. The first AirPort Extreme Base Station was released in 1999, with an update in 2001 that added a second Ethernet port to the device. The first AirPort Extreme was announced in 2003, featuring 802.11g wireless technology. The AirPort Extreme went through several upgrades and three distinct physical forms over the years, with the latest model supporting 802.11ac networking.
In 2016, Apple disbanded the wireless router team responsible for developing the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsule. This decision was made to sharpen the company's focus on consumer products that generated the bulk of its revenue. In 2018, Apple formally discontinued the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsule, exiting the router market.
Despite never being best sellers, the AirPort Extreme routers were well-regarded for their ease of setup, attractive design, reliability, and consistent speeds. Some users have expressed disappointment in Apple's decision to discontinue the AirPort line, considering it a critical part of their home networks and a missed opportunity for Apple to support a key component of people's home internet.
While Apple no longer sells the AirPort Extreme, it continues to provide limited hardware and software support for the product as of 2023.
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Apple Airport Extreme's speed and connectivity
Apple's AirPort Extreme is a line of residential gateways that combine the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, NAS, and other functions. The latest model, the 6th generation, supports 802.11ac networking, which offers faster speeds and improved connectivity compared to older standards.
The 6th generation AirPort Extreme features three-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology with a maximum data rate of 1.3 Gbit/s. This is nearly three times faster than the previous 802.11n standard. The 802.11ac standard also provides support for IPv6 tunnel mode and allows for faster data transfer speeds, improved range, and better performance in congested areas.
In terms of connectivity, the AirPort Extreme can serve up to 50 users simultaneously, making it suitable for small offices or large households. It also supports Gigabit Ethernet, allowing for faster wired connections. Additionally, the AirPort Extreme can be used with a 10 Gbps switch, which will not bottleneck local traffic and only affects traffic that passes through it.
While the AirPort Extreme offers sufficient speed and connectivity for most users, it has been criticized for not standing out compared to other routers on the market. Other routers may offer faster speeds and improved performance at a lower price point. However, the AirPort Extreme is known for its ease of use and setup, as well as its relatively attractive design.
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Apple Airport Extreme's price
Apple's AirPort Extreme was discontinued in 2018, so you will not be able to buy a brand-new one directly from Apple. However, you can still find them on sites like Amazon and eBay, either new or refurbished. On Amazon, you can find a refurbished AirPort Extreme Base Station ME918LL/A for a lower price, which is inspected, tested, and refurbished to work and look like new. It comes with a 90-day warranty and offers ultrafast 802.11ac Wi-Fi with data rates of up to 1.3 Gbps.
On eBay, the price of the AirPort Extreme is determined by a machine-learned model of the product's sale prices within the last 90 days. While eBay does not list specific prices, they do offer various listings for the 5th Generation AirPort Extreme.
It is important to note that the AirPort Extreme was considered more expensive than other routers with similar specifications when it was still being sold by Apple. However, some customers still found it worth the price, citing its signal strength, speed, and ease of setup.
If you are considering purchasing a refurbished or second-hand AirPort Extreme, it is essential to keep in mind that it may not perform as well as newer routers on the market. Additionally, being an older product, it may not offer the same level of technical support or warranty as newer alternatives.
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Apple Airport Extreme's ease of setup
Apple's AirPort Extreme is known for its ease of setup. Users have described the setup process as "trouble-free" and "easy to use and set up". The AirPort Utility Setup Assistant is an automated setup process that chooses settings based on your network. If no network is found, the setup assistant creates a new network. If a network is already set up, the assistant extends the existing network. Users can also set up their network using different settings by clicking "Other Options".
The AirPort Extreme was praised for its stability and reliability, with one user commenting that it "just works. Always." This is in contrast to other routers that require constant attention and rebooting.
While the AirPort Extreme may not offer the same level of customisation as other routers, it is a good choice for those who value simplicity and ease of use. The setup process is straightforward and can be completed quickly, without the need for technical expertise.
Overall, the AirPort Extreme's ease of setup is one of its standout features and makes it a good option for those who want a hassle-free networking experience.
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Alternatives to Apple Airport Extreme
Apple's AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi routers were discontinued in 2018. While they offered sufficient speed and connectivity, they were not the fastest routers on the market and were more expensive than other routers with similar specifications.
If you are looking for alternatives to the Apple AirPort Extreme, there are several options available:
Ubiquiti UniFi Gear
Ubiquiti UniFi gear is a popular alternative to Apple AirPort Extreme. It offers a good value, with the Ubiquiti Unifi access points being a very good choice for wired connections. Ubiquiti also has a new entry-level Express box, which is a good direct replacement for the AirPort Extreme.
Synology Routers
Synology routers are another excellent alternative, offering many more features than Apple AirPort Extreme models, including Time Machine Server support for macOS and Time Machine. The Synology WRX560 is a good option and can be purchased on Amazon, which offers a good return policy.
AmpliFi Alien
The AmpliFi Alien is a reliable and stable router that has been recommended by many users. It is listed as one of two routers on the Apple List of HomeKit Compliant Accessories and can be purchased from Apple, although they do not provide technical support for the product.
Netgear Orbi Tribands
Netgear Orbi tribands are another alternative that has been well-received by users. They offer reliability and stability, similar to the Apple AirPort Extreme.
Eero
Eero is another option that offers reliability and stability, although there may be some limitations with HomeKit due to a HKSR security feature from Apple.
These alternatives to the Apple AirPort Extreme offer a range of features and capabilities that may better suit your needs. It is always a good idea to research and read reviews to find the best option for your specific requirements.
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Frequently asked questions
Apple Airport Extreme is a Wi-Fi router that was released in 2004. It supported Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology and allowed up to 50 users to connect to the device simultaneously.
No, Apple Airport Extreme was discontinued in 2018. The last iteration of the product was the sixth generation, released in 2013.
Apple Airport Extreme has been discontinued, so it is not recommended to purchase this product as it will not be supported by newer macOS software. There are several alternative routers available that provide more features than Apple Airport Extreme.
Some alternative routers to Apple Airport Extreme include the Ubiquiti Unifi access points, Synology routers, and UniFi Express.
