
The AirPort Time Capsule (originally named Time Capsule) was a wireless router sold by Apple Inc. It featured network-attached storage (NAS) and a residential gateway router. Apple described it as a Backup Appliance, designed to work with the Time Machine backup software utility. The device was introduced on January 15, 2008, and released on February 29, 2008, with the latest model featuring 802.11ac and a 3 TB hard drive. In 2018, Apple discontinued the product, exiting the router market.
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What You'll Learn
- The AirPort Time Capsule is a wireless router with network-attached storage (NAS) and a residential gateway router
- The device was originally released in 2008 and has been upgraded several times
- The latest model, introduced in 2013, features 802.11ac and a 3 TB hard drive
- Apple Inc. discontinued the AirPort Time Capsule in 2018, exiting the router market
- There is no equivalent to the AirPort Time Capsule, but there are alternative setups that can be used

The AirPort Time Capsule is a wireless router with network-attached storage (NAS) and a residential gateway router
The AirPort Time Capsule is a wireless router sold by Apple Inc. It features network-attached storage (NAS) and a residential gateway router, and is one of Apple's AirPort products. It is essentially a version of the AirPort Extreme with an internal hard drive. Apple describes it as a "Backup Appliance", designed to work in tandem with the Time Machine backup software utility introduced in Mac OS X 10.5.
The AirPort Time Capsule was introduced on January 15, 2008, and released on February 29, 2008. The device has been upgraded several times, matching upgrades in the Extreme series routers. The earliest versions supported 802.11n wireless and came with a 500 GB hard drive in the base model. The latest model, introduced in 2013, features 802.11ac and a 3 TB hard drive. All models include three Gigabit Ethernet ports and a single USB port. The USB port can be used for external peripheral devices such as external hard drives or printers, which can be shared over the network.
The AirPort Time Capsule is a popular choice for Apple users as it provides a simple and reliable way to back up their data. It is also known for its security and flexibility, offering encrypted storage and optional WAN sharing. However, in 2018, Apple formally discontinued the AirPort Time Capsule, exiting the router market. Despite this, pre-used models can still be purchased online.
The AirPort Time Capsule has been a convenient and integrated solution for Apple users, providing wireless routing and network-attached storage capabilities in one device. Its discontinuation has left users seeking alternative setups, such as a modern Wi-Fi router with a USB port for external storage or a NAS device. However, these options may not offer the same level of simplicity and functionality that the AirPort Time Capsule provided.
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The device was originally released in 2008 and has been upgraded several times
The AirPort Time Capsule, originally named Time Capsule, is a wireless router sold by Apple Inc. It was introduced on January 15, 2008, and released on February 29, 2008. The device has been upgraded several times, with the latest model released in 2013.
The Time Capsule is one of Apple's AirPort products and is essentially a version of the AirPort Extreme with an internal hard drive. Apple describes it as a "Backup Appliance", designed to work with the Time Machine backup software utility introduced in Mac OS X 10.5. The earliest versions supported 802.11n wireless and came with a 500 GB hard drive in the base model.
Over the years, the Time Capsule has received several upgrades, including increased hard drive capacity and improved Wi-Fi performance. In 2009, Apple released the second-generation Time Capsule, which offered simultaneous 802.11n dual-band operation, allowing older devices to use slower wireless speeds without affecting the performance of devices capable of higher speeds. The second-generation model also introduced Guest Networking, a feature that allows the creation of a separate wireless network for guests, enhancing security for the primary network.
The fourth-generation Time Capsule, released in June 2011, improved the range of Wi-Fi signals by changing the internal Wi-Fi card to a Broadcom BCM4331 chip. In June 2013, the fifth-generation Time Capsule was released, featuring a name change to AirPort Time Capsule and a redesign with reduced dimensions. This model introduced the newest Wi-Fi standard 802.11ac, faster download speeds, beamforming improvements, and wireless or desktop network control with iCloud integration.
The AirPort Time Capsule played a significant role in Apple's ecosystem, offering wireless routing and backup capabilities. However, in 2018, Apple formally discontinued the product, exiting the router market. Despite its discontinuation, the AirPort Time Capsule remains a notable device in Apple's history, known for its innovative combination of wireless routing and storage capabilities.
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The latest model, introduced in 2013, features 802.11ac and a 3 TB hard drive
The AirPort Time Capsule is a wireless router sold by Apple Inc. that features network-attached storage (NAS) and a residential gateway router. It is one of Apple's AirPort products and was originally named Time Capsule. The device was introduced on January 15, 2008, and released on February 29, 2008. Since then, it has been upgraded several times, matching upgrades in the Extreme series routers. The latest model, introduced in 2013, features 802.11ac and a 3 TB hard drive.
The 2013 model is the fifth generation of the AirPort Time Capsule and features a redesign with measurements of 3.85 inches (9.8 cm) square and 6.6 inches (17 cm) high. This redesign brought the dimensions of the Time Capsule in line with the latest AirPort Express and Apple TVs (2nd generation onwards), with the height being the only significant difference. The 2013 model also introduced the newest Wi-Fi standard, 802.11ac, and offered faster download speeds, beamforming improvements, and wireless or desktop network control with iCloud integration.
The AirPort Time Capsule is designed to work in tandem with the Time Machine backup software utility, allowing for automatic wireless backups of a system and files. This eliminates the need for an external backup drive. The Time Capsule can also be used as a WiFi repeater and includes four Gigabit Ethernet ports (3 LAN ports, 1 WAN port) and a single USB port. The USB port can be used for external peripheral devices, such as external hard drives or printers, which can be shared over the network.
The hard drive found in the Time Capsule is typically the Hitachi Deskstar, which is sold by Hitachi as a consumer-grade product. Apple, however, labelled the drive as a "server-grade" drive in promotional materials. The Hitachi Deskstar meets or exceeds the 1 million-hour mean time between failures (MTBF) recommendation for server-grade hard drives. The 2013 model, with its 3 TB hard drive and improved specifications, offered a reliable and high-performance backup solution for Apple users.
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Apple Inc. discontinued the AirPort Time Capsule in 2018, exiting the router market
The AirPort Time Capsule was a wireless router sold by Apple Inc. It featured network-attached storage (NAS) and a residential gateway router. It was one of Apple's AirPort products and was essentially a version of the AirPort Extreme with an internal hard drive. Apple described it as a "Backup Appliance", designed to work with the Time Machine backup software utility introduced in Mac OS X 10.5.
The Time Capsule was introduced at the Macworld Conference & Expo on January 15, 2008, and released on February 29, 2008. The device has been upgraded several times, matching upgrades in the Extreme series routers. The earliest versions supported 802.11n wireless and came with a 500 GB hard drive in the base model. The latest model, introduced in 2013, features 802.11ac and a 3 TB hard drive. All models include four Gigabit Ethernet ports (3 LAN ports, 1 WAN port) and a single USB port.
In 2016, Apple disbanded the wireless router team that developed the AirPort Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme router. In 2018, Apple formally discontinued both products, exiting the router market. Bloomberg News noted that "Apple rarely discontinues product categories" and that its decision to leave the business was "a boon for other wireless router makers."
There is no direct equivalent to the AirPort Time Capsule, but there are alternative setups that can be used. One option is to use a modern Wi-Fi router with a USB3 port to which an external storage drive can be attached. Another option is to use a NAS device, such as a Synology DS120J or DS220J.
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There is no equivalent to the AirPort Time Capsule, but there are alternative setups that can be used
Apple's AirPort Time Capsule was a wireless router with a built-in drive. It was used for automatic wireless backup of up to 3TB of data. The device was discontinued in 2018, and there is currently no direct equivalent on the market. However, there are several alternative setups that can be used to achieve similar functionality.
One alternative is to use a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device. NAS devices are miniature, multipurpose servers that can be used for storage and backup, as well as other functions such as media streaming and surveillance. While NAS devices offer greater flexibility and performance than the AirPort Time Capsule, they often require more technical skill to set up and use. Examples of NAS devices include the Synology range of products and the Western Digital My Cloud Home, which is noted for its ease of setup and use.
Another alternative is to use an external hard drive connected directly to your device. This option is straightforward and does not require advanced technical knowledge. However, it may not offer the same level of automation and wireless convenience as the AirPort Time Capsule.
Additionally, you can explore other wireless router options that offer similar features to the AirPort Time Capsule, such as the AirPort Extreme, which provides faster Wi-Fi speeds and is also manufactured by Apple.
It's worth noting that some alternative setups may require additional software or hardware components, such as surveillance camera licenses or display connections, to fully replicate the functionality of the AirPort Time Capsule.
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Frequently asked questions
The AirPort Time Capsule is a wireless router sold by Apple Inc. It features network-attached storage (NAS) and a residential gateway router.
The AirPort Time Capsule was introduced on 15 January 2008 and released on 29 February 2008.
The base model of the AirPort Time Capsule featured 802.11n wireless and a 500 GB hard drive. The latest model, introduced in 2013, features 802.11ac and a 3 TB hard drive. All models include three Gigabit Ethernet ports and a single USB port.
The AirPort Time Capsule is essentially a version of the AirPort Extreme with an internal hard drive. The AirPort Extreme does not have an internal hard drive.
The AirPort Time Capsule has been discontinued by Apple and is no longer available for purchase. The product was formally discontinued in 2018.









































