Jazmin Li
Apple's AirPort Extreme was a line of residential gateways that combined the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS. Apple discontinued its lineup of wireless routers in 2016, with the formal discontinuation of the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsule products occurring in 2018. The decision to exit the router market was likely due to a lack of consumer demand, with most people opting for the free routers provided by their ISP. Additionally, Apple may have chosen to focus its efforts on devices with higher sales, such as consumer products that generated the bulk of its revenue.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of discontinuation | 2018 |
| Reason for discontinuation | Apple disbanded the wireless router team in 2016 |
| Apple wanted to focus on devices that sell better | |
| Apple Airport products didn't have a big market share | |
| Apple Airport products didn't have enough buyers | |
| Apple wanted to focus on consumer products that generate the bulk of its revenue | |
| Support | Apple continues limited hardware and software support |
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What You'll Learn
Apple disbanded the wireless router team in 2016
Apple disbanded the wireless router team that developed the AirPort Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme in 2016. Two years later, in 2018, the AirPort Extreme was formally discontinued, marking Apple's exit from the router market.
The 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. The AirPort Time Capsule is a version of the same system with a built-in network-accessible hard drive.
According to a Bloomberg report, Apple disbanded its wireless router division to sharpen its focus on consumer products that generate the bulk of its revenue. Indeed, Apple rarely discontinues product categories, and its decision to exit the router business was seen as a boon for other wireless router makers.
One reason for the discontinuation of the AirPort Extreme could be that Apple's routers did not capture a large market share. Most people tend to use the free routers provided by their Internet Service Providers (ISPs), making it hard for Apple to compete. Additionally, Apple's routers, though good, did not stand out in a market with many other great alternatives.
Despite discontinuing the AirPort Extreme, Apple continues to provide limited hardware and software support for the product line as of 2023.
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The AirPort Extreme was discontinued in 2018
Apple's AirPort Extreme was discontinued in 2018, marking the company's exit from the consumer router market. The AirPort Extreme was a residential gateway that combined the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS, as well as other features.
The original AirPort Base Station was released in 1999, with an update in 2001 that added a second Ethernet port. The first AirPort Extreme Base Station was released in 2003, featuring an external antenna connector and a USB port. Over the years, Apple released several updated versions of the AirPort Extreme, with the sixth and final generation released in 2013. This last generation featured three-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology, offering a maximum data rate of 1.3 Gbit/s, which was nearly three times faster than its predecessor.
Despite the functionality and performance of the AirPort Extreme, Apple made the decision to discontinue it due to a variety of reasons. Firstly, according to a Bloomberg report in 2016, Apple sought to sharpen its focus on consumer products that generated the bulk of its revenue. Additionally, there was a lack of significant market share for Apple routers, as many users opted for the free routers provided by their internet service providers. The high-performance features of the AirPort Extreme may not have been a necessity for the average user, making it challenging for Apple to compete in the router market.
Following the discontinuation, Apple continued to provide limited hardware and software support for the AirPort Extreme and other AirPort products. While the AirPort Extreme may no longer be in production, the technology developed for it has carried over into other Apple devices, such as AirPlay and AirDrop.
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The product didn't stand out in a competitive market
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. While the AirPort Extreme and its AirPort brethren were officially discontinued in 2018, they were not bad Wi-Fi routers. They had sufficient speed and connectivity, and they worked well in most households. However, they never stood out in a competitive market.
The AirPort Extreme faced competition from free routers provided by internet service providers (ISPs). Most people use the routers provided by their ISPs, which are often sufficient for their needs. While there is a specialty market for Ubiquiti, Eero/Nest, and other similar products, it is likely too small for Apple to invest resources in.
Additionally, Apple's AirPort routers never had a large market share. This made it challenging for Apple to compete with other widespread equipment in the market. The performance of USB hard drives attached to an AirPort Extreme was also slower than if the drive were connected directly to a computer due to the processor speed on the AirPort Extreme.
With many great alternatives to the AirPort routers on the market, it made sense for Apple to exit the router market and focus on devices that sell better. Apple's decision to leave the business was described as "a boon for other wireless router makers."
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Apple shifted focus to devices with higher sales
Apple's decision to discontinue the AirPort Extreme can be attributed to a strategic shift in focus towards devices with higher sales. This move, announced in 2018, marked Apple's exit from the consumer router market.
Apple's AirPort Extreme routers, first introduced in 2003, had a dedicated following among Apple enthusiasts. However, they failed to capture a significant market share. Most consumers opted for the free routers provided by their internet service providers, making it challenging for Apple to justify continued investment in this product line.
By disbanding the wireless router team, Apple signalled its intention to sharpen its focus on consumer products that generate the bulk of its revenue. This decision aligns with the company's broader strategy of concentrating on devices that deliver stronger sales performance.
While Apple exited the router market, it did not entirely abandon its AirPort technology. The company leveraged the innovations developed for AirPort routers, such as AirPlay, AirDrop, and wireless technology with Apple TV. These technologies continue to enhance other Apple devices, ensuring that the AirPort legacy endures within the Apple ecosystem, even if the routers themselves are no longer produced.
Additionally, Apple continues to provide limited hardware and software support for AirPort Extreme, ensuring that existing users can still utilise their devices. This support, along with the integration of AirPort technology into other Apple products, demonstrates Apple's commitment to maximising the value of its innovations, even as it shifts its focus to higher-selling devices.
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The routers were good, but sales were low
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 latest model, the 6th generation, supported 802.11ac networking standards.
Despite being good routers, Apple decided to discontinue the AirPort Extreme and its AirPort brethren in 2018. There were several reasons for this decision, and one of the main reasons was low sales. Apple's AirPort routers never had a big market share, and it is hard to compete with the free routers provided by ISPs.
The performance of USB hard drives attached to an AirPort Extreme was slower than if the drive were connected directly to a computer due to the processor speed on the AirPort Extreme. This may have been another factor contributing to lower sales.
Additionally, there were already many great alternatives to the AirPort routers on the market, and it made sense for Apple to focus on devices that sold better. The technology developed for the AirPort routers has been carried over to other Apple devices, such as AirPlay and AirDrop.
While Apple no longer sells AirPort routers, they continue to provide limited hardware and software support for existing devices.
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Frequently asked questions
Apple disbanded the wireless router team that developed the Airport Extreme router in 2016 and discontinued the product in 2018. The company decided to exit the router market and focus on devices that sell better.
Yes, Apple discontinued all Airport products, including Airport Extreme, Airport Express, and Airport Time Capsule.
Yes, you can still use Airport Extreme, but there are some alternatives on the market that you can consider as replacements.
