AirPort Base Stations: Will Apple Ever Return to Wi-Fi Router Market?

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Apple offered a enactment of Wi-Fi routers that it referred to arsenic AirPort basal stations. There was a modular AirPort Express, a higher-end AirPort Extreme with much precocious networking features, and an AirPort Time Capsule that doubled arsenic an outer retention thrust for backing up a Mac with Time Machine.


A fewer days ago, Apple added a fewer much AirPort models to its obsolete products list, which reignited treatment astir the products.

The large question: Will Apple ever instrumentality to the Wi-Fi router market?

Apple discontinued the AirPort enactment successful 2018, but the institution could instrumentality to the Wi-Fi router marketplace successful an unexpected mode successful the future.

Back successful December, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple was developing its ain Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip that volition debut in caller Apple TV and HomePod mini models aboriginal this year. He said the spot is "so sophisticated" that it could "theoretically" crook these devices into a wireless entree point. However, it is unclear if Apple volition really travel done with that idea, truthful temper your expectations for the clip being.

Apple's spot volition enactment Wi-Fi 6E, according to Gurman, whereas the last AirPort models supported what is present known arsenic Wi-Fi 5. However, Apple proviso concatenation expert Jeff Pu believes the spot volition really support Wi-Fi 7.

It remains to beryllium seen if the Apple TV and HomePod really go Wi-Fi routers, but Apple is seemingly processing exertion that allows for it.
This article, "AirPort Base Stations: Will Apple Ever Return to Wi-Fi Router Market?" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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