Remember Apple’s clean, simple Wi-Fi routers called AirPort? They were a quiet hit for years, offering easy networking solutions like the basic Express, the more powerful Extreme, and the Time Capsule that even backed up your Mac wirelessly. Recently, Apple moved more of these popular products to its official obsolete list, sparking conversations about whether the company would ever step back into the home networking ring.
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The quick answer is probably not with a dedicated router box, but don’t count Apple out of the Wi-Fi game just yet. Exciting rumors suggest future Apple devices you might already own could become part of your home network solution. The key takeaway? Apple’s unique approach to Wi-Fi networking might be making a comeback, just in a completely unexpected form.
Remembering Apple’s AirPort Base Stations
For years, Apple offered a line of Wi-Fi routers under the AirPort name. They stood out for their sleek design and user-friendly setup – very much in line with Apple’s philosophy.
- AirPort Express: The compact, plug-in model, great for extending a network or adding AirPlay audio.
- AirPort Extreme: A more traditional router providing faster speeds and more connections.
- AirPort Time Capsule: Combined the Extreme’s routing capabilities with a built-in hard drive for automatic wireless backups using Time Machine.
People loved them because they just worked, especially within the Apple ecosystem, making setting up or extending a Wi-Fi network less of a headache than it could be with other brands at the time.
Image of Apple's classic AirPort Wi-Fi routers: the compact Express, the tower Extreme, and the Time Capsule with built-in storage.
Why Did Apple Stop Making Routers?
Despite their popularity among Apple users, the AirPort line was officially discontinued in 2018. While Apple never gave a specific reason, the common assumption was that home networking wasn’t a core focus compared to massive markets like iPhones, Macs, and services. It simply didn’t move the needle enough for a company of Apple’s scale. The focus shifted towards devices themselves rather than the underlying network hardware.
The Unexpected Return? Your HomePod or Apple TV Could Gain Wi-Fi Superpowers
Here’s where the tech gets interesting. According to reports from Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple has been developing a sophisticated custom chip that handles both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This chip is rumored to first appear in upcoming models of the Apple TV and the HomePod mini.
The exciting part? Gurman noted that this chip is so advanced it could “theoretically” enable these devices to act as wireless access points. This means your future HomePod or Apple TV might not just stream music or movies; it could also help broadcast your Wi-Fi signal, potentially forming a mesh network around your home using devices you already planned to buy.
Current speculation suggests this chip could support Wi-Fi 6E or even the newer, faster Wi-Fi 7 standard, a big leap from the Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) supported by the last AirPort models.
What This Could Mean for Your Home Network
If Apple does follow through on this capability, it’s a classic Apple move: integrating functionality into existing, popular devices rather than launching a standalone product. Imagine buying a couple of HomePods for multi-room audio and discovering they also boost your Wi-Fi coverage.
This approach could make setting up a mesh network incredibly simple – perhaps just by placing devices in different rooms and letting them automatically extend your network, true to the original AirPort spirit of ease-of-use. While it’s not a dedicated router box like the old AirPorts, turning smart speakers or streaming boxes into network extenders is a clever way to add value and improve the user experience across the home.
However, it’s crucial to remember this is still just a rumor based on the chip’s theoretical capability. Apple hasn’t confirmed they plan to actually enable this feature.
Will We See a New Dedicated AirPort Router?
Based on the current rumors and Apple’s direction since 2018, it seems highly unlikely Apple will release a traditional, standalone AirPort router again. Their strategy appears to be integrating networking capabilities into devices like the Apple TV or HomePod, leveraging a new custom chip to create a distributed, potentially mesh-like network powered by the gadgets already central to your home.
While the classic AirPort boxes are becoming relics of the past, the underlying idea of simple, integrated Apple-designed Wi-Fi might just be making a surprising comeback, built right into your favorite entertainment and smart home devices. It’s a fascinating development that shows how tech evolves and adapts.
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