Apple Announces AirPort Base Station Products Have Been Discontinued

Apple has announced it is ending production of its AirPort Base Station lineup, in a statement to 9to5Mac:

We’re discontinuing the Apple AirPort base station products. They will be available through Apple.com, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers while supplies last.

The writing was on the wall when back in late 2016, Bloomberg reported Apple had disbanded its division that developed their wireless routers. Despite Apple’s AirPort line in limbo, the company still released firmware to patch the KRACK vulnerability in WPA2 last winter.

Are you sad we won’t be seeing more AirPort base station products?

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tomm
tomm
8 years ago

What about Time capsules? Are they also discontinued?

Hosaka
Hosaka
Reply to  tomm
8 years ago

Yes, that also includes the Time Capsules I’m afraid. This is a dark day for the Apple ecosystem 🙁

Olley
Olley
8 years ago

This is just sad because I really don’t want to deal with other routers with browser settings and all that crap. an easy app that handles all is the reason I’m sticking to apple routers. not to mention wireless backup, the feature I need the most. Is there another wireless time capsule like backup solution that runs in the background and does not require me to plug in every now and then?

raslucas
raslucas
Reply to  Olley
8 years ago

If you get a AdvancedTomato capable router, you can plug a Drive right into the router and access it/backup to it with Time Machine.

rob geo
rob geo
8 years ago

I don’t think Apple would abandon us and leave us to the mercy of 3rd party routers and modems, at least I hope not, especially when so much of Apples’ ecosystem is focused on home use, Apple TV, homepod, homekit! It would be like selling a mac without a processor. No, I think there is another reason and it is 5G cellular. I think 5G will bring much more than just advanced LTE. No more wired internet. 3 of Apples’ devices already come with cellular radios and it would be a small stretch to add them to macs and even Apple TV and homepod. Macs already can form their own network and all devices could come with that capability in an always on format, akin to air drop, only much more reliable and comprehensive.

Gord Henderson
Gord Henderson
Reply to  rob geo
8 years ago

Doubt it. 5G spectrum will be held by the likes of Bell, Rogers, Telus, Shaw. They will want to monetize any traffic using their bandwidth.

Shaf Patel
8 years ago

RIP to a once great company.

Widohmaker
Widohmaker
Reply to  Shaf Patel
8 years ago

A little dramatic.

Hosaka
Hosaka
8 years ago

This is really unfortunate. Apple has a great product here. Connecting, setting up & managing Airport Extreme/Express has always been stress-free thanks to their Airport Utility app. The ability to plug external speakers into an Express and make your house as one giant AirPlay area is remarkable.

I hope Apple comes to their senses and bring back the Airport routers.

Park Jihyo
Park Jihyo
8 years ago

I have tried every other router and nothing compares to apples time capsule ?

Guy
Guy
8 years ago

WHY, that was the best router on the market, would not want to buy anything else.

K.
K.
8 years ago

got issues when I got Bell so my TC is no more than a backup disk rather than a router now…

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