During the 2000s and 2010s, Apple produced a range of Wi-Fi routers branded as AirPort base stations. This lineup included the standard AirPort Express, the more feature-rich AirPort Extreme, and the AirPort Time Capsule, which served as both a router and an external storage device for backing up Macs using Time Machine. Recently, Apple added several AirPort models to its list of obsolete products, sparking renewed conversation about these devices. This has led many to ponder whether Apple will ever make a return to the Wi-Fi router market after having discontinued the AirPort line in 2018.
In December, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported on Apple’s development of a custom Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, expected to make its debut in new Apple TV and HomePod mini models later this year. This chip is touted as being sophisticated enough to potentially allow these devices to function as wireless access points. However, it remains uncertain if Apple will pursue this direction, so it is wise to manage expectations for now. According to Gurman, the new chip will support Wi-Fi 6E, an upgrade from the final AirPort models which were limited to Wi-Fi 5.
Analyst Jeff Pu believes that the chip may even support Wi-Fi 7. Although it is unclear whether the Apple TV and HomePod will actually serve as Wi-Fi routers, it is evident that Apple is advancing technology that could make this feasible. As the conversation continues around Apple’s capabilities in networking, many are left curious about where the company may head in the future concerning wireless technology.
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