Apple will no longer carry out its wireless router business, including its products AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and two models of AirPort Time Capsule. The last supplies of these models will be available through Apple.com, the brand’s retail stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers.
Albeit disappointing for fans of Apple’s routers, a report suggested in November 2016 that the company disbanded the developer team of the routers. In January 2017, Apple began selling third-party mesh Wi-Fi routers of Linksys.
Apple hasn’t reduced pricing for users who are gunning to grab the last supplies. For a refresher, Express comes for $99, Extreme for $199, 2TB AirPort Time Capsule for $299, and 3TB Time Capsule for $399. Since the lineup has been discontinued, third-party sellers may want to adjust pricing as per scenarios.
As for support, you can still expect the same for these products since there’s no word on this from Apple. However, the company confirmed that new hardware revisions are not coming. Maybe the tech leader wants to focus more on AR and VR with its new Eye Tracking System.
Apple’s mesh Wi-Fi system by Linksys is for the larger homes connecting lots of devices. Apple is not going to offer its own solutions for the mesh system. Neither will its AirPort models support the upcoming updates of Wi-Fi technology (802.11ad and 802.11ax).
Many new routers of other companies have taken the design cues of Apple’s AirPort models. The brand will, of course, provide alternatives to the discontinued routers soon enough.
Stay tuned for the next update regarding this matter.