Apple’s AirPort was a revolutionary product in home networking, popularizing Wi-Fi as something everyone could have access to, even when the technology wasn’t yet universal. AirPort, first introduced in 1999 as a basic and convenient home networking solution almost immediately cemented its place among technology fans. Its AirPort line included router devices such as the AirPort Express, Extreme and Time Capsule.
AirPort: More Than Just a Router
The AirPort was not merely a router, it was an advanced Wi-Fi hub that worked for Apple users. AirPort was fundamentally a router, connecting devices to the internet, but it also included numerous special functions that distinguished it from other networking hardware. AirPort Express used to allow AirPlay music streaming, Time Capsule incorporated network-attached storage (NAS) for backups and the AirPort Extreme also supported dual-band Wi-Fi. Apple’s clean, easy-to-use design for AirPort previously made it a favorite part of many Apple-centric homes.
However, after years of success, Apple phased out the AirPort devices in 2018, leaving many to wonder: could Apple make a return to this space?
Why Apple Might Bring AirPort Back
With AirPort, Apple could go back to the future using Wi-Fi 7 at its best and bring in angles like NAS (network-attached data storage) for not just backup but sharing as well – all powered by Apple silicon. This new AirPort could perform AI processing for iOS 18 features and offload that work from iPhones, which would deliver much better performance. It could also stick iCloud Private Relay straight in Apple AirPort directly at the router level, providing a good degree of privacy not only for Apple things but other devices like gaming consoles and Androids too. The new AirPort could act as a central hub for HomeKit, providing seamless connectivity, mesh networking, and security to support a fully integrated smart home.
Should Apple bring back the AirPort, it would change the future of home networking—and make privacy and security a built-in default for everyone. Apple’s ability to build a strong defense against the intrusive ad industry would lie at the heart of iCloud Private Relay, which lets users take back what little control over their data that they have left. It is perhaps the beginning of a new era.
