Apple Discontinuing the AirPort Extreme Router and AirPort Express Base Station

Apple has decided to phase out the AirPort Extreme router and AirPort Express base stations. The company said it will no longer sell the products, but will continue to support them for five years. In addition, the company is also discontinuing the Time Capsule Wi-Fi router. The reason behind the change is unclear, but it is believed that Apple has split its AirPort division, and is no longer interested in creating hardware for them. As a result, the people who were involved with the AirPort line have been reassigned to other projects, like the Apple TV.

The AirPort Extreme has Gigabit Ethernet capability, which is comparable to the speeds of the Mac lineup. In an ideal case, the AirPort Extreme network adapter can reach up to 140 Mbps. Unfortunately, the router is prone to heat stress, and its vents cannot let it escape. This leads to a deteriorated device and a lowered performance.