The AirPort family was officially discontinued in 2018, but given that we have newer wireless standards all the way up to Wi-Fi 7, Apple might consider commencing a revival of its router series by outfitting it with newer components. Unfortunately, a new report claims that the California-based giant has no such plans, but its work on the custom ‘Proxima’ in-house silicon that tightly integrates both the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip will ensure that an AirPort router launch will not be needed.
The custom ‘Proxima’ chip will theoretically allow a device like an Apple TV or HomePod to turn into a wireless access point, assuming the software supports the feature
While it would be fair to assume that Apple’s work on Proxima will let readers to believe that we could witness the revival of the AirPort series, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has mentioned in the latest edition of his ‘Power On’ newsletter that no such product will materialize. In short, anyone who is patiently waiting for an AirPort router to arrive and support the Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 standard should head to Amazon right now to get themselves an affordable access point because Apple will disappoint you.
Fortunately, Gurman mentions that it might be a waste of resources to launch the AirPort series because the Proxima chip can theoretically allow an Apple TV or HomePod to turn into a wireless access point, allowing users to extend the range of their existing network. Of course, we have to assume that the company will bake this feature into the software, and even then, enabling it should be done in a manner that allows users to interact with the Apple TV and HomePod while also simultaneously using it as an access point. The rest of the details are mentioned below.
“After I reported that Apple is preparing its first major in-house Wi-Fi and Bluetooth component, there was immediate speculation that the company would resurrect its work on home Wi-Fi routers. While I personally believe that would be great, let me be clear: Apple is not working on a new AirPort wireless router. There is an important caveat, though. The Proxima chip is so sophisticated that it could theoretically turn a home device like an Apple TV box or HomePod into a wireless access point. Google has released products like this before, including a mixed Wi-Fi router and smart speaker. If Apple goes down this road, my belief is the wireless features wouldn’t be the main selling point of the devices.”
Bear in mind that Apple has scrapped products or features that do not perform to the company’s expectations, meaning that if Proxima delivers sub-par performance or hampers the experience in any way, the feature will likely not make the final release. Then again, we have crossed our fingers and hope that this addition finds a way into a future Apple TV or HomePod model.
