AirPort Extreme

Apple discontinued developing its lineup of wireless routers in 2016, but as of 2023[update] continues limited hardware and software support.

With the addition of the even faster Draft-N standards in early 2009 the naming of "Base Station" was dropped, and was renamed to AirPort Extreme.

The earliest models had a similar plastic housing to the original AirPort Base Station, in a round "flying saucer" shape.

From 2007 to 2013, the devices took on a flat rounded rectangle shape, similar in layout and size to the Mac mini or early models of the Apple TV.

[4] Bloomberg News noted that "Apple rarely discontinues product categories"[4] and that its decision to leave the business was "a boon for other wireless router makers.

The original AirPort Extreme Base Station in 2003 was so named because of its support for the 802.11g standard of the day, as well as for its ability to serve up to 50 Macs or PCs simultaneously.

On January 9, 2007 the AirPort Extreme began shipping, with support for 802.11n draft specification, and built-in wireless print and storage server.

[15] According to a Bloomberg report on November 21, 2016, "Apple Inc. has disbanded its division that develops wireless routers, another move to try to sharpen the company’s focus on consumer products that generate the bulk of its revenue, according to people familiar with the matter.

"[3] In an April 2018 statement to 9to5Mac,[17] Apple announced the discontinuation of its AirPort line, effectively leaving the consumer router market.