According to Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter, Apple is not working on a new version of its AirPort wireless router. However, they are working on something else that could potentially serve as a wireless access point, so don’t give up hope quite yet.
Earlier this month, we got some new information regarding Apple’s in-house wireless networking chip, dubbed Proxima. So far, we know this chip will go in a number of home related products, including the Apple TV and HomePod. It’ll also show up in iPhone 17 and Mac models later on.
One interesting thing about this new chip is that its apparently sophisticated enough that Apple could choose to turn it into a wireless router:
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.
Gurman notes that the wireless features of these upcoming Apple TV and HomePods wouldn’t be a highlight at all, if Apple even chooses to enable wireless access point functionality at all.
Either way, it’s cool to know that it is possible. If Apple wanted to, we could have an Apple-designed wireless access point, similar to the AirPort Express, in our lives once again. Many have dreamed of this, especially since Apple’s AirPort lineup was discontinued so long ago. Apple released the last AirPort device in 2013.
What do you think of the possibility of new Apple wireless access points? Let us know in the comments.
Some great Apple accessories for the holiday season:
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