Is Apple bringing AirPort back? Probably not…

Apple’s AirPort range pretty much defined the howe WiFi router market

Apple recently filed a new “Network Adapter” document with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), sparking speculation the company may bring one of its most popular abandoned products, AirPort home Wi-Fi devices, back into the world. I don’t think that this is the case, but if it were to return, what would it do?

What Apple’s FCC filing tells us

The FCC filing tells us the new device carries two Gigabit Ethernet ports, a USB-C port, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC antennas. That’s all good (particularly the inclusion of NFC, which opens interesting possibilities around identity, payments, and authorization).

But what makes the purported product even more interesting is that it is an intelligent device. It contains 1.5GB RAM, 32GB of storage and runs an early version of iOS 15.5, which implies it also contains an Apple processor. So, this is a smart product. The filing also tells us a second model is available with just 1GB RAM and a Lightning port, rather than a USB-C port.

However, the kicker is that the device is meant to be plugged into a Mac during use, which is why I don’t think this network adaptor is a base station. The filing also states the system is meant to be “connected to a host computer and receive its power through a USB-A port during normal use.”

Prototype is already being tested

The documentation claims a prototype of the device was sent to the FCC for certification in January 2022. The regulator tested the product with a MacBook Pro and an iMac.

It is possible the system isn’t intended to become a shipping product and is for use internally, or for internal testing as part of Apple’s R&D efforts toward an unknown new device. We can’t and don’t know.

[Also read: Apple diversifies as it prepares business for future shocks]

The filing suggests the system handles Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC. It also suggests inclusion of an Apple chip of some kind. It doesn’t make any claim around Ultra Wideband (UWB), which I consider an unusual exclusion, given that we know that tech becomes far more useful once so-called UWB ‘surfaces’ appear in the home.

However, if the system marks the return of AirPort, what might that mean?

The filing suggests inclusion of a chip, which implies uses in the Find My network, capacity as a HomeKit hub, and easy set up and interoperability with existing devices. It also suggests the device itself can be improved and updated over time. That last comment may be of huge importance, as it will enable Apple to create a highly secure network adaptor.

The possibility that Apple may introduce a highly secure HomeKit-compatible network adaptor for use in the homes that also acts as a mesh network is pretty tantalizing. But the problem is that the FCC filing tells us the device is intended to be connected to a computer by USB-A. That connection almost completely guarantees that this will not be an AirPort system, but exists for another reason.

What about unreleased product?

Could this be a network adaptor intended to serve the purported AR glasses, which at one point we were told required connection to a Mac? I don’t think so, but given the introduction of an FCC filing, it’s possible we won’t have to wait too long to find out.

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