Reports Claim Apple Plans to Launch a New AirPort Router This Year, But Our Sources Say Otherwise | Exclusive

A week ago, a Twitter account named @MajinBuOfficial reported that Apple was planning to introduce new AirPorts this November, according to its sources. That got my attention a few days ago, because I was really interested in this product. I think Apple should start making routers again. However, it sounded a bit odd to me, especially since Apple discontinued the AirPort line of devices in 2018. So, I reached out to some sources who would certainly know about a supposed new AirPort if Apple were to announce one, and they said they did not know anything about it and believed that this Twitter account may have messed up. Let me explain.

I believe that this Twitter account has real sources, he’s said some correct things, but he’s also shared false information because he likes to make a lot of assumptions. I’m not saying he made up the AirPort leak, but I believe, and so do my sources, that he has some mixed information, and I want to clarify that.

Sometimes we receive information that immediately leads us to believe that Apple is working on something, but once we dig a little deeper, we find that our initial conclusion wasn’t quite correct. When we don’t follow this process, and it’s happened to me a few times, it looks to everyone else like we falsified the information we were passing along, when in fact we assumed something we shouldn’t have assumed when we received the information.

Is Apple Making a New AirPort?

Apple is indeed working on network adapters, but they’re for internal use only. Last month, the Cupertino-based company filed a network adapter with the FCC, but it’s not intended for consumer use. It’s powered via USB-A, doesn’t support 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands, and doesn’t even have support for the 802.11ac wireless networking standard.

“@MajinBuOfficial” claims that Apple plans to unveil a new AirPort in November because the Cupertino-based company has applied to the FCC for a non-disclosure agreement that runs until November 2022. Apple has a lot of internal devices like this, and they aren’t intended ever to be sold to the public.

Here’s how the FCC describes the network adapter:

“2657 is a network adapter. It has an integral battery, two gigabit ethernet ports, USB-C connector and antenna. The device supports IEEE 802.11b/g/n radio, Bluetooth radio, and NFC. The network adapter comes with 32 GB memory storage and 1.5 GB RAM. The device is intended to be connected to a host computer and receive its power through a USB-A port during normal use.”FCC

This is the full confidentiality agreement:

As you can see, it doesn’t look like Apple plans to sell this device, and my sources say it’s for internal use only. So for anyone who wanted to buy this supposed future Apple AirPort – unfortunately, it doesn’t look like you’ll be able to do so. However, I’ve to say that I really hope my sources and I are wrong this time because I wanted one, too.

I hope you found this article helpful. Let me know what you think about it in the comments below. As always, have a fantastic day!

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]