Accessory · The Aluminum Age · 2008
AirPort Time Capsule
A router with a built-in hard disk so your Mac could back itself up over Wi-Fi, invisibly, via Time Machine. Apple exited the router business entirely in 2018.
AirPort Time Capsule: key facts
When was the AirPort Time Capsule released?
The AirPort Time Capsule was released in February 2008. Apple discontinued it in April 2018.
How much did the AirPort Time Capsule cost?
The AirPort Time Capsule launched at $299 in 2008 — about $446 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the AirPort Time Capsule’s specs?
The AirPort Time Capsule used a Marvell network SoC, with 64 MB of memory and 488.3 GB of storage. It ran AirPort firmware.
Why does the AirPort Time Capsule matter?
Combined a Wi-Fi router with a hard drive for automatic wireless Time Machine backups.
Full specifications
| CPU | Marvell network SoC |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 64 MB |
| Storage | 488.3 GB |
| Display | Status LED |
| GPU | N/A |
| Ports | Gigabit Ethernet, USB |
| Weight | 1.1 kg |
| Dimensions | Tall white square |
| Operating system | AirPort firmware |
| Released | February 2008 |
| Discontinued | April 2018 |
| Launch price | $299 |
How the AirPort Time Capsule compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 256× more memory than this device shipped with.
This held about 125,000 modern phone photos — a respectable library even today.
Launched at $299 in 2008 — about $446 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Cross-architecture speed figures are clock-only and approximate; inflation figures use US CPI.
Did you know?
When Apple discontinued AirPort, fans hoarded units rather than switch brands.
Related Accessory models
Open the AirPort Time Capsule in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-25