Apple, now, recommends "WPA3" -- How Is This Possible?

Just to, hopefully, clear some things up:

• Only Apple seems to use the term "Personal" in their wireless security options.
• There are multiple wireless encryption certifications: WEP, WPA, WPA2, and now, WPA3
• There are, at least, two encryption cryptographic protocol levels: TKIP, and AES. The latter, currently, is more secure of the two.
• WEP doesn't support either TKIP or AES; WPA supports TKIP, & WPA2 supports AES.
• Some encryption term translations: (Apple / non-Apple routers)
  • WPA Personal / WPA-PSK; supports TKIP only
  • WPA/WPA2 Personal / WPA/WPA2-PSK; support both TKIP & AES
  • WPA2 Personal / WPA2-PSK; supports AES
  • WPA2/WPA3 Personal / WPA2/WPA3-PSK; supports AES
  • WPA3 Personal / WPA3-PSK; supports AES
• When the term "Enterprise" is added to the mix, it is referring to a wireless security system that relies on a RADIUS server to validate wireless clients before they can gain access to the wireless network. These are typically deployed in corporate or educational institutions.

But, my three (very expensive) AirPort Extremes do not offer WPA3 or WPA2/WPA3 Transitional.

That might be because your AirPort Extremes were designed in the 2012-2013 timeframe using technologies that were available at the time......long before WPA3 or WPA2/WPA3 Transitional even existed.

Your next question might be why Apple has not issued updates to bring the AirPorts up to current standards. The answer for that is really the same as before........newer technologies require newer hardware . Apple never changed or updated the hardware on the AirPort routers once they were introduced.

Is Apple telling me to buy three of the Linksys Velop AX4200 WiFi 6 Mesh System (3-Pack) that it sells in packages of 3 for $499.95?

Possibly, if you want to keep up with current standards, but keep in mind that while Apple would be happy to sell the products to you, Apple offers no support for them.......(if you check the fine print in the product literature on the Apple site.) Here it is, in case you missed it:

Note: Products sold through this website that do not bear the Apple brand name are serviced and supported exclusively by their manufacturers in accordance with terms and conditions packaged with the products. Apple’s Limited Warranty does not apply to products that are not Apple branded, even if packaged or sold with Apple products. Please contact the manufacturer directly for technical support and customer service.

So, unless you really want to buy from Apple, there is really no reason to do so if they are going to refer you over to Linksys for any questions, service, or support.

As previously mentioned, there are no settings for WPA3 on the AirPort Express, or any other AirPort for that matter. You can verify this by using AirPort Utility to take a look at the WiFi security options on the AirPort Express.

Here is what the settings look like on on an Express. As you can see, there are no options for WPA3. WPA2 Personal is the best that the AirPorts can do.

A guess would be that you are looking at a setting that really means "WPA2....or....WPA3". Misleading at best.

Things were just as confusing 12-15 years ago when the industry was beginning to switch from WEP encryption to WPA, then to WPA2 variations which will continue to be with us for years into the future.

Unless you are the type of person that has to have the "latest and greatest", I would not be very concerned about this. When a router gets to be 7-8 years old, it makes sense to start thinking about a replacement. But, when you do go ahead and buy a new router or routers, expect to learn about some "new" technology that appears a year or two after your purchase, hinting that your current products are now obsolete.

Some things never change.

If Apple thought that this was really important, don't you think that they would have WPA3 routers installed and running the WiFi network at the Apple Stores? They don't at the two Apple Stores that I normally visit.

By the way, not sure if you were aware that Apple never used Apple routers at the Apple Store.

You might have been using a less secure WPA/WPA2 Personal setting on the AirPorts. WPA2 Personal is the most secure WiFi security setting on the AirPorts.

You also have the additional option to set up "rules" for each WiFi device that will be connecting to your WiFi network. This would mean that another WiFi device not listed in your "rules" would not be able to connect to your network, even if the device had the correct password for your network.

But, it's tedious and somewhat complicated to set up the "rules", so few users ever do this.

The AirPorts are good products that are easy to set up and administer. They lack the sophistication of other routers that sold for less money, but Apple has always been able to charge more for styling and the Apple name.

Whether Apple made a good business decision to exit the router business or whether they simply abandoned the business and their customers is open to question.

I have 2018 Mac mini (macOS 11.5.1) and AirPort Express (2nd generation) running 7.8.1

Wi-Fi in Network System Preferences' Advanced button shows "WPA2/WPA3 Personal" for my 5GHz network, so there must be some WPA3 support in the AirPort Express.

I think what you are seeing is an either/or case. That is, a newer Mac with the latest versions of macOS will see any AirPort base station as providing a "WPA2/WPA3 Personal" wireless network ... this could be read as this network is capable of either WPA2 Personal or WPA3 Personal. There is no way that the AirPort base stations can support WPA3 as this would require both a firmware and hardware change. I really don't see Apple making those for devices that they abandoned over two years ago.

Just to clarify......Airport Express, AirPort Extreme, or AirPort Time Capsule. The answer remains the same for all........there are no WPA3 options available in AirPort Utility for any AirPort router.

Standards change. WPA3 is recommended. There will be a lot of WPA2 out there for a long time. There is no need to purchase something new unless you wish to do so.