In fact it has been about 5 years since Apple has issued an update to the routers, and now it looks like there is more evidence that Apple is indeed no longer interested in making their own hardware. It has been noted that Apple has recently started to sell the Linksys Velop mesh WiFi router system in their physical and online stores.
As MacRumors points out, this is the first router Apple has offered in their stores apart from their own AirPort systems. However the good news is that if you still wanted the AirPorts, Apple has released a statement to 9to5Mac in which they stated that they will continue to sell the AirPorts due to customer demand.
According to Apple, “People love our AirPort products and we continue to sell them. Connectivity is important in the home and we are giving customers yet another option that is well suited for larger homes.” However router technology has come a long way since then, and if you want to have the latest hardware and features, then perhaps the Linksys Velop system could be worth checking out instead.