Farewell Journey: AnandTech’s Final Chapter

With a heavy heart, I find myself delivering the most challenging news I’ve ever had to share here at AnandTech. After an incredible 27-year run in the world of computing hardware, today marks the last day of AnandTech’s publication.

Over the years, we’ve taken quite the journey—beginning with a review of an AMD processor and, poetically, concluding on that same note. It underscores not just our dedication but our love for exploring the core components that drive the computing industry.

A quarter-century has passed, and with it, countless changes. Remember when NVIDIA hadn’t even coined “GPU” back in 1997? We’ve been there through every evolution in hardware, watching as bulky desktops transformed into today’s pocket-sized powerhouses that outpace the best technology of yesteryear.

Publishing, too, has transformed dramatically. While AnandTech was never the first of its kind, nor will it be the last, we thrived when others didn’t, thanks to hard work, smart investments, and unyielding support from every corner—friends, colleagues, and readers alike.

Yet, all things come to an end, and the tech journalism landscape has changed irreversibly. So, it’s time for AnandTech to step aside and let the new wave of tech journalists take up the mantle.

Writing for AnandTech for the past 19 years and leading it as editor-in-chief for the last decade has been an immense honor. I bear a sense of melancholy as the final editor, yet I’m fiercely proud of what we’ve achieved. From honorable product reviews to technology insights that stand relevant even today, we’ve set a solid foundation, encapsulated in over 21,500 articles.

AnandTech may bid farewell, but the site will remain accessible, courtesy of our publisher, Future PLC. This means our extensive archive will continue to be a resource for anyone seeking technology insights. Even without fresh content, the wealth we’ve built over decades will stay relevant and freely available.

The AnandTech Forums will also persist, thanks to Future’s community team and dedicated moderators. With threads dating back to 1999, the forums rival AnandTech itself in history. Here, the conversation on technology will endure, far beyond fleeting news cycles.

For those still craving tech writing, our long-time rival and fellow Future brand, Tom’s Hardware, remains a go-to. Some familiar AnandTech contributors continue their work there, ensuring high-quality coverage of tech news.

As I reflect on AnandTech’s 27-year journey, my gratitude extends to many individuals, teams, and companies that have played essential roles in our story.

To all the editors over the years—more than I can name—your expertise and passion drove the in-depth, investigative articles AnandTech became known for. From bright stars in tech journalism to leaders in software and hardware development and even space exploration, these incredible individuals have been fortunes on my path.

A special acknowledgement is due to the final team of editors who delivered the last articles for AnandTech. Gavin Bonshor, Ganesh TS, E. Fylladitakis, and Anton Shilov went above and beyond, meeting tight deadlines and sharing the latest in tech from around the globe.

None of this would have existed without Anand Lal Shimpi. His vision from a bedroom 27 years ago laid our foundation. While he left tech journalism a decade back, his demand for quality still reverberates within AnandTech today. His legacy defines us entirely.

Gratitude also goes to the hardware and software giants we’ve collaborated with. Beyond supplies, they gifted us invaluable insights, sharing knowledge from the finest minds in engineering. Our interactions haven’t always been seamless, but they’ve significantly enhanced the industry for both consumers and companies.

Thanks are due to AnandTech’s past and present publishers, Future PLC and Purch. Their trust in our path allowed us to take risks and swim against tides, producing content true to our ethos. Their hands-off approach is a rare gift in this industry, and we are grateful for it.

Finally, a massive thank you to our readers. Whether you’ve been with us since 1997 or found us recently, every piece we’ve crafted was for you. Thank you for pushing us to excel and keeping us accountable.

A website’s strength lies in its community; thanks to you all, we’ve left an undeniable mark. Your support made everything we accomplished possible, and for that, I’m eternally grateful.

To conclude, I’d like to mention the “Cable TV-ification” of the web—a phrase Anand and I have long stood against. Sensationalism and thin reporting undermine integrity, which we’ve always aimed to counter with depth and quality. Moving forward, it’s imperative for tech journalists to strike this balance, offering insightful, fact-backed content against prevailing sensational trends.

As I sign off for the last time from AnandTech, I’m profoundly grateful for the years I’ve spent here, writing for one of the most impactful tech platforms. While sayings like “heartbroken” capture my sentiment, reflecting on our achievements brings a sense of pride. This chapter may close for me as AnandTech’s editor-in-chief, but my journey in tech continues, likely with new pursuits in this boundless field.

Thanks to everyone—fans, critics, readers, competitors, academics, engineers, and tech enthusiasts. Your support over the years has been priceless.

With deep appreciation,
Ryan Smith