Farewell to AnandTech: The Journey’s End

It’s with a heavy heart that I write what is undoubtedly the toughest news post of my career at AnandTech. After an incredible run of over 27 years in the dynamic realm of computing hardware, today marks the final day of AnandTech’s publication.

Reflecting on this journey, one finds a sort of poetic symmetry in how it began and ends with a review of an AMD processor. This journey illustrates our passion and dedication to covering the crucial chips that fuel the computing industry.

The past quarter-century has seen extraordinary transformations. Back in 1997, NVIDIA hadn’t even introduced the term “GPU.” We witnessed the evolution of tech from bulky desktops to mobile devices that now vastly outperform the fastest PCs of the past.

Publishing has changed significantly as well. AnandTech was never the first nor will be the last in the world of hardware enthusiasts’ sites. Yet, we thrived where others didn’t, thanks to hard work, strategic investments in talent and innovation, and the unwavering support of our colleagues, readers, and friends.

However, all good things must come to an end, and the realm of written tech journalism isn’t what it used to be. It’s time for AnandTech to step aside, allowing a fresh wave of tech journalists to take the stage.

Serving as the editor-in-chief for the past decade has been a profound honor. There’s some regret in being the one to close this chapter, but immense pride in all we’ve achieved. With 21,500 articles, it was a great start, though there’s more I wished we could do.

The AnandTech site will thankfully remain online, hosted by Future PLC, allowing our extensive library to remain accessible and relevant. The AnandTech Forums will also continue under their guidance, offering a space for tech discussions to thrive long past our publishing days.

For those craving quality tech writing, Tom’s Hardware remains a sibling site of sorts, covering the latest in technology with some familiar faces from AnandTech lending their expertise.

As I look back, I owe profound gratitude to many. To all the editors over the years, your passionate and insightful work defined AnandTech. You were not just colleagues but the heartbeat of our mission, each turning into remarkable successes in various fields.

Special thanks are due to the final editorial team who ensured the last articles meet our high standards: Gavin Bonshor, Ganesh TS, E. Fylladitakis, and Anton Shilov.

We wouldn’t be where we are without Anand Lal Shimpi, who started this journey. Though he left tech journalism a decade ago, his excellence and teachings still echo in our work.

We extend thanks to the hardware and software companies that have collaborated with us, sharing their revolutionary processes and products.

A thank you to our publishers, Future PLC and Purch, for the freedom to innovate in our reporting. Their support allowed us to remain true to AnandTech’s ideals, despite the risks.

Lastly, thank you to our readers. Whether you’ve been with us from the start or found us recently, your engagement made our efforts worthwhile. We’ve always aimed to inform and challenge, offering balanced reviews of the tech world.

As the web shifts towards sensationalism, we continue to champion thoughtful, high-quality reporting. To all tech journalists out there: Stay true to delivering content that counters cynicism with depth and integrity.

As I pen this final goodbye, I’m both sad and proud of the journey this has been. The support from the industry and our dedicated readers has made this dream job a reality. Though my role here concludes, my passion for technology does not. I’ll remain active on platforms like Twitter/X, and who knows what the future holds for me.

To everyone who supported AnandTech over the years—find encouragement in knowing that your interest and passion drove us every step of the way. Thank you for your continued support.

Cheers,
Ryan Smith