Farewell Journey: AnandTech’s Final Chapter

With a heavy heart, I bring you news that’s tough to write about—AnandTech is bidding farewell after 27 incredible years in the realm of computing hardware. We are closing a significant chapter that began with an AMD processor review and, poetically enough, also concludes with one. This journey has been a testament to our dedication to the heart of the tech industry—the chips that power our digital world.

Reflecting on more than two decades, it’s incredible to think about how much has changed since we embarked on this adventure in 1997. Back then, NVIDIA hadn’t even coined “GPU.” We’ve had the privilege of witnessing technology evolve from clunky desktops to sleek pocket-sized computers that would shame the fastest PCs of yesteryear.

Publishing, too, has experienced its own transformation. While AnandTech wasn’t the first hardware enthusiast website, it certainly became a standout over the years, thriving in a landscape where many others did not. This success came from sheer passion, strategic decisions, hard work, and invaluable support from friends, colleagues, and, very importantly, our readers.

However, times change and the demand for written tech journalism isn’t what it used to be. Thus, the moment has come for AnandTech to gracefully step aside, making way for budding tech journalists to take the spotlight.

Serving as both a writer for AnandTech for 19 years and its editor-in-chief for the last decade has been an immense honor. My role as the final editor feels bittersweet. Yet, I’m proud of what we’ve achieved, be it praising groundbreaking products, crafting technology primers that stand the test of time, or witnessing new talents emerge in the industry. With 21,500 articles under our belt, there’s still so much I wished for us to explore.

Even though our team is riding off into the sunset, I’m pleased to announce that AnandTech’s legacy will live on. Our publisher, Future PLC, plans to keep the site and its treasure trove of articles available indefinitely. The discussions and insights we’ve shared will remain there for readers to access and reference for a long time yet.

The AnandTech Forums, cherished for their rich history and dynamic discussions since 1999, will continue to thrive. Thanks to Future’s community team and our devoted moderators, the forums stand as thriving platforms for tech conversation well beyond our article’s publication life.

Though AnandTech will no longer produce fresh content, if you crave technical insights, our compatriots at Tom’s Hardware, another Future brand, remain steadfast in covering the tech world. Some familiar faces from AnandTech have joined their ranks, ensuring that expertise and quality reporting continue.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who played a part in AnandTech’s story. To our editors, who fueled the site with their expertise and passion—your contributions were the backbone. These individuals have gone on to accomplish extraordinary things across various fields, from technology development to rocket launches. Special recognition goes to our final class of editors—Gavin Bonshor, Ganesh TS, E. Fylladitakis, and Anton Shilov—who met every challenge with determination.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without Anand Lal Shimpi, the visionary who birthed this site from his bedroom 27 years ago. Though Anand retired a decade back, his standards for quality continue to resonate within AnandTech.

A thank you also extends to the countless hardware and software companies we’ve collaborated with over the years. The access given to brilliant engineers and the groundbreaking technologies they developed was an unparalleled learning experience. Though we sometimes had differing views, the shared commitment to innovation enriched both sides.

AnandTech’s publishers have been pivotal, granting us the creative freedom to truly reflect our ethos. A more profit-driven approach could easily have compromised our integrity, but we were fortunate to maintain editorial independence.

Lastly, immense gratitude to our readers—whether you’ve been with us since day one or recently discovered our work. Every article was crafted for you, to unveil astonishing tech advancements and deliver honest reviews. Readers have kept us sharper, driven us to excel, and held us accountable.

In a world where quick, sensational content is tempting, we’ve stood firm against the “Cable TV-ification” of online media. For those in or entering tech journalism, I encourage you to hold fast to rigorous, quality journalism. The web should not devolve into either dry academia or empty sensationalism. Balance is crucial.

Signing off here, it’s been a privilege to contribute to a site as influential as AnandTech. While this chapter closes, I’ll still be part of the tech world, engaging on platforms like Twitter/X.

To everyone who’s journeyed with AnandTech—thank you. Your support has been invaluable.

With countless memories and gratitude,
Ryan Smith