Apple OS X Yosemite Reviews & Product Details

Apple OS X Yosemite provides a clean, modern interface that makes navigation intuitive and visually appealing. The Continuity features, such as Handoff and the ability to take phone calls and send texts directly from the Mac, greatly improve productivity and integration across devices. Spotlight search is faster and more powerful, making it easy to locate files or information quickly. Overall, Yosemite enhances workflow efficiency while maintaining Apple’s signature user-friendly design. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

While Yosemite introduced useful features, there were noticeable issues with Wi-Fi stability and occasional performance slowdowns, particularly on older hardware. Some users experienced compatibility challenges with third-party applications after upgrading. Additionally, the new design, though sleek, sometimes sacrificed clarity by flattening icons and reducing visual distinction. These downsides can affect reliability and consistency in daily use. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I like how simple and user-friendly OS X Yosemite is. The interface feels clean and organized, and it’s easy to navigate between applications and manage my files. I also liked how well it worked with other Apple devices and services, which made my day-to-day work more convenient. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The main thing I disliked was that some older applications and software were not always fully compatible with Yosemite. I also found that performance could slow down a bit when running several applications at the same time. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It’s incredibly simple to use, and the different features save me time every single day. Since I use an iPhone, the cross-device capabilities are a real lifesaver. I use iMessage for everything and don't know what I would do without it. Yosemite can handle everything I throw at it. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The only complaint I have about Yosemite is that some of the apps I use daily are not running as optimally as they were prior to this update. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Honestly, my favorite thing about OS X Yosemite was the design refresh. The clean, flat aesthetic—paired with those frosted-glass transparency effects—felt genuinely fresh. It made the whole interface look modern while still keeping that distinctly Mac feel. I also really liked how Continuity tied my iPhone and Mac together so seamlessly. Being able to answer calls or pick up a text right from my desktop felt like a game changer. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

My biggest gripe with Yosemite was its performance on older Macs—it could feel sluggish and really bog down machines that had run previous versions just fine. The translucency effects were undeniably beautiful, but they also seemed to chew through resources. I also wasn’t sold on the new font choice at first; Helvetica Neue looked great on Retina displays, yet on non-Retina screens it came across as a bit too thin and harder to read. On top of that, Wi‑Fi connectivity was a real headache for a lot of people early on, with some genuinely annoying bugs that took a while to get patched. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

1. Fresh, Modern Design

Yosemite introduced a flatter, cleaner interface inspired by iOS 7.

Transparent sidebars

Simplified icons

Clean system fonts

It felt lighter and more modern compared to previous versions.

2. Seamless Apple Ecosystem (Continuity)

One of the biggest upgrades was Continuity, working with iOS 8:

Handoff – Start an email on iPhone, finish on Mac

Make and receive phone calls on your Mac

Send/receive SMS from Mac

This was a game-changer if you used multiple Apple devices.

3. Improved Spotlight

Spotlight became much smarter:

Web results

Maps

App Store results

Quick conversions (currency, units)

It started feeling like a mini search engine inside your Mac.

4. Better Safari

Safari became faster and more energy-efficient, with a cleaner tab design and improved performance compared to Chrome at the time.

5. iCloud Drive

iCloud Drive replaced the old iCloud document system, making file syncing across devices much more flexible. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

1.Early Performance Issues

2.Overuse of Transparency

3.Reduced Skeuomorphism

4.Spotlight Changes

5.Compatibility Issues Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Apple OS X Yosemite has always been my favorite Apple OS. I find it very secure, and it blocks malware and viruses natively without needing any additional malware protection. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I dislike the fact that, for certain programs I need to use for work, I have to run Parallels and Windows just to use them. I really wish Apple would offer something natively, so I wouldn’t have to pay for an additional program. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Elegant UI, fast performance, and a Unix core that fits seamlessly into my Linux developer stack. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

A few interaction patterns in OS X Yosemite don’t really match natural human habits. Certain system actions feel a bit counterintuitive, so I sometimes have to take extra steps to do things that should be straightforward. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

for me, the best thing about it is the instant hotspot, the iphone call handling and how fast the processes are Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

it not receiving updates as much anymore Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It’s a really smooth experience working on macOS, even on the lowest-variant device. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It didn’t support older devices very well; it ran really slowly on them, and I also ran into connectivity issues. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I like how clean and simple OS X Yosemite feels] it’s easy to very use and looks modern the smooth performance and better integration with iPhone (like calls and messages) make it really convenient and simple. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Sometimes it feels a bit slow or laggy on older Macs after the update.

Also, the new design and changes can take time to get used to and may not suit everyone. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.