What I liked best about Apple OS X Yosemite was its clean and modern user interface along with the overall smooth user experience. The redesigned look felt more polished and intuitive compared to previous versions, and the system performance remained stable for daily tasks and productivity work. Features like better integration across Apple devices, improved notifications, and enhanced multitasking made the operating system more convenient to use. I also appreciated the simplicity and consistency of the macOS ecosystem, which helped improve workflow efficiency. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

One downside of Apple OS X Yosemite was that performance could occasionally feel slower on older Mac hardware, especially after extended usage or while running multiple applications simultaneously. Some compatibility issues were also noticeable with a few third-party applications during the initial transition period. While the redesigned interface looked modern, a few visual changes took time to get used to compared to earlier versions of macOS. 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.

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.

What I like most about OS X Yosemite is its clean, modern design and improved integration with iPhone through Continuity and Handoff, which makes it easy to switch between devices and stay productive. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

One thing I dislike about OS X Yosemite is that it can feel slower on older Macs, and some users experienced Wi-Fi connectivity issues after upgrading. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Love the clean, modern redesign and how Handoff lets me move between my iPhone and Mac effortlessly. Spotlight search is also way more useful now. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

There isn't much I dislike, the icons were a change but not bad. Sometimes it feels a little slower, but that could just be older hardware. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.