MKBHD's controversial wallpaper app is shutting down this month
What's the story
Marques Brownlee, the tech influencer known as MKBHD, has announced the shutdown of his wallpaper app, Panels. The decision comes just over a year after its controversial launch in September 2024. "We made mistakes making our first app, and ultimately, we weren't able to turn it into the vision I had," Brownlee said in an unlisted video on his YouTube channel.
Controversy
Panels faced criticism for high subscription costs
The launch of Panels was marred by criticism over its expensive subscription pricing and advertising setup. The app charged users $50 a year or $12 per month for access to high-resolution wallpapers, a service that many felt could be availed for free with personal photos. A free version of the app offered lower-quality images but required users to watch ads before downloading anything.
Issues
Data collection concerns and low sales
Panels also faced criticism for its alleged data collection practices. The app asked users for permission to access their location, usage data, and personally identifying information—data that didn't seem essential for a wallpaper app. Despite Brownlee's efforts to address these concerns, the app struggled with low sales. According to Appfigures data, Panels had about 900,000 downloads since launch and generated around $95,000 in purchases across iOS and Android platforms.
Next steps
Brownlee's plans for the future
In light of these challenges, Brownlee has decided to shut down Panels by the end of this month. He said all user data would be deleted after the app shuts down. However, he plans to open-source the Panels code and make it available on GitHub. All subscriptions will also be automatically canceled when Panels is removed from app stores, with refunds for active subscriptions issued after December 31.