Marquez Brownlee’s Panels app is shutting down on December 31st. The producers blame this on the changing development team, as they “were not able to bring in collaborators who shared our passion and vision, and we couldn’t find the right fit.”
Annual subscribers will receive a refund when the app is closed and any downloaded wallpapers will still be available for use. Additionally, the developers will make the app’s code available to “allow anyone to build on what we started.”
Brownlee, a popular tech YouTuber who goes by MKBHD, introduced the Panels app in 2024. It topped various app charts for some time, but was mired in controversy. It’s basically a marketplace for smartphone wallpaper images, but it requires a high subscription price for actual access. Angry consumers also complained that the app was plagued with intrusive ads and mandatory intrusive data-tracking permissions.
MKBHD tried to address concerns by introducing cheaper subscription tiers and improving the free experience. However, it looks like the damage has been done. Even without the disappointment, the panels were a tough sell, as many people don’t want to spend real money on smartphone wallpapers. The idea may have come about when smartphones were still new and exciting, but that ship had sailed a decade ago.
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