MKBHD's "Panels" App: A Premium Wallpaper Service That Missed the Mark

TL;DR: Marques Brownlee’s new app "Panels" has been met with criticism over its high subscription pricing for a wallpaper service. Despite addressing privacy concerns and promising regular content updates, many fans feel the app is out of touch with user needs, questioning whether MKBHD is losing his grounded approach.

Marques Brownlee, widely regarded for his tech reviews, recently launched "Panels," a premium wallpaper app that’s ignited a firestorm of criticism.

With a pricing model that demands $12 per month or $50 per year for its premium service, the app's value proposition has left many of his fans puzzled and frustrated. In response to the backlash, Brownlee took to social media to address the key concerns—specifically around the app’s data privacy issues and its contentious pricing model.

He promised to fix the overly broad data disclosures, which had understandably raised alarms, and pledged to reduce ad frequency for the free version.

Additionally, he teased the rollout of weekly content drops as a way to justify the app’s premium price. However, these measures have done little to quell the growing dissatisfaction.

The very premise of a paid wallpaper app seems out of sync with current market expectations, especially when high-quality alternatives like Vellum are available for free or at a minimal one-time cost.

Brownlee’s acknowledgment of the pricing feedback without adjusting the subscription cost has only fueled the perception that "Panels" is disconnected from reality.

The most baffling aspect of this situation is how it contradicts the principles that have long defined Brownlee’s brand—practicality, value, and a no-nonsense approach to tech.

Fans who have followed his journey for years are now left wondering if he’s beginning to lose touch with the very audience that helped build his reputation. In the end, "Panels" feels like a miscalculated venture that may tarnish the trust and credibility Brownlee has worked so hard to establish.

While he’s promised more updates and improvements, the damage may already be done.

You can check out the app at panels.art.