Marques Brownlee’s controversial wallpaper app is shutting down

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The wallpaper app created by tech reviewer Marques Brownlee, called Panels, is closing down after only 15 months. It received criticism shortly after launch due to its pricing and how it displayed ads.

On September 23, 2024, popular tech reviewer MKBHD released his own app for premium wallpapers. He created it in response to years of fans asking about the wallpapers he uses in his videos.

When the app first came out, it offered many free wallpapers, but these were low-resolution and required watching two ads before you could download them. Higher-quality wallpapers were available for purchase in packs costing $8, or through a monthly subscription of $11.99.

The app immediately received strong criticism, and Brownlee quickly acknowledged his mistake, admitting he hadn’t delivered as expected.

A little over a year after its launch, the wallpaper app is closing down. Marques Brownlee announced the news in a private YouTube video on December 1, 2025.

MKBHD shutting down Panels wallpaper app

After receiving initial criticism last year, Brownlee quickly made significant changes. In early October 2024, he described the launch as a mistake, acknowledging that it hadn’t been explained well and should have been offered as a free application.

“If I was reviewing this app, I wouldn’t have been very nice,” he said.

As a result, some ads were taken down, and users could now download high-resolution versions of certain wallpapers. A premium subscription was still available, but it cost less – just $24 per year.

The app has been downloaded over two million times, as mentioned in a recent blog post. However, the creator explained in a new video that this wasn’t enough to keep the app running long-term.

“After a lot of deliberation, I’ve decided to sunset the Panels app,” he confirmed.

This app will stop working on December 31, 2025. If you’ve already bought or downloaded any wallpapers, you’ll still have access to them. We’ll also provide refunds to anyone with a current yearly subscription.

I’m really excited that Brownlee and his team are open-sourcing the app’s code! It means anyone can check out how it was built and even use it as a starting point to create their own apps – that’s awesome for the whole community.

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2025-12-02 02:48