Tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee, known as MKBHD, has expanded his role from tech reviewer to app creator with the launch of “Panels,” a wallpaper app for iOS and Android. The app features high-quality digital wallpapers curated by Brownlee from various artists. However, there’s a catch — users must pay $50 per year or $12 per month to access high-resolution wallpapers without ads.
With nearly 20 million YouTube subscribers, Brownlee is a highly influential figure in the tech world. His reviews have even been cited as contributing to the struggles of companies like Fisker and Humane, though these claims overlook critical issues within those companies themselves. Given his reputation for detailed, high-quality reviews, expectations were high when he announced his foray into app development.
The concept behind Panels is strong. Fans often inquire about the stylish wallpapers featured in Brownlee’s tech reviews, and with the recent release of iOS 18, which focuses on lock screen and home screen customization, the timing couldn’t be better. However, the app’s pricing model has drawn criticism. While users can access the app for free and download low-resolution images by watching ads, the high subscription fees seem like something Brownlee might criticize in his own reviews.
On a positive note, Panels offers a new revenue stream for digital artists. Brownlee has structured the payment model to split earnings 50-50 with artists, after platform fees. While finding high-quality wallpapers online is often free, Brownlee’s influence might create a sustainable market for these artists.
However, concerns about data privacy have emerged. Users noticed that Panels could potentially track location and personal data across other apps. Brownlee quickly addressed the issue on X, acknowledging the problem and promising to fix the app’s data disclosures, which he attributed to overly broad ad network settings. He also committed to reducing the frequency of ads in the free version of the app.
Though the free version of Panels offers access to wallpapers, the low-resolution images may not look great without additional filters. Still, Brownlee’s transparent response and willingness to adapt based on user feedback may help the app gain traction in the long run.
“Part of building in public is getting mass feedback immediately, which is pretty dope,” Brownlee said, comparing the process to publishing a YouTube video.
