Reviewer Reviewed: Why MKBHD’s Wallpaper App ‘Panels’ Got a 1-Star Rating from Fans

American tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee, better known as MKBHD, recently launched his wallpaper app Panels, available on both iOS and Android. “I’m so excited to launch this app! People have been asking me forever where I get my wallpapers, so here’s my answer, now and forever: Panels!” MKBHD announced on X (formerly Twitter). As hinted at in the announcement, while the app offers stunning, high-quality digital wallpapers created by talented artists, its steep price tag—$50 per year or $12 per month—raised eyebrows. Not only that, but the free version of Panels is riddled with ads. And to make matters worse, according to Apple’s App Store, the app can track users’ location, usage data, and personal identifiers across other apps and websites.

Fans had high hopes when the tech critic, who has been accused of sinking companies like Fisker and Humane with his scathing reviews, attempted to create his own subscription-based wallpaper app. However, many were disappointed, giving him a one-star rating, suggesting that while MKBHD did well in product reviews, his attempt to create one fell short of expectations.

MKBHD responds to criticism

The 30-year-old addressed the “mass feedback” he’s received from users, calling it “pretty great”: “The first thing we’re doing is fixing the excessive data disclosures that people have rightly called out. In the interest of transparency, we never ask for your location, internet history, etc. The data disclosures (where everyone takes screenshots) are probably very extensive and largely driven by what the ad networks recommend. We’re working to fix that as soon as possible.”

He also promised to “reduce” ads for the free version. As of now, people using the free version are downloading lower-resolution images, watching two 30-second ads per view. “As for pricing, I hear you! It’s our personal struggle to work towards providing that kind of value for the premium version. (It’s already launched weekly on Fridays) I’ll also be reducing the frequency of ads for the free experience,” he added.

“There’s more to come. Thank you all,” Brownlee added.

In response to a comment accusing Brownlee of buying an app developed in 2021 and rebranding it with a new logo and price tag, he explained that the app was built from scratch. “The funny thing is, I saw exactly how this rumor came about and it’s completely false. The Twitter account is from 2021 because it’s a username recovered from an inactive account. The app was built from scratch.”

When a social media user criticized him for bringing a “wallpaper app” to the tech market, he replied, “Dude. The target market for this is incredibly small. Most people wouldn’t download a wallpaper app. This is for those asking. If you’re not into this, don’t worry.”