Marques Brownlee’s Panels wallpaper app is shutting down on December 31st, barely a year after its controversial launch. “We made mistakes making our first app, and ultimately, we weren’t able to turn it into the vision I had,” Brownlee said in a video on the MKBHD YouTube channel.
The Panels launch in September 2024 was met with a flood of criticism over its expensive subscription pricing and advertising setup. “Earlier this year, the makeup of the development team changed, and despite our best efforts to bring in collaborators who shared our passion and vision, we weren’t able to find the right fit,” reads a message on the Panels website. “Rather than keeping the app running without being able to grow it in the way we originally envisioned, we felt it was best to make a clean break.”
All user data will be deleted following the app shutdown, with Brownlee then planning to make the Panels code open source and available on GitHub. All subscriptions will be automatically canceled when Panels is pulled from app stores, and refunds for active subscriptions will be issued after December 31st.
It’s always tough to see an app come to an end, especially one that had such potential. MKBHD has contributed a lot to the tech community, and it’s interesting to reflect on the journey of the Panels app. Looking forward to what he has in store next!
I agree, it’s disappointing to see it go, especially after the excitement it generated. It’s interesting how quickly the app landscape can change, though—sometimes even great ideas struggle to find their audience. Hopefully, Marques takes the lessons learned into his future projects!
It’s definitely a letdown, especially considering the unique features it offered. It might be worth reflecting on how user feedback shaped the app’s journey—sometimes, even the best ideas don’t quite hit the mark in practice.