New York, NY – Tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee, popularly known as MKBHD, recently addressed the criticisms surrounding his new wallpaper app, Panels. In a video released on Friday, Brownlee acknowledged that his team had made mistakes in pricing at the app’s launch, leading to an influx of negative feedback from fans on various social media platforms. Despite the criticism, Brownlee admitted that the app needed improvement, even suggesting that he would not have been kind if he were to review it himself.
One of the primary concerns raised by users was the steep cost of the premium “Panels Plus” subscription, priced at $11.99 per month or $49.99 per year. In response to the feedback, Brownlee and his team took steps to enhance the free user experience by eliminating in-feed ads, providing access to non-collection wallpapers in 1080p without ads, and allowing users to obtain a full-resolution wallpaper by watching a 30-second advertisement. Additionally, they introduced a more affordable “Standard” tier for Panels Plus at $1.99 per month, which offers ad-free individual wallpapers. The higher-tier “Unlimited” subscription, still priced at $11.99 per month or $49.99 per year, grants full collection access and early access to new wallpapers.
Addressing privacy concerns, Brownlee acknowledged that the extensive list of data permissions listed in the App Store for Panels had caused confusion among users. He clarified that the list was a precautionary measure and reassured users that he had no intention of collecting their data. Notably, Brownlee emphasized that the app could be used without creating an account, offering users a level of privacy and security.
During the video, Brownlee also revealed plans for weekly drops on Fridays featuring new artwork and assured viewers that the app’s content would not be overrun with AI-generated material. The Panels app, coincidentally launched on the same day as MKBHD’s iPhone 16 review back in September, aims to provide users with a curated selection of high-quality wallpapers for their devices.