MKBHD‘s Wallpaper App, Panels, to Shut Down After Failing to Sustain Initial Momentum
SAN FRANCISCO – Marques Brownlee, the popular tech reviewer known as MKBHD, is shutting down his wallpaper app, Panels, on December 31, 2025. The app, launched in September 2024, struggled to maintain its initial user base despite a strong debut adn Brownlee’s significant online following.
Panels was born from a recurring observation: fans frequently inquired about the wallpapers and lock screens featured in Brownlee’s video reviews. Google even auto-suggested “where does mkbhd get his wallpapers” as a common search query. the app offered curated, high-resolution wallpapers created by partnered artists, available through a subscription model of $50 per year or $12 per month (with artists receiving a portion of the revenue).
Despite ranking No. 1 in the iOS and Google Play charts for photo apps upon launch, Panels couldn’t convert initial downloads into sustained engagement. Brownlee acknowledged the challenges in a recent unlisted YouTube video, stating, “We knew it was niche, but we made mistakes in making our first app, and ultimately, we weren’t able to turn it into the vision I had.” He also noted in a blog post that “the makeup of the advancement team changed,” hindering the app’s growth.
According to data from Appfigures, Panels amassed approximately 900,000 lifetime downloads and generated $95,000 in consumer spending. However, downloads dwindled to 3,000 in the last month, with consumer spending falling to $500, causing the app to drop off U.S. app store rankings. Users downloaded over 2 million wallpapers through the platform.
Panels will issue refunds to users with active annual subscriptions. the app’s code will be open-sourced after the shutdown, allowing other developers to possibly build upon the project. All user data will be deleted upon closure.
