MKBHD’s Panels app, released with much anticipation, has faced a lukewarm reception from both fans and critics. The app, which primarily offers curated wallpapers designed by various artists, stands out with its sleek design but has encountered significant backlash over its pricing model and execution. At its core, Panels provides access to digital wallpapers, but to unlock high-quality 4K versions, users are required to subscribe to a $50 annual plan or pay $12 monthly, a price point many find exorbitant for a wallpaper app. Competing apps like Zedge or Backdrops offer similar features for far less, making Panels’ pricing hard to justify for many users.
The free tier of the app also leaves much to be desired. To download wallpapers in standard definition (1080p), users must sit through two advertisements per wallpaper, which feels excessive considering the lower resolution available for free. This limitation has frustrated users who expected higher-quality images without a paywall. Moreover, for an app associated with a tech influencer as prominent as Marques Brownlee, known for his high production values and attention to detail, this has been a significant disappointment.
Another major point of contention is the app’s inclusion of AI-generated wallpapers. While the app features artwork from artists, users noticed that some of the images may be AI-enhanced, leading to questions about why they should pay for content they could generate themselves with AI tools. When confronted with these criticisms, MKBHD defended the artists’ creative processes, stating that artists have the freedom to incorporate AI as they see fit. This response, however, did not satisfy some users who feel that they’re paying for content that could be produced without the artist's touch.
Lastly, privacy concerns have emerged. Panels requests permission to track user activity across other apps and websites, which seems unnecessary for a wallpaper app. This request, combined with the overall dissatisfaction surrounding the app’s functionality and value, has contributed to the negative feedback. On iOS, these tracking permissions are particularly noticeable, whereas the Android version doesn’t prompt users in the same way, which raised further questions about consistency.
While the app does have potential and promises to evolve over time, with MKBHD teasing future updates, Panels has yet to live up to the high expectations set by its initial release. Many users have already uninstalled it after a short trial, citing the combination of high costs, intrusive ads, and lack of groundbreaking features as reasons for their disappointment.