Youtuber Marques Brownlee gets canceled for selling wallpaper app set at $50 per year to fans

Marques Brownlee, known for his tech reviews as MKBHD, is facing backlash over his newly launched Panels wallpaper app, which charges $49 annually or $11.99 per month for access to curated wallpapers. The app, introduced during Brownlee’s iPhone 16 review, has disappointed many users who feel it offers nothing different from other generic wallpaper apps available on the App Store and Google Play. One user commented that the app "looks like any other generic wallpaper app" with the same "clunky menu system" and “expensive subscription pay gate.”

Panels promises a collection of high-resolution wallpapers from digital artists, but the pricing model has been widely criticized. Users can access standard-definition wallpapers by watching ads, which has also left fans unimpressed. "Yeah, standard-definition wallpapers are exactly what iPhone owners want on their displays," one user sarcastically remarked.

In addition to the subscription cost, the app has raised privacy concerns due to its tracking permissions, which include location and device activity monitoring. One user noted, "The wallpapers aren’t even that good," questioning the app's value. Despite the backlash, Brownlee defended the app, stating, "Revenue is split 50/50 between creators," and acknowledging the pricing concerns: "I hear you! It’s our own personal challenge to work to deliver that kind of value for the premium version."

Brownlee also mentioned that the ad frequency for the free version would be reduced and that the tracking permissions are under review. While it remains unclear if pricing will change, Brownlee has responded to the concerns raised by users.