New York, December 02, 2025
Tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee announces the shutdown of his custom phone wallpaper app, Panels, by the end of 2025 due to sustainability challenges and team alignment issues. The app, available on Google Play and Apple App Store, will cease new wallpaper sales with refunds offered to subscribers.
Shutdown Timeline and User Guidance
Panels will stop accepting new wallpaper purchases immediately, with users advised to download any desired content before the complete shutdown at the end of 2025. Annual subscribers will receive pro-rated refunds starting December 31, 2025. After the closure, all user data associated with the app will be deleted, but previously downloaded wallpapers will remain accessible on personal devices.
Background and Market Presence of Panels
Launched by Marques Brownlee, a prominent tech reviewer, Panels gained traction by featuring high-quality wallpapers often showcased in his videos. The app reached top charts on both major app stores but ultimately failed to align with Brownlee’s long-term vision and sustainability goals. Its appeal rested on curated, premium wallpapers tailored to tech enthusiasts seeking personalized phone backgrounds.
Future Prospects: Open-Sourcing the App
Following the shutdown, Brownlee plans to release Panels’ source code under the Apache 2.0 license. This will allow developers and the community to continue evolving the app or use its framework as a foundation for similar projects. This move reflects a shift toward open collaboration and transparency after the official closure of the proprietary service.
Impact on Users and the Tech Community
The decision to discontinue Panels underscores challenges faced by niche app developers in maintaining sustainable operations and team coherence. Users must act promptly to secure their wallpapers and anticipate service discontinuation. The open-source transition may foster innovation and sustain aspects of the app’s functionality for interested developers and users beyond Brownlee’s involvement.
As the digital content landscape evolves, the Panels case highlights the complexities of balancing creative ambition with practical sustainability in app development.