Marques Brownlee, also called MKBHD, is a tech-focused content material creator with practically 20 million YouTube subscribers, famend for his evaluations of the most recent devices.
He has dunked on the likes of the Humane Ai Pin and the Rabbit R1 with titles like “The Worst Product I’ve Ever Reviewed” and “Barely Reviewable,” however praised the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional (regardless of calling it flawed), OnePlus 12, and different merchandise.
Nonetheless, the seasoned, and arguably revered, tech reviewer lately launched a brand new wallpaper app referred to as Panels. And if X (previously Twitter) is something to go by (and the Apple App Retailer evaluations), the reception for the app has been poor.
Even Jesse Lyu, the CEO behind Rabbit R1, appeared to show some schadenfreude over the wave of criticism Brownlee has confronted on-line, sharing the next meme along with his followers.
The meme depicts Brownlee because the grim reaper, poking enjoyable at how some critics understand the YouTuber as a “startup killer” along with his candid evaluations. (When Brownlee reviewed the Humane Ai Pin, for instance, there was chatter about whether or not his harshness thwarts the expansion of small-time gadget makers.)
The meme exhibits Humane Ai Pin co-founder Imran Chaudhri, Lyu, and Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner being victims of Brownlee’s sharp tongue. Curiously, the final individual of the lineup is Brownlee himself, implying that the YouTuber’s newest enterprise ought to be subjected to his personal brutal critiques.
MKBHD’s new Panels app will get poor evaluations
It is not simply Lyu, nonetheless, who has been trolling Brownlee. The Panels app, revealed in Brownlee’s new iPhone 16 evaluation video, is designed to supply a curated assortment of high-res wallpapers from artists.
Credit score: Apple
“I’m so pumped to be launching this app!” Brownlee stated in a Sept. 23 X publish. “People have asked where I get wallpapers FOREVER, so this is the answer, now and forever: PANELS!”
Nonetheless, the replies beneath Brownlee’s publish do not seem to match his enthusiasm.
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“Pretty disappointed in this,” Ian Zelbo stated. “Doesn’t have the polish / design I’d expect. Seems like something that’s been on the App Store already that you slapped your name on. Ads everywhere and it just all feels like a cash grab to me”
“The app is trash, you can get better, high-res wallpapers for free right here and many other accounts on X,” Corbin Williams stated.
“This damages your brand,” stated Alex Kehr. “It’s crazy that the #1 tech reviewer known for advocating for quality and usefulness would release a cash-grab subscription app with terrible UI design, filled with ads, and offering mediocre wallpapers.”
“Delete this garbage and pretend it was a joke,” bl0rq prompt.
Primarily based on the replies, as The Verge identified, it seems that customers are sad that the iOS model of Panels asks whether or not it may possibly monitor customers’ exercise. One of many information factors that it reportedly screens is location. (Although, as you will learn later, Brownlee refutes this declare.)
On high of that, the app requires customers to enroll in a $49.99 annual subscription or an $11.99-per-month membership. There are some wallpapers you’ll be able to entry at no cost, however just a few — they usually’re in commonplace definition (not high-res). However first, to entry them, customers have to observe two ads.
“$50/yr for WALLPAPERS?! And not a single high-res wallpaper downloadable for free with ads? Love team MKBHD and all, but that’s crazy,” Nevan stated.
“Half of your reviews are like ‘uh it’s expensive and it doesn’t really do anything’ lol you should review yourself,” cometcalls stated.
MKBHD responds to suggestions
Because of the suggestions, Brownlee posted a tweet on Sept. 24 that, partially, stated, “I hear you!”
In response to privateness issues, Brownlee stated the next: “First thing we’re doing is fixing the excessive data disclosures, as people rightfully brought up. For transparency, we’d never actually ask for your location, internet history, etc. The data disclosures (that everyone is screenshotting) is likely too broad, and largely driven by what the ad networks suggest.”
With reference to pricing, Brownlee stated that delivering worth for the premium model is a private problem — and he plans to dial again advert frequency for the free expertise, with extra updates to return.
The Panels app is not MKBHD’s first foray into an entrepreneurial enterprise. For instance, Brownlee has collaborated with Atoms for a sneaker line in addition to equipment maker Ridge.
The highway forward for Brownlee’s Panels app appears unsure, however with a devoted following and a promise of enhancements, there’s nonetheless hope for redemption.
