Punkt Has a New Smartphone for Those Who Hate Smartphones.
If you’ve ever considered replacing your smartphone with a feature phone, you may have stumbled upon Punkt . The German company’s MP01 and MP02 phones were deliberately not “smart”; rather, they featured minimalist plastic cases with tiny displays and numerous large physical buttons. The point of owning one of these Punkt devices wasn’t to spend hours scrolling through your smartphone feed, but to use the phone when needed—and in privacy.
At first glance, the MC03 looks like any other smartphone.
The company’s MC0 series is a bit of a game-changer, and that’s no different with its latest model: the MC03. While the emphasis remains on privacy and minimalism, this new device is virtually indistinguishable from other Android smartphones on the market—at least in appearance. Gone are the physical buttons and tiny display; now you have a large OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a front-facing camera at the top. Flip the MC03 over and you’ll find four rear cameras positioned in the upper left corner of the back panel. Aside from the large “Punkt” logo in the lower right corner, it could really be any other phone.
The MC03 differs from Samsung or Motorola phones in what’s inside, including the operating system. When you open the phone, you’re not greeted by a grid of app icons and widgets. Instead, you see a list of app names and features, without icons or colors. This is the most simple interface you’d expect from a device with a modern smartphone display, and it may appeal to those seeking a minimalist experience.
That’s because the MC03 doesn’t run Android. Like previous Punkt phones, this device runs AphyOS, an operating system developed by Apostrophe . This custom OS is marketed as privacy-focused, and it’s what Punkt uses for the MC03. According to the company, AphyOS can block tracking and profiling tools, as well as prevent the installation of unnecessary programs, hidden apps, and background services. The OS is also reportedly capable of combating surveillance using “secure code” to block attacks.
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The company says this new phone separates data and features into two key “vaults”: first, “The Vault,” which includes Punkt-approved apps and a minimalist user interface. Proton is a trusted company, so you can expect to find Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, Proton VPN, and Proton Pass in the Vault. Second, “The Wild Web,” which allows you to install any app protected by a strict system of security measures and privacy settings. You can download apps from both the privacy-focused Punkt app store, which features apps approved by AphyOS and Punkt, and from a store with “widely available apps.”
Beyond the display, Punkt says the device boasts other hardware advantages, such as a removable 5,200 mAh battery—a rarity for modern smartphones—IP68 water and dust resistance, and a 64-megapixel camera.
Privacy on MC03 is not free.
However, all these features come at a price. After a year, you’ll be charged for AphyOS, which costs $10 per month. You can also subscribe for three years for $129 ($5.38 per month) or five years for $199 ($4.15 per month). The phone itself costs $699, which is relatively expensive for a phone in this class, so whether the privacy and minimalist benefits are worth the money will depend on the individual buyer. (I’m a big privacy advocate, but I’d definitely have to be impressed by the MC03 before I’d choose its OS subscription model.) If you don’t want a new phone, there are ways to streamline your existing device into a more minimalist option—and, of course, there are steps you can take to protect your privacy on any device .
The MC03 is not yet available. Punkt announced the new phone ahead of CES next week and said it will go on sale in North America this spring. Pre-orders are already open in Europe.