Minimal phone pioneer Punkt unveils a new privacy-centric model at CES
The Swiss minimal phone pioneer Punkt is back with a new model, the MC03. This handset continues Punkt's commitment to privacy, security, and digital minimalism.
If you've never seen Punkt's MP01 and MP02, the company's gorgeously minimal dumb phone line, they're a sight to behold. (The MP01 is even a museum piece, on display at New York's Museum of Modern Art.) This new MC03 is Punkt's second attempt at a more practical touchscreen smartphone, following the MC02 in 2023. While you might sacrifice some physical beauty and tactile buttons, you gain flexibility.
As before, the smartphone runs AphyOS, a privacy- and security-focused operating system based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). The MC03's UI appears to draw inspiration from the Light Phone line, featuring a row of text for common shortcuts like mail, contacts, and calendar.
The MC03 divides data into two sections. The Vault is a secure enclave for apps that Punkt has vetted for privacy and security. The Wild Web, on the other hand, offers the freedom to install any Android app. To safeguard your activities in the Wild Web, Punkt introduces Ledger, which provides strict, visible safeguards that allow easy privacy controls. Similar to Android's Permission Manager, Ledger lets you define which data, sensors, and background resources each app can access, giving you more gradual control over your data.
All apps from Proton, a Swiss company, are available in The Vault. (These include Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, Proton VPN, and Proton Pass.) Proton's founder and CEO, Andy Yen, expressed hope that this collaboration can "inject a little more choice into the marketplace, giving users more ways to take control of their data and regain their privacy."
The MC03 isn't designed for cutting-edge hardware. It features an OLED display with a high (120Hz) frame rate, ideal for showcasing its clean, black UI. The phone has a removable 5,200mAh battery and a 64MP camera. It is also rated IP68 for water and dust resistance.
Shipments for the Punkt MC03 begin this month in the European market. The phone is priced at €699 / CHF699 / £610. As with its previous models, the MC03 requires a subscription. One year of the subscription is included with your purchase, after which you'll pay €9.99 / CHF9.99 / £8.99 monthly. However, paying ahead for a long-term subscription can save you up to 60 percent. For more information, visit the company's website.
