Punkt. Is Back With A New Privacy-Focused Phone That Walls Off Your Data

Punkt. Is Back With a New Privacy-Focused Phone That Walls Off Your Data

Last updated: 2026/01/02 at 12:23 PM

News Room Published 2 January 2026

Swiss smartphone brand Punkt. has unveiled its latest smartphone, the MC03, ahead of CES 2026. The brand is known for offering “privacy-first” phones with a minimalist design, and its latest device is no different.

The MCO3 is assembled in Germany and runs on AphyOS, an open-source Android system that gives users greater control over their private information. The software, Punkt. says, is effective in cutting down tracking technology, bloatware, hidden apps, and unknown background activities.

“If you don’t pay for a product, you are the product. With the MC03, you pay to retain your data, as an alternative to paying with your data,” Punkt. argues.

Like its predecessor, the MC02, the MCO3 stores your data in separate repositories. Here, they’re called the Vault and the Wild Web. The Vault only stores data from Punkt.-vetted apps, which include those from Proton, such as Proton Mail, Proton Drive, Proton VPN, and Proton Pass. The Wild Web, on the other hand, lets you install any Android app you want, as long as it provides simple, visible privacy controls and blocks unauthorized data sharing.

On the hardware front, you get a 6.67-inch FHD+ OLED120Hz display, a 5,200mAh removable battery, a 64MP main camera, and a 32MP front camera. It runs an octacore MediaTek Dimensity 7300 (MT6878) chip with 8GB of RAM. The phone also has an IP68 rating, which means it can resist dust and splashes to a great extent.

Like Whoop, Punkt. uses a subscription model. You can buy the MC03 for $699 and get its services, including the built-in Digital Nomad VPN, free for the first 12 months. After that, you will need to pay $9.99 per month for the AphyOS software. Punkt. also offers 3-year ($129) and 5-year ($199) bundles, which reduce the monthly cost to $5.38 and $4.15, respectively.

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“Without an active subscription, certain core services and privacy features will be limited,” Punkt. says. “The subscription funds ongoing security updates, privacy services, infrastructure, and continuous OS development—without relying on advertising, data harvesting, or profiling. This ensures long-term independence, transparency, and trust.”

The MC03 is available for preorder now and ships to North America in the spring.