Punkt launches German‑assembled MC03 privacy smartphone for US release
Punkt, the Switzerland‑based company known for privacy‑focused handsets, will bring its latest smartphone, the MC03, to the United States this spring. The company says the model refines several aspects of its prior effort while maintaining its emphasis on data protection and controlled software services.
The MC03 addresses criticisms aimed at Punkt’s previous smartphone, the MC02, by introducing a more modern display and a number of hardware and software updates. The device features a 6.67‑inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, an upgrade from the 60Hz LCD used in the earlier model. The phone is IP68 rated and is driven by a MediaTek 7300 chipset.
Battery life and repairability were also targeted for improvement. The MC03 ships with a 5,200mAh battery that is user‑replaceable, a notable detail for buyers who prioritise longevity and ease of maintenance.
On the software side, the MC03 runs AphyOS, created by Apostrophy, a company that, like Punkt, focuses on privacy. AphyOS is based on AOSP 15, which is more current than the AOSP 13 base used by the MC02. Punkt says the MC03 is scheduled to receive three operating system upgrades and five years of security updates.
Punkt and Apostrophy describe AphyOS as stripping background tracking features commonly associated with Google services. The system uses proprietary apps for functions such as email and calendar, while still allowing users to run apps from the Google Play Store inside a secure sandbox.
The company has chosen a subscription business model for that software environment. The reporting on the exact terms contains two figures: the first year of the subscription is included for free, and the report cites both $12 per month and $10 per month as the fee after the free year in different passages. The MC03’s US price is reported at $699, and the company offers three‑ and five‑year bundle options at purchase that can reduce the ongoing subscription cost.
Punkt’s move to assemble the MC03 in Europe is a key change. The phone is assembled at a Gigaset factory in Bocholt, Germany. Gigaset has been producing smartphones in Germany since 2018; Punkt sources parts from elsewhere but performs final assembly at the Bocholt facility. Punkt presents this shift as the company’s first device assembled in Europe, a departure from its earlier Asia‑based production.
Beyond assembly, Punkt has positioned the MC03 in a growing segment of devices that prioritise privacy, repairability and longer support cycles. The reported MSRP of $699 puts the MC03 in closer financial range to other premium, privacy‑minded handsets. For example, the Fairphone 6—a highly repairable device running privacy‑oriented software by Murena—is cited at $899 in reported comparisons.
The MC03’s specification list highlights the tradeoffs inherent in a privacy‑centred product strategy. AphyOS aims to reduce vendor tracking and provide a controlled app environment, but that control is delivered in conjunction with a paid subscription. The company frames the subscription as a way to avoid using customer data as the primary revenue source.
Punkt’s stated commitments include multi‑year software upgrades and extended security patching, along with a focus on repairable components such as the replaceable battery. The company’s decision to perform final assembly in Germany is intended to signal a degree of supply‑chain localization and manufacturing oversight.
The MC03’s arrival in the US market will test demand for a privacy‑focused smartphone that couples European assembly with a paid software service. Punkt’s approach underscores a broader shift in some corners of the smartphone industry: offering tighter control over data and longer software support, at a price premium and with recurring fees for ongoing privacy features and services.
Key Topics
Punkt Mc03, Privacy-focused Smartphone, Aphyos Operating System, Apostrophy Software, Aosp 15 Base, Mediatek 7300 Chipset, 6.67-inch Oled 120hz Display, Ip68 Water Resistance, User-replaceable 5200mah Battery, Made In Germany Assembly, Gigaset Bocholt Factory, Subscription Software Model, Five Years Security Updates