Punkt MC03: a €745 smartphone built around privacy, not raw specs

Punkt. has started shipping the MC03 smartphone after its pre-order period. The device is positioned as a “sovereign smartphone”: it was developed in Switzerland, manufactured in Germany, and runs AphyOS — an operating system based on open-source Android 15. The model is available from Punkt. only in black for €745, or about $870.

On paper, the Punkt. MC03 does not look like an especially aggressive deal for that money. It has a 6.67-inch OLED display with a 1080x2436 resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate, an under-display fingerprint scanner, a MediaTek Dimensity 7300, 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of expandable storage. There are also stereo speakers, dual SIM support, eSIM, and an IP68 rating.

The cameras are also more practical than premium: a 64 MP main module with autofocus but no optical stabilization, an 8 MP ultra-wide camera with fixed focus, a 2 MP macro camera, and a 32 MP front camera, also without autofocus. The 5200 mAh battery is removable, while charging is supported at 30 W over cable and 15 W wirelessly.

The main bet is not on hardware, but on privacy and data control. Punkt. promises no tracking, profiling, or monetization of user information, as well as no mandatory subscriptions for AphyOS features. The system includes mail, messaging, calendar, and 5 GB of cloud storage, comes with the Threema messenger preinstalled, and adds a Data Ledger tool that shows how apps use data and permissions.

The company promises three years of functional updates and five years of security patches. Users who want extra privacy services can add Proton products separately, although some of them may require a paid subscription. In the end, the Punkt. MC03 looks less like a spec-sheet rival to mainstream flagships and more like a niche phone for people willing to pay for European origins, a removable battery, and a serious focus on data protection.