Summary
- Punkt MC03 introduced as a privacy-first subscription-based AphyOS smartphone.
- Specs include a 6.67-inch 120 Hz OLED display, Dimensity 7300 chip and 5,200mAh battery.
- Punkt MC03 costs $699 (approximately Rs 63,000) and monthly OS fee is set at $9.99 (approximately Rs 900).
When it comes to privacy and security, our smartphones, especially the Operating System, do little to nothing in terms of safeguarding our data. From third-party adverts to data-based targeted promotion, every brand in the world is making the most of our digital footprint. That's where the Punkt MC03 steps in. It promises to keep your personal data fenced off from the adtech economy. However, it doesn't come cheap.
Punkt MC03 is a decently specced software-focused privacy phone
For those unaware, the Swiss-based brand Punkt has been in this data privacy business for over a decade now. The Punkt MC03 is the third Android-based phone whose primary USP is the AphyOS. Although it is built on AOSP (Android Open Source Project), it strips the OS of all Google software and apps.
To make this work, Punkt maintains a pair of databases dubbed the Vault and Wild Web. Using Vault, Punkt can vet and allow only those apps and software to run on the OS which are privacy-first. This includes apps like Proton Mail, Proton VPN and software like Punkt's in-house email, messaging and even calendar services.
Wild Web on the other hand allows AphyOS to install mainstream Android apps only after they have been stripped off their tracking abilities. Users gain the ability on their end to control the nature and behaviour of these apps and maintain a lease on unauthorised sharing threshold.
So, it is clear that while the end user is getting a clean, minimal and safe OS, the work that goes behind maintaining such strict walls doesn't come easy and definitely cheap. That's why, to keep AphyOS running, Punkt will charge MC03 users a monthly subscription fee of $9.99 (approximately Rs 900). For the first year, this fee has been waived.
As for the smartphone's other specs, it offers a pretty standard mix of hardware. The screen is a 6.67-inch 120 Hz OLED display and it runs on the Dimensity 7300 processor. There is a 5,200mAh battery inside and it comes with 30W wired and 15W wireless charging support. Other than that, the phone ships with a 64 MP main camera, an 8 MP ultra-wide angle lens and an IP68 rating.
That said, Punkt MC03 is up for pre-order in the USA for $699 (approximately Rs 63,000). It will be officially showcased at CES 2026 next week and open sales will commence thereafter.
Source
Punkt
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