Finally, a smartphone that doesn't vie for your attention or sell your soul to advertisers. Punkt. The MC03 is a Swiss-made, German-made safe, with a removable battery and an operating system that gives Google the middle finger. But freedom comes at a price - literally.
The world has become, let's be honest, a pretty strange place. Your refrigerator knows when you're on a diet, your car knows when you're speeding, and your phone knows what you're thinking before you even say it. We've become digital slaves to algorithms that, in exchange for "free" services, steal what's most sacred to us - our privacy. And then it comes along Punk., a Swiss company that decided enough was enough. Their new MC03 It's not just a phone; it's a statement. It's the digital equivalent of driving an old Land Rover Defender through a city center full of electric scooters.
Swiss mind, German muscles
Let's get one thing straight first. This is not a plastic toy from the East. MC03 It is designed in Switzerland and manufactured in Germany (specifically in Bocholt, by Gigaset). When you hold it in your hands, you feel that heavy-duty quality that we last felt when phones were made of “phone” and not of glass and hope. It is robust, serious and black.
It is powered by a processor MediaTek Dimensity 7300. Is this the fastest chip in the world? No. Will it run the latest games in 4K resolution? Probably not, and honestly, if you're buying this phone to play games, you're missing the point more than a vegan in a steakhouse. This processor is here to get the job done—reliably and efficiently.
The screen is surprisingly modern: 6.67 inches (16.9 cm) OLED panel with refresh rate 120 HzThis means your browsing through encrypted emails will be buttery smooth. With a brightness of 550 nits, it's not exactly a spotlight, but it's good enough to see who's not following you.
AphyOS: Where Google Doesn't Exist
The heart of this phone is not the hardware, but the software soul. It's called AphyOS. It's based on Android 15, but with all of Google's tentacles surgically removed. There's no Play Store, no tracking, no profiling.
The system is divided into two parts:
- The Vault: A secure environment for your most sensitive data – email, calendar, contacts. This is where apps like Proton Mail and Signal reign supreme.
- Wild Web: A sandbox where you can install those “necessary evil” apps (like WhatsApp or Maps), but your phone controls their every move. It’s like having a tiger in a cage – you can watch it, but it can’t bite you.
Best feature? Digital Nomad, a built-in VPN that keeps your location a mystery to internet snoopers. This is a phone for people who understand that “free” on the internet means you are the product.
A battery that you can… replace?!
Sit down, because this is going to shock you. Period. The MC03 has a 5,200 mAh battery that is removable. Yes, you read that right. When the battery dies, you don't buy a new phone for 1,000 euros, but simply remove the cover and insert a new one. It's an engineering solution that is so logical and ecological that all other manufacturers, of course, abandoned it a decade ago. Charging is done with a power of 30 W (wired) or 15 W (wireless). It's not record-breaking fast, but considering that your phone won't constantly bother you with notifications, the battery will last forever.
Cameras: Good enough for evidence
If you're expecting the kind of photography that influencers are bragging about, look away. The main camera is 64 MP, which sounds impressive, and it takes decent photos. There's also an 8 MP ultra-wide camera for landscapes and a 2 MP macro camera that's probably just there to fill a hole in the case. The 32 MP front-facing camera will keep you looking sharp on secure video calls. But let's be honest—you won't be taking pictures of your avocado toast for Instagram with this phone. You'll be taking pictures of documents that will later destroy corporations. (I'm kidding. Maybe.)
The price of freedom
Here we come to the point “Jeremy Clarkson” The moment we stop. The phone costs €699 (about 765 $). That's the price of a decent "flagship killer". But, and this is a big but, AphyOS is a service. The first year is included in the price, and then you have to pay a subscription, about €10 to €12 (about 11-13 $) per month.
Many will say: “Paying to use your own phone? Crazy!” And they are right. But look at it from the other side. With Samsung or Google, you pay with your data, your privacy and your peace of mind. With Punkt, you pay with money. It is a fair exchange. It is like paying a security guard instead of leaving your apartment door open for every passerby.
Conclusion: Who is this for?
MC03 It's not for your nephew who lives on TikTok. It's not for those who need dog-eared filters on Snapchat. It's telephone for adults. For CEOs, journalists, lawyers and all those who value their privacy more than pixels on a screen. Even the mafia.
It's bold, it's different, and it's completely uncompromising in its own way. In a world where all phones have become glass slabs screaming for attention, the MC03 is a silent monolith in the corner of the room. It may not be the fastest, and it certainly isn't the cheapest, but it has something the others don't - integrity. And a removable battery. Hell, I'd buy it for the battery alone.
This is a phone that says, “I don’t care about your likes, I care about your life.” And in 2026, that’s probably the sexiest spec of all.
