Punkt. Unveils MC03 Smartphone

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Pricing and Subscription Backlash

  • Strong pushback on €699 hardware plus €9.99/month OS subscription; many see “phone-as-a-service” as rent-seeking.
  • Users object to paying both full device price and ongoing fees, comparing it to locked car features (heated seats, engines).
  • Several say the cost of OS maintenance should be baked into the device price, as with mainstream phones.
  • FAQ language (“core services and privacy features will be limited” without subscription) worries people about practical lock-in, even if the phone doesn’t fully brick.

Debate on Paying for Software and Updates

  • Some defend the principle of paying for OS work: donations are unreliable; free expectations harm small software.
  • Others counter that, in practice, this looks like double-charging for a fork of AOSP/Lineage/old GrapheneOS, with unclear upstream support or revenue sharing.
  • A few see subscriptions as a legitimate answer to “if you don’t pay, you’re the product,” but dislike the way it’s framed.

Unclear Value Proposition and Audience

  • Many struggle to see who this serves: privacy-conscious “nerds” can install GrapheneOS/Lineage on Pixels more cheaply and with more control.
  • Locked-down OS, no clear custom ROM path, and a black-box VPN undercut the device’s credibility for privacy-focused users.
  • Compared to a Pixel + GrapheneOS, commenters see little security gain and worse openness.

From Minimalist Dumbphones to Another Slab

  • Fans of earlier Punkt models (MP01/MP02) liked the numpad, small form factor, and “dumb+” philosophy, despite software flaws.
  • The MC03 is criticized as just another full-screen Android slab, adding complexity and distractions while losing the minimalist differentiator.
  • Some lament the lack of good “dumb-ish” phones with GPS, music, MFA, and physical keyboards.

Privacy, Trust, and Marketing Concerns

  • Website behavior (push notifications prompt, geolocation, social media buttons) clashes with the privacy branding.
  • Swiss “secure” marketing evokes skepticism and comparisons to past compromised Swiss crypto vendors.
  • Listing standard components like SAR sensors and coulometers is seen either as spec padding or genuine transparency.

Messaging and Practicality

  • WhatsApp’s dominance in Europe is noted as a major practical constraint for non-standard phones, though there’s debate about how “mandatory” it really is socially.