Punkt MP02 review: a stylish, minimalist 4G phone for digital detoxers

Every action causes a reaction. And in a world where our smartphones are demanding more and more of our attention, a new category of phone has emerged. These so-called dumbphones don't boast about how many features they offer, but how few. In other words, they promise a deliberately minimalist experience for those seeking digital balance and a clearer, uncluttered mind. 

But not all dumbphones are the same. At one end of the spectrum there are those, such as the Nokia 6310, that deliberately ape the feature phones of the early 2000s. But while these are cheap to buy, they also feel cheap and, well, a bit nasty. Using one in public, you can feel passers-by looking at you with sympathy, assuming you can't afford a smartphone... or maybe that you've just got out of prison and are still using the one you went in with.

At the other end of the spectrum, if you want to digitally detox in style there are some seriously premium models. The Punkt MP02 sports an elegantly minimalist design that will make it the talk of any middle-class dinner party. It's not cheap, and that's no accident. The Swiss company behind it is specifically targeting design-conscious professionals and digital minimalists willing to pay for superior aesthetics and build quality. 

But is it actually any good? I spent a few weeks with it to find out. 

Punkt MP02: Specifications

Punkt MP02: Pricing and availability

The Punkt MP02 costs around $379/£259, positioning it firmly in the high-end category of feature phones. This is significantly higher than most competitors, including the Light Phone II ($299) or Nokia's feature phones (under $100). The MP02 doesn't actually have more features than these phones; its higher pricing is more a reflective of its premium design.

The MP02 is available directly from Punkt's website and select retailers including Amazon, though in practice availability can be limited.

Punkt MP02: Build and handling

The MP02's physical appearance—crafted by industrial designer Jasper Morrison—is undoubtedly its standout feature. Not only is it nice to look at, but it's nice to hold and use, too. 

To get specific, the trapezoidal form with a gently angled back sits perfectly in your hand, with a weight and balance that feels purposeful and substantial. The glass-fiber reinforced housing, with its textured finish, provides excellent grip and resists fingerprints. The rounded, calculator-like number keys are nicely spaced and offer a satisfying, tactile click when typing. 

The 2in monochrome display is small, but it's bright enough to do the job well, especially considering how basic the interface is. Button placement has been carefully considered too, with the power button positioned at the top and navigation controls easily accessible with your thumb. 

Charging the MP02 is easy, because this phone comes with a USB-C port. That's a nice change from cheaper feature phones, most of which have the older micro-USB slots that require a different cable. 

On the downside, the lack of dedicated volume buttons means you have to do quite a bit of faffing in the menu to adjust volume during calls. There's also no headphone jack, although my phone did come with a USB-C adapter in the box, plus you could always use Bluetooth headphones. 

The biggest hardware omission, finally, is the lack of a camera. That means not only will you not be able to take photos or video, but you can't use QR codes either. Whether you see that as a negative or positive I guess comes down to how seriously you want to take your digital detox.

Punkt MP02: Performance

Remember when we mainly used phones to, you know, call people? Well that's the main purpose of the MP02, and I found it performed admirably. Call quality was excellent, with the earpiece providing clear, loud audio that worked well even in noisy streets with two buses passing each other.

The speakerphone isn't the loudest I've ever heard, but it offered clear audio without distortion. Battery life impressed too. The MP02 claims to deliver more than seven hours of talk time and while I didn't specifically test that claim myself (I don't have that much conversation in me), I found could easily last four to five days of normal use without charging, while leaving it on standby extended this beyond a week.

The text-only interface, though, does takes some getting used to. Firstly, it's so basic that it feels more like using a calculator than a phone, which can be quite disorientating. (On that note, there is actually a calculator tool here, as well as a note tool and calendar.) Secondly, you'll spend a lot of time looking up and memorizing a series of button combinations and workflows. None of these are intuitive, and I had to refer back to the instructions, and the occassional YouTube video, quite a bit.

That said, once I'd mastered all the combos and shortcuts, I found I could get quick access to essential functions. The predictive T9 texting worked well in practice for me, too, although it may well feel archaic to younger users who've never experienced non-touchscreen phones. (If it's a real issue, however, you could always connect a Bluetooth keyboard.)

Beyond voice and normal texts, the MP02's standout feature is Pigeon: its implementation of Signal Private Messenger. This brings secure, encrypted communications to a feature phone, which I'm pretty sure is a unique offering in this market right now.

However, you can only use this to message other Punkt MP02 owners, and as I don't know any, I couldn't actually test this myself. Customer reviews and discussions on places like Reddit, though, suggest it works as advertised; I certainly didn't unearth any complaints or reports of bugs. (For friends who don't have a Punkt MP02, by the way, you can just send normal texts.)

Unlike many feature phones, this phone can connect to WiFi and 4G; you can also share the latter as a hotpsot. But otherwise, there's actually little you can do with the internet. Beyond Pigeon, the MP02 has purposely been designed not to work with apps; nor does it offer tracking or location services. Basically, the whole point is to not let you do stuff.

The idea of that is to help clear your mind and keep your data safe. If you like the sound of either of those things, this phone will deliver. If it scares you rigid, though, you may be better off with a less restricted feature phone. For example, unlike the MP02, the Light Phone II has a music and podcast player, a larger, e-ink screen and a virtual on-screen keyboard,

Punkt MP02: Verdict

The Punkt MP02 delivers on its core promise: helping you disconnect while allowing voice calls and texts, in a way that keeps your data secure. It's not perfect: it feels overpriced, the interface could be more intuitive, and the lack of a headphone jack, torch, camera and physical volume buttons can be frustrating. However, it does looks and feel very much like a premium product. And so if you're seeking digital balance and a secure way of communicating, all in one beautifully minimalist design, it's a compelling option.

Check out our guides to the best burners phones and the best dumbphones for alternatives to the Punkt MP02