Press
For Immediate Release
Zenbox: The German hardware startup that brings your smartphone to rest with a single tap
Stuttgart, March 2026
In a world where software solutions for smartphone distraction usually fail because of their own simplicity – one click, and the block is gone – the Stuttgart-based startup Zenbox takes a radically different path: physical consequence instead of digital willpower.
The concept: NFC as the key to an offline world
The Zenbox is a compact NFC-enabled device (Ø 50 mm × 16 mm), 3D-printed in Stuttgart. The principle is intentionally simple: hold your smartphone to the device – a single tap is enough, and distracting apps are blocked. To lift the block, you have to physically return to the Zenbox. No remote override. No two-click bypass.
The Zenbox needs no battery of its own and works without any subscription. The app runs entirely without an account or cloud connection – all data stays local on your device.
Technical setup
🔩 Hardware: passive NFC chip with a magnetic core, no battery, no Wi-Fi 🏭 Manufacturing: 3D-printed in Stuttgart, Made in Germany 📱 App: native iOS & Android app (no account, no cloud, GDPR-compliant by design) ⚡ Connection: simply hold it close – instant NFC connection, like contactless payment, no pairing ✅ Features: app blocking, website blocking (across browsers), focus modes, timers, usage insights, streak tracking
Why hardware succeeds where software falls short
Apple's own Screen Time means well – but it lives in the same ecosystem as the distraction. Two taps, and the block is disabled. The Zenbox breaks this cycle through a simple yet powerful psychological mechanism: the enforced change of context.
Anyone who has to stand up and physically move to another place is given, in that moment, the chance to make a conscious decision – breaking the automatism of the unconscious reach for the phone. The combination of a physical object and a digital action creates a ritual that takes root.
Peer-reviewed studies confirm the benefits of reduced screen time:
📊 59% lower risk of sleep disturbances (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2025) 📊 Significant stress reduction (Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 2024) 📊 Measurable gains in productivity (AOA Report, 2024)
For users accustomed to quality
Zenbox is not a gadget. It is a design object – minimalist, magnetic, ready to use right away. The app feels native: no onboarding jungle, no hidden settings, no mandatory account. Simply install it, hold your smartphone close, done.
Zenbox works with all current iPhones and NFC-enabled Android devices.
💶 €49.99 incl. VAT 🚚 Free DHL GoGreen shipping 🔄 30-day money-back guarantee 🛡️ 3-year warranty
About Zenbox
Zenbox was founded in 2025 by Konstantin Singer in Stuttgart. The company develops haptic hardware for a healthy relationship with technology – with a clear focus on local production, privacy by design, and lasting effectiveness without unnecessary electronics.
🌐 thezenbox.de
Press contact
Singer Labs · Konstantin Singer 📞 0151 17258866 ✉️ konstantin@thezenbox.de
Test units and interview requests available on request.
Product images can be downloaded here: