Apple to release software update to address iPhone 12 radiation concerns
Apple is preparing to release a software update to address alleged radiation concerns regarding the three-year-old iPhone 12s after French regulators alleged that the phone exceeds proper radiation levels.
The software update will not adjust radiation levels, as that would be a hardware issue, but it will “accommodate the protocol used by French regulators.” This means that the update will likely change the way that the iPhone 12s reports its radiation levels to French regulators, but it will not actually reduce the amount of radiation that the phone emits.
France changed its regulations in 2020 to consider extremities, like hands, when testing for radiation levels. This is because French regulators believe that people are more likely to hold their phones in their hands than they are to press them up against their heads, and therefore want to ensure that phones are safe even when held in the hand.
During the country’s recently-instituted SAR tests, regulators found that the iPhone 12s exceeded normal levels of energy absorption when holding the phone. However, the iPhone 12s passed the test when considering the head and body.
Belgium and Denmark have both come to Apple’s aid, with Belgian minister for digitalization, Mathieu Michel, saying that local tests were “reassuring” and recommending against a suspension on sales. Denmark’s Safety Authority followed suit, suggesting it had no concerns regarding iPhone 12s radiation levels.
Industry experts have also weighed in, stating that the findings indicated no risk of burns or heatstroke emanating from the phone’s radiation. They have also pointed out that the SAR levels measured by French regulators are still well below the international safety limits.
France says Apple’s software fix should be adequate and that they’ll resume testing as soon as it arrives. The update is expected to be released in the near future.
In addition to the information above, here are some additional thoughts on the situation:
- It is important to note that the SAR levels measured by French regulators are still well below the international safety limits. This means that the iPhone 12s is still safe to use, even if it does exceed the French SAR limit for extremities.
- It is also worth noting that Apple is not the only company that has been affected by France’s new SAR regulations. Other smartphone manufacturers, such as Samsung and Huawei, have also been found to exceed the French SAR limit for extremities.
- It is unclear why the iPhone 12s exceeds the French SAR limit for extremities, but it is possible that it is due to the phone’s design. The iPhone 12s has a metal frame and a glass back, which can both reflect radio waves. This could lead to higher SAR levels in the hands, where the phone is held.
Overall, the situation with the iPhone 12s and radiation is complex. There is no clear consensus on whether or not the phone is safe to use, but the available evidence suggests that it is unlikely to pose any serious health risks.
