Apple bends the EU and rolls out an update for the five -year -old iPhone 12 and its different variants. According to French test authorities, the smartphone exceeded the radiation limit values. In Cupertino you can see it a little differently.
Apple gives up after years of dispute
Apple will roll out a software update for the iPhone 12 in the entire European Union in the coming weeks. According to French authorities, the now five -year -old smartphone has too high radiation value. Tests found a SAR value of 5.74 watts per kilogram, while the EU limit value is four watts per kilogram. The European Commission confirmed the French findings as “justified” on August 19.
The conflict began in September 2023. At that time, the French radiation protection authority reported that the smartphone exceeds the applicable limit values for the specific absorption rate. There was even a short time a call back. According to Apple, however, the problem lies due to the test procedures of the French authorities used. Nevertheless, an update was rolled out against the ‘excessive’ radiation in France.
Technical cause of crossing
For a decade, iPhones have had a so-called off-body detection function, which allows slightly increased transmission power when the phone is about on a table. In the past, this function has been verified as an effective mechanism for SAR compliance, since the higher performance is not relevant for the SAR compliance if the phone is not on the user’s body. However, the ANFF used a test protocol that did not take into account this off-body detection mechanism and demanded that the on-body saring limit values also be observed in the off-body state. However, this decision is not consistent with international standards.
Effects of the update
The update causes the iPhone 12 to no longer increase the transmission power when the off-body state is recognized. In areas with a weak mobile phone signal, this can lead to slightly poorer mobile performance in certain applications. However, the vast majority of users will not notice any effects.
At that time, Apple contradicted the used test method, but cooperated with the authorities and already released a software update especially for the French market with iOS 17.1. In the coming weeks, according to the decision of the EU Commission, the Europe-wide rollout will follow with two years of delay.
Different limit values in Europe
Apple nevertheless comments critically against the French test procedure. “We still do not agree with the test approach of the French Anf,” said in a statement (via Bgnes). However, the company respects the decision of the European Commission and assure that customers can “use their iPhone 12 with full trust, as they have always done”. The German SAR-Border value is two watts per kilogram for the head and fuselage and four watts per kilogram for limbs.
According to the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, the iPhone 12 reaches 0.98 or 0.99 watts per kilogram for the SAR value on the ear and on the body. This means that the smartphone is significantly below the German limit. This discrepancy illustrates the complexity of different test methods and its interpretation within the EU.
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