A “software update” will be rolled out to reduce iPhone 12 radiation? Okay
A few days ago, France’s National Frequency Agency (ANFR) prohibited the sale of the iPhone 12 within the country due to its emissions of electromagnetic waves exceeding the permissible levels set by EU regulations. The device’s Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) exceeded the legal limit.
The agency presented Apple with an ultimatum, urging the company to promptly address the issue using “all available means,” or else face a recall of all iPhone 12 units sold in France. Today, Apple has responded by pledging to release a software update aimed at resolving the dispute.
The exact nature of this software update remains unclear, but Apple expresses confidence that it will address the concerns raised by the French agency and align with the testing methods employed in France. In contrast to other countries, the ANFR in France conducts SAR tests not only for the head and body but also for limbs, simulating scenarios where the phone is held in hand. It was these limb tests that the iPhone 12 did not pass.
Apple issued the following statement: “We will release a software update for users in France to accommodate the protocol used by French regulators. We anticipate that the iPhone 12 will continue to be available in France. This pertains to a specific testing protocol employed by French regulators and does not raise safety concerns.”
Officials from Belgium, Germany, and Italy have also requested that Apple extend this update to the entire European Union, which is likely to occur. The French government has indicated that once the update is released, the iPhone 12 will undergo swift retesting. If it falls within the legal SAR limits, sales will resume immediately.
