According to French media, Apple’s flagship smartphone iPhone 12 is now producing levels of electromagnetic radiation that exceed the exposure guidelines set by the European Union (EU).
Due to this, the country has now requested that Apple cease sales of the iPhone 12. The Agence Nationale des Frequences (ANFR), which is France’s radiation authority, stated that the model’s Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), which is a measurement of the rate at which radiofrequency energy is absorbed by the body from a device, was higher than what is permissible under the law.
When the iPhone 12 is held in the hand or carried in a pocket, its level of electromagnetic energy absorption is 5.74 watts per kilogram, which is greater than the EU standard of 4 watts per kilogram. These findings were discovered by ANFR, which examined and tested 141 different mobile phones.
However, the agency stated that a software update would be sufficient to address the issue. This is because the apps, programs, and other operational information running on a device alter how the hardware functions.
The French minister in charge of digital affairs, Jean-Noel Barrot, informed the media that even though the radiation emitted by the iPhone 12 is higher than the norm set by the EU, it is still a substantial amount lower than the levels that scientific studies believe to be dangerous.
What Exactly Is SAR?
The amount of energy that is absorbed by the body from any source of radiation is referred to as the Standard Absorption Rate or SAR.
Radiation from the devices is measured in watts per kilogram of body weight.
This radiation is the outcome of the devices’ mode of operation, which involves the transmission of radiofrequency waves and the creation of electromagnetic fields.
Smartphones, in contrast to the radiation that can be produced by X-rays or gamma rays as a result of radioactive decay, are not capable of breaking chemical bonds or producing alterations to the cells that make up the human body, which is a process that can eventually lead to harmful effects such as cancer.
According to the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), an organization that is responsible for establishing global guidelines for the limits of exposure to non-ionizing radiation, the non-ionizing type of radiation emitted by mobile phones causes the body’s tissues to become heated, which, if the exposure is prolonged or the limit is exceeded, can cause severe health effects such as burns or heat stroke.
Apple Refutes The Charge
Apple has refuted ANFR’s assertions, which state that numerous international authorities validated the iPhone 12 as being consistent with worldwide radiation standards.
The tech giant has also indicated that it will challenge ANFR’s charges and will continue to interact with the regulator to demonstrate that it complies with the regulations.
Meanwhile, since its launch, Apple’s new iPhone 15 Pro Max has been witnessing strong demands across the world, forcing buyers in prominent markets like China, Japan and the United States to wait until November 2023 to get the smartphone.
The above development, especially in China (Apple’s third-largest market) comes as a respite for the tech giant as it is facing competition from Huawei. Also, Beijing is widening its curbs on iPhone use by Chinese government staff.
In China, the wait time will be around two to three weeks for iPhone 15 Pro buyers, as Apple is planning to deliver the smartphone from September 22 onwards.
The high-end iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models were sold out on the Apple store on Alibaba’s Tmall marketplace within a minute of going on sale, Chinese reports stated.
The buyers in the United States will have to wait for six to seven weeks before getting the Pro Max, Whereas the delay period will be around five to six weeks for the Japanese customers.
Analysts attributed the long wait to the lower initial supply of Pro Max as Apple is reportedly facing hurdles in securing supplies of the displays used in the model with thinner bezels than previous iPhones.
On JD.com, one of Apple’s biggest sales channels in China, over 3.4 million reservations were placed in total for the four iPhone 15 models in the run-up to the e-commerce platform opening its order books.