Recently, I have read in the news that the French regulators have ordered Apple, the company that manufactures iPhones, to stop selling the iPhone 12.
It is said that this order has been made due to the excessive electromagnetic radiation levels of the products.
However, Apple has raised a dispute against these orders and has claimed that the iPhone 12 meets all the global radiation level standards and is only presented in the market after being certified from multiple international checks.
Apple has also posted RF exposure information on its website where it has stated that the iPhone 12 has been tested thoroughly and meets applicable limits for radio frequency exposure.
The company also recommends its users to use hands-free options like the in-build speakers or headphones to avoid RF exposure.
According to the company, keeping metal parts near the product might change its RF performance and that’s why it is not suggested to the users.
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What is the Specific Type of Radiation Emitted by the iPhone 12?
So, the iPhone 12 emits a special kind of radiation known as electromagnetic radiation which includes radio waves, microwaves, and other non-ionizing types of radiation.
In order to keep the product usable and safe, the iPhone 12 has been tested thoroughly and the manufacturers’ make sure that it meets the applicable limits for RF exposure.
The phone comes with a unique specific absorption rate, aka SAR, limit of 1.6 watts per kilogram in countries where the limit is averaged over 1 gram of tissue.
On the other hand, countries that set the limit averaged over 10 grams of tissue, the phone’s SAR limit is increased up to 2.0 watts per kilogram.
One important thing to know here is that iPhone radios are set to their highest transmission level during testing and their SAR is evaluated in real time.
To ensure the safety of the product and its customers, Apple only uses the latest regulatory methods adopted in the industry for testing their devices and managing device radios for the RF exposure.
How Does the Radiation Emitted by iPhone 12 Compare to Other Smartphones?
From the article above, we know that the French regulators have asked Apple to stop selling iPhone 12 due to electromagnetic radiation issues.
But the question that has to be asked here is – why is there an issue only with the iPhone 12?
Why not other smartphones? How does the radiation emitted by iPhone 12 compare to other smartphones?
Well, let’s try to understand this.
So, when it comes to specific radiation levels, the iPhone 12 has a relatively low SAR value.
Now, to define SAR, you can know that it is the measure of the amount of radio frequency energy absorbed by a body when using a mobile phone.
As we already know, the SAR value varies significantly depending on different countries.
However, as Apple says, the iPhone 12 meets all the applicable limits for radio frequency exposure in different scenarios.
Another interesting thing is that the iPhone 12’s SAR value isn’t the highest of all Apple products, as per Apple.
However, you should know that the SAR value of a phone varies significantly based on its model number as well.
So, unless we have specific information about each device’s SAR value, it is nearly impossible to make a direct comparison between iPhone 12 and other smartphone radiation levels.
What are the Health Risks Associated with Exposure to iPhone 12 Radiation?
To be honest, there is no conclusive evidence at the moment that proves that exposure to radiation emitted by the iPhone 12 poses any kind of health risks.
However, studies show that there can be certain health issues when one is exposed to electromagnetic radiation for a long time.
So, even if the mobile phone does not cause direct health problems, it is always a wise decision to take safety precautions in order to prevent any possible health issues for you and your family members.
What is the SAR Value for the iPhone 12?
As mentioned above, the SAR value for the iPhone 12 varies according to the limit set by different countries around the globe.
In countries that have set the limit averaged over 1 gram of tissue, the iPhone 12’s SAR value is set to 1.6 watts per kilogram.
On the other hand, the phone’s SAR value is set to 2 watts per kilogram in countries that have set the limit averaged over 10 grams of tissue.
In order to evaluate the SAR value of the iPhone 12, their radios are set to highest transmission levels over time intervals as specified by the applicable regulations.
Here are the SAR values of the iPhone 12 models:
No. 1: Model A2341
– 1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
– Head: 1.16
– Body: 1.17
– 2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
– Head: 0.99
– Body: 0.99
No. 2: Model A2406
– 1.6 W/kg SAR Limit
– Head: 0.97
– 2.0 W/kg SAR Limit
– Head: 0.99
As mentioned earlier, the SAR value of a smartphone varies significantly on the basis of model number and manufacturer.
What is the SAR Value for iPhone 12 Pro Max?
According to the official information released by Apple, the SAR limit for the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the same as the iPhone 12 base model.
Yes, in countries that have set the limit averaged over 1 gram of tissue, the SAR level is 1.6 watts per kilogram.
Similarly, in countries that have set the limit averaged to 10 grams of tissue, the SAR level limit is set to 2.0 watts per kilogram.
Although the SAR value for the iPhone 12 Pro Max are not directly mentioned in the Google search results, the cellular transmission SAR values for the iPhone 12 Pro Max (FCC ID BCG- E3548A) are 1.17 watts per kilogram at the head and 1.19 watts per kilogram when worn.
How Does the SAR Value of iPhone 12 Pro Max Compare to Other Popular Smartphone Models?
As we know, the SAR values of different smartphones can vary significantly based on the model number and manufacturer.
Manufacturers like Samsung and LG play this defensively and try to keep the SAR level of their products within 0.10 to 0.50 in order to stay in the safe zone.
On the other hand, companies like Nokia, Huawei, and Xiomi seem to be aggressive and consider the 1.6 limit to be their starting benchmark.
Here are the SAR levels of 2 main models of Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max FYI:
No. 1: Model A2341
– 1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
– Head: 1.16
– Body: 1.17
– 2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
– Head: 0.99
– Body: 0.99
No. 2: Model A2406
– 1.6 W/kg SAR Limit
– Head: 0.97
– 2.0 W/kg SAR Limit
– Head: 0.99
Basically, the SAR values are calculated at the ear (when you are at a call) and at the pocket.
That’s why the value listed above can vary considerably based on that as well as the testing method used at that time.
What is the Maximum SAR Value Allowed for Mobile Phones in the USA?
In the USA, the SAR value limit is set averaged over 1 gram of tissue.
Therefore, all US telecom companies are allowed to keep a maximum SAR value of 1.6 watts per kilogram.
The US FCC requires all the companies and cell phone manufacturers to ensure that their devices meet these objective limits for safe exposure to RF.
A phone sold in the US (legally) having a SAR value higher than 1.6 watt/kg is considered to be unsafe for the users.
5 Simple Tips to Reduce Exposure to iPhone 12 Radiation
Even if there is no concrete evidence to prove that iPhone 12 radiation causes health risks, it is best for you to take certain safety precautions.
Here are some safety measures you can take to reduce exposure to iPhone 12 radiation to certain extent.
No. 1: Use Hands-free Option
Using hands-free options such as in-built speaker phones or headphones is a good way to prevent radiation from the iPhone 12.
The more the phone is away from your body when in use, the better it will be for your health.
No. 2: Limit Phone Usage
Over-usage of your mobile phone is the main reason you face some health issues for sure.
The less you use the phone, the less radiation you will have in future which applies to your iPhone 12 usage too.
No. 3: Keep the Phone Away from Your Body
When not needed, try to keep the phone away from your body, in a bag or on a table.
Make sure the phone is at least few meters away from your body while sleeping and working on your PC.
No. 4: Do not Use Metal Cases for iPhone 12
Metal cases are definitely attractive and appealing to some users.
However, they might affect the phone’s RF performance.
So, I highly recommend you to better avoid those metal iPhone 12 cases.
No. 5: Keep Updated Your Phone System
Apple consistently brings new updates for its users to reduce the radiation emitted by the device.
Therefore, always make sure your iPhone 12 is updated with new system improvements.
In the end, I will say that there is no concrete proof that shows using the iPhone 12 causes certain health issues yet.
But it’s never a bad idea to take safety measures and protect yourself from unknown phone radiation problems.
References:
https://apnews.com/article/france-apple-iphone-radiation-b51b82309100f959c83a2a19536dc934
https://www.apple.com/legal/rfexposure/iphone13,3/en/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-12-emitting-too-much-electromagnetic-radiation.2401271/
