Apple to address concerns raised by France's radiation watchdog, ANFR

iPhone 12 falls below the radiation limit that would pose serious risks

ANFR states that the issue could be resolved with a software update

Apple is set to address the concerns raised by France’s radiation watchdog, ANFR (Agence Nationale des Fréquences), regarding the iPhone 12 through a forthcoming software update.

Earlier this week, ANFR publicly stated that the iPhone 12 was exceeding radiation limits and urged Apple to halt sales while releasing a prompt solution.

An Apple spokesperson communicated to Reuters, AFP, and Euronews that they intend to release a software update tailored for users in France to align with the testing protocol used by French regulators. The company emphasized that this issue pertains specifically to the testing protocol and does not pose any safety concerns.

When a phone manufacturer launches a new device, ANFR conducts various Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) measurements in its laboratories, as is customary for hardware manufacturers globally.

While the iPhone 12 complies with this threshold, ANFR scrutinizes a different absorption rate for limbs to assess the impact on the hand when holding the phone or the leg when the phone is in one’s pocket. In this regard, ANFR measured an SAR of 5.74 W/kg, surpassing the 4 W/kg limit.

Experts have noted that the iPhone 12 still falls well below the radiation limit that would pose serious risks. Nonetheless, when regulations are not met, corrective action is necessary.

From the outset, ANFR stated that the issue could be resolved with a software update to adjust the iPhone 12’s internals to meet regulatory requirements, avoiding the need for a recall of all iPhone 12 devices in France, which Apple is keen to avoid.