In France, iOS 17.1 Will Fix iPhone 12 Radiation Levels

 iOS 17.1 Will Fix iPhone 12 Radiation Levels in France

Featured Image Credit: SOPA Images / Contributor

Apple has revealed that the future iOS 17.1 software that is planned to be published later in October will decrease iPhone 12 radiation levels.

In September, France ordered Apple to suspend ‌iPhone 12 sales and provide a "fix" for devices that would bring them into line with European electromagnetic radiation norms. Apple, in a support post, noted that it is removing the off-body detection capability that allows for slightly higher transmit power when an iPhone is not held or in a pocket.

The detecting feature is going to be deactivated solely in France, and Apple claims that it is being turned off despite the fact that the country's Agence Française Nationale des Fréquences, or ANFR, regulatory agency made a mistake when completing its radiation testing.

 

ANFR employed a testing technique that did not account for the ‌iPhone's off-body detection mechanism, which Apple says has been "thoroughly tested and verified internationally to be an effective mechanism to comply with SAR requirements."

 

The iPhone contains sensors that can identify whether it is sitting on a static surface, like a table, as opposed to being held in the hand or placed in a pocket. This off-body detecting technology, which has been utilized in all iPhones for over a decade, allows the device to raise transmit power somewhat in off-body settings to maximize performance.

 

The particular test technique employed by ANFR mandates that devices fulfill the on-body SAR limitations, even when the device is evaluated off-body on a static surface. This choice is not compatible with international standards, which allow for independent testing of power control systems that may not be engaged during conventional SAR tests.

 

According to Apple, the ‌iPhone 12 is safe to use "and always has been." The company's iPhones must fulfill international energy transmission standards for health and safety to ensure minimal energy transfer when a gadget is in touch with the human body.

 

With the iOS 17.1 update, ‌iPhone 12 models in France will no longer increase their allowed power when the off-body state is detected, so coverage in areas where cellular signal is low may cause slightly lower cellular performance in some off-body use cases, though most users are not expected to notice a change.