iPhone 12 sales banned in one country due to high radiation

The iPhone 12 sales have been banned in France due to high radiation. It seems like the iPhone 12’s Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is above the legal limit, which is why France now forbids iPhone 12 sales.

The sales of iPhone 12 have been banned in France due to higher-than-allowed radiation

France’s National Frequency Agency (ANFR) says that the model emits more than the permitted electromagnetic waves. The agency actually tested 141 phones for SAR, including the iPhone 12. It was discovered that the emits 5.74 watts per kilogram, when in a pocket.

In the EU, the standard is 4.0 watts per kilogram. During the second test, when the phone was placed 5mm from the human body, the iPhone 12 passed the test. The limit for that is 2.0 watts per kilogram.

ANFR told Apple to use “all available means” to solve the problem if it wants to continue selling the phone. Based on France’s junior minister for digital economy, this can be fixed via a software update, actually.

Apple disputes ANFR findings

Apple was quick to react to this, and the company actually disputes ANFR findings. Apple provided ANFR multiple Apple and independent third-party lab results to prove its statement. It remains to be seen what will happen next.

ANFR can reject these findings, as it did the test itself, or it will redo its tests, just to be sure. On the flip side, Apple apparently can fix this via a software update and remove all doubt.

Now, regarding SAR values. There is a limit for them set in the EU (European Union), to protect users, as the risk of cancer increases with higher radiation from the phones. ANFR also said that the data will be sent to other EU countries.

While Apple is trying to solve this problem, its new iPhone 15 series is getting a lot of attention. The company announced its new phones yesterday, four models, to be exact.