Apple prepares important iPhone 12 update after France radiation row

APPLE will issue a software update for iPhone 12 users in France to prevent device recall due to radiation issues.

The tech giant has caved to pressure from French regulator ANFR after it banned sales of the iPhone 12s over radiation concerns.

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After a series of tests, ANFR found that the smartphone’s specific absorption rate (SAR) was slightly higher than allowed by law, France’s junior minister for digital economy, Jean-Noël Barrot, told local newspaper Le Parisien.

“With respect to phones already sold, Apple must take corrective action in the shortest possible time to bring the affected phones into compliance,” the ANFR said in a statement on its website.

“Otherwise Apple will have to recall them.”

According to Barrot, a software update is enough to reduce radiation on iPhone 12s sold since 2020.

Apple had two weeks to respond to the sales suspension.

But the company issued a statement just two days later saying: “We will issue a software update for users in France to reflect the protocol used by French regulators.”

“We look forward to iPhone 12 continuing to be available in France.”

However, the tech giant continued to rely on the findings of the radiation regulator ANFR, adding that the iPhone model had been certified by several international bodies as compliant with global standards.

“This is related to a specific testing protocol used by French regulators and does not pose a safety risk,” it said.

Barrot welcomed the software update.

ANFR is preparing to quickly test the update to ensure it meets European standards before the sales ban is lifted.

There were fears that the ban could spread to the entire European Union. Regulators in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands said yesterday they were reviewing the ANFR report.

“A norm has been exceeded. Fortunately, there is no acute safety risk, but we will speak to the manufacturer shortly,” Angeline van Dijk, inspector at the Nederlandse Rijksinspectie Digitale Infrastructuur (RDI), told Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad.

“The Netherlands places as much importance on the safe use of mobile phones as France. Mobile phones must comply with European standards.”

Experts warn that phones can emit radiation that can be harmful to health.

For this reason, people are advised not to sleep with them under the pillow.

Likewise, men are advised not to keep their cell phones in their pockets, while women should keep it outside their bra.

How do I know if I am affected?

If you are not sure which iPhone model you have, you can easily check it.

Open your iPhone Settings > Generally > Around.

Here you will find the model number of your device.

If you own an iPhone 12, your model number is one of the following:

If the model number doesn’t match that of an iPhone 12 and you’re still curious, take a look Apple’s list of model numbers.

However, it is important to note that the sales ban and possible recall are unlikely to affect you if you are based in the UK or US.

The ban currently only applies to France.

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