As previously stated, Apple has developed an update to reduce the radio strength of cellular modems on the iPhone 12 and has submitted it to the French government for analysis. Just within the two-week deadline set by the French radiation watchdog, the French National Frequency Agency (ANFR), Apple submitted a promised fix to solve the problem of excessive radio frequency radiation in the iPhone 12. In a round of retesting by AFNR of 141 phone models, the phones were found to have radio frequency exposure that exceeded legal limits.
access:
Apple Online Store (China)
Only the core iPhone 12 models are affected by the French action. It's unclear if any other manufacturers are affected by the new round of testing.
Apple said it had provided documents from multiple international regulators to the French radiation watchdog, the French National Frequency Agency (ANFR). All the data provided shows that Apple complies with the restrictions everywhere in the world.
Apple's initial test and retest in France were supposed to simulate a worst-case scenario, where the iPhone seeks out radio towers in areas with poor signal. The update will almost certainly hurt cellular reception in low-signal areas, but the extent of the impact is unclear.
The iPhone 12 remains banned from sale until the French government confirms the update will fix what they believe is an issue. In addition, if the French government confirms that the update is sufficient to solve the problem, it will also eliminate the possibility of iPhone 12 facing the threat of a full recall in the country.
Jean-Noel Barrot, junior minister of the French Ministry of Digital Economy, said on September 12: "Apple is expected to respond within two weeks. If they do not do so, I am prepared to order a recall of all iPhone 12 in circulation. This rule is the same for everyone, including digital giants."
It is unclear how long France will take to evaluate the submitted fixes, and Reuters did not appear to have obtained any details about the timeline or evaluation process.
Radiofrequency radiation is different from the ionizing radiation produced by the decay of radioactive isotopes and the ionizing radiation produced by the sun itself, and its damage mechanism is also different. Ionizing radiation can break bonds in cells, while high enough levels of radiofrequency radiation can heat tissue, theoretically causing tissue damage.
Depending on the country, irradiance is measured in greys, sieverts or rem/hour, while specific absorption rate (SAR) is more commonly used. SAR is the rate at which the human body absorbs radiofrequency energy. A SAR value of 1 watt per kilogram will cause the temperature of the insulating plate tissue to rise by 1 degree Celsius per hour at that watt value, and does not take into account any temperature increase losses due to other factors.
Unlike the three measurement methods of ionizing radiation, SAR is a measurement of heat, not an absolute measurement of damage. Theoretically, the heat generated by RF exposure can cause damage, but how it is measured and how it is measured and regulated is controversial.
ANFR claims that its contact testing found an absorption rate of 5.74 watts per kilogram. The EU legal limit for contact radiation from mobile phones is 4 watts per kilogram on one gram of prosthetic tissue without cooling.
At the same time, the ANFR pointed out that testing at 5cm from the broadcast element to the prosthetic tissue complied with the international regulation of 2 watts per kilogram, which was also confirmed by Apple's own testing.
Apple's testing meets international industry standards. As Apple explains, during testing, iPhone radios were manually set to the highest possible transmission rate and SAR was evaluated in real time at intervals specified by applicable regulations.
Apple says its SAR tests are evaluated under conditions that simulate use against the head (no separation) and wear or carry against the torso (5 mm separation). There have been various reports that French regulators are producing different test results than the rest of the world, but it's not clear why, other than a different manufacturer of testing equipment.