From today, the iPhone 12 is no longer sold by Apple, quite simply because its marketing is prohibited. The cause is that this iPhone emits too many waves according to the State. Apple could be forced to recall all iPhone 12s sold in France if they are not brought into compliance within fifteen days.
Little thunderclap for Apple, just as it announces its new iPhone 15. It is no longer authorized to sell its iPhone 12 on French territory, due to exceeding the specific absorption flow limit ( DAS). In a few words, this iPhone model emits too many waves and does not comply with European regulations. The ANFR has given Apple formal notice to withdraw this model from sale and to bring those already sold into compliance.
The iPhone 12 banned for sale: the consequences for Apple and resellers
In a press release, the National Frequency Agency “ asks Apple to withdraw the iPhone 12 from the French market as of September 12, 2023“. This means that Apple “must immediately take all measures to prevent the affected phones present in the supply chain from being made available on the market.»
But that’s not all: smartphones already sold are also affected. Regardless of the means implemented, Apple must make the models currently used by consumers compliant. This could be possible via an update of the iPhone 12. To achieve all this, Apple has fifteen days.
Moreover, the ANFR will transmit the results of its tests to all its equivalents in the Member States of the European Union. If the other national frequency agencies of the Union validate these results, they could also request a halt to the marketing of the iPhone 12. In theory, the smartphone could no longer be available throughout the European Union in case Apple would not comply.
You may soon no longer have your iPhone 12 in your hands
If Apple doesn’t get it right, the company might even have to recall all the phones. This is also what the Minister responsible for the Digital Transition and Telecommunications, Jean-Noël Barrot, insisted on in an interview given toParisian.
The minister, however, says he is confident “in the sense of the company’s responsibilities to comply with our rules. […] If it does not do so, I am ready to order the recall of iPhone 12s in circulation.» Since 2017, out of 42 withdrawals from the market, six models have been recalled by the ANFR. And this is the first time this has happened to Apple.
Why is the state blocking sales of this iPhone?
The ANFR explains that it carries out checks on mobile phones marketed in France, as part of its mission to control the exposure of French people to electromagnetic waves. We learn that it recently monitored the specific absorption rates (SAR) of 141 models, including Apple’s iPhone 12. The DAS corresponds to “the energy carried by electromagnetic waves and absorbed by the human body.»
The National Agency tested this Apple model and concluded that the SAR of an iPhone 12 held in the hand or in a pants pocket was 5.74 W/kg, when European regulations require not to exceed the 4 W/kg. According to Jean-Noël Barrot, an independent laboratory corroborated the ANFR results.
It should be remembered that the European standard of 4 W/kg is much smaller than the wave level that could have consequences for users: the minimum threshold would be 40 W/kg according to scientific studies, reports the Minister of Telecommunications . At first glance, the dangers of using an iPhone 12 today are non-existent.
For comparison, the member SAR of the iPhone 14 is 2.98 W/kg. Although the iPhone 12 was released in September 2020, it still needs to be compliant, even three years after its launch. It is a priori the only iPhone non-compliant with the DAS out of the approximately 141 smartphones tested.
For the moment, Apple has not reacted to the announcement, undoubtedly that the company is more busy with the arrival of its iPhone 15. The ANFR also makes an application available to check the SAR of its smartphone. On the Apple site, it no longer seems possible to buy the iPhone 12. Difficult to say if this is because of the arrival of the iPhone 15 or not, but in any case, on the verge of marketing the brand is in order.
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