iOS 17.1, Which Fixes iPhone 12 SAR Issue, to Launch in Late October
The iPhone 12’s high Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) values in France have been a topic of concern, but it seems that a resolution is now within sight via iOS 17.1. According to France’s national regulator of frequencies, ANFR, Apple will be releasing an update to address the high SAR values by October 24, ensuring peace of mind for French iPhone users.
iOS 17.1 Coming in Late October 2023
The awaited solution comes in the form of iOS 17.1, as confirmed by Apple itself. It’s a safe bet that this update will follow the usual pattern of global distribution on the specified date.
To provide a quick recap of the situation, the saga began with France temporarily banning iPhone 12 sales due to elevated SAR values detected by ANFR. In response, Apple committed to resolving the issue through a software update. Last month, French authorities granted approval for the update, and now they have announced the anticipated release date.
So, after October 24, it’s expected that the high SAR values associated with the iPhone 12 will no longer pose a concern. However, there is a notable trade-off that arises from this resolution. The reason for the high SAR values, as stated by Apple, was an off-body detection function within iOS.
This feature identifies when the phone is not in contact with the user’s body, and in such cases, it increases the transmit power. With the upcoming update, this off-body detection function will be disabled in France. While this resolves the SAR issue, it may potentially result in decreased data connectivity in edge coverage areas for affected iPhones.
Aside from addressing the SAR values, iOS 17.1 also introduces a range of other enhancements. These include the addition of a favorites system for Apple Music, support for AirDrop over the internet, new options for bank and card balances in the Wallet app, a Dynamic Island flashlight indicator, compatibility with the Nintendo Switch N64 Controller, improvements to the Photo Shuffle feature on the lock screen, and certain Action Button functions (such as Camera, Flashlight, Voice Memo, Focus, and Magnifier) being disabled when the iPhone is placed in a pocket.
Pokdepinion: With the imminent release of iOS 17.1, French iPhone users can look forward to a safer SAR value profile, although they may need to adapt to some changes in connectivity patterns. As this update rolls out globally, it should bring these improvements to users around the world, ensuring a better and safer iPhone experience for everyone.
