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Apple has warned customers that the magnets inside the iPhone 12 could interfere with medical devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators.
The MagSafe technology present in the latest iPhone models allows wireless charging and allows various accessories to be clipped to the back of the phone.
This new feature does mean, however, that smartphones contain more magnets than previous iPhone models.
Apple has warned that electromagnetic fields emitted by MagSafe technology could potentially pose a risk to nearby medical equipment.
The issue affects all iterations of the iPhone 12, including the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max, as well as all MagSafe accessories.
“Medical devices such as implanted pacemakers and defibrillators may contain sensors that react to magnets and radios when in close contact,” Apple explained in a product safety advisory posted on its support page.
“To avoid potential interaction with these devices, keep your iPhone and MagSafe accessories a safe distance from your device (over 6 inches / 15 cm away or over 12 inches / 30 cm when charging without wire). “
Apple has also advised iPhone owners who use medical devices to consult their doctor and the medical device manufacturer for more detailed guidelines.
“If you think your iPhone or any other MagSafe accessory is interfering with your medical device, stop using your iPhone or MagSafe accessories,” the warning concludes.
The guidelines follow a study published in the journal Heartbeat earlier this month, which revealed that an iPhone 12 could interfere with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).
An accompanying report said the iPhone 12 models can “potentially inhibit life-saving therapy in a patient, particularly by carrying the phone in the upper pockets.”
The report also referred to other instances where magnets in fitness tracker bracelets were also able to disable an ICD up to distances of 2.4cm.
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