The Swedish senior-focused smartphone Doro 8100 Plus has been flagged for exceeding safety limits for electromagnetic wave exposure. The announcement comes after a control carried out in May 2024 by the German laboratory Cetecom Advanced under the supervision of France’s National Frequency Agency (ANFR). The findings revealed a significant exceedance of the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) for the “limb” category, initially recording a level above 4 W/kg, surpassing the regulatory limit.
SAR Levels significantly exceeded
SAR measures the rate at which the body absorbs radiofrequency energy from a device. The limit for SAR "limb" exposure is set at 4 W/kg across the European Union to protect users from prolonged exposure to potentially harmful electromagnetic waves. The Doro 8100 Plus exceeded this threshold significantly during the tests, raising alarms about its safety for consumers, particularly the elderly, its target demographic.
Apple iPhone 12 banned in France last year
Only last year telecom regulator, ARCEP, stopped Apple from selling Apple the iPhone 12 in France because of excessive radiation levels. After Apple released iOS 17.1 update around October to address this problem in the iPhone 12, the sales ban was lifted. This update optimized the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), alleviating concerns about electromagnetic emissions. This ban had an enormous impact on the secondary market and caused a lot of issue with companies that were selling used Apple iPhone 12 devices. It took more than 6 months to recover and sales being at the same level is before imposed sales stop.
Corrective action taken by Doro
In response to the ANFR's formal notice, Doro released a software update in October 2024. This update reduced the phone's transmission power, bringing the SAR "limb" exposure down to a compliant level of 1.27 W/kg. While this corrective action has resolved the immediate issue, the incident underscores broader concerns about manufacturer oversight and regulatory vigilance in the production and certification of mobile devices.
A call for enhanced transparency
According to pressure group Phonegate, this case highlights the ongoing need for stringent monitoring of electromagnetic wave emissions from smartphones, especially those catering to vulnerable demographics such as seniors. Authorities and manufacturers are being urged to improve transparency and ensure compliance with SAR regulations from the outset. As consumer demand for transparency grows, incidents like this are expected to prompt further scrutiny into mobile device safety standards and the long-term health effects of electromagnetic exposure.
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