Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MauiPa

macrumors 68040
Apr 18, 2018
3,429
5,080
That’s true. But at the same time, not everyone buying an iPhone 12 is really aware about MagSafe. I could imagine a lot of upgrades come from people just asking the Best Buy employee what the best phone is, then getting that.

In my honest opinion, there needs to be a warning about the magnets and risk of contact with medical devices on the box. Louis Rossmann made a pretty good video on just that, actually. If you have the time, I’d suggest watching it. It’s a great piece.
Thanks for your opinion, it was great. If you have a device, they already come with warnings about magnets and radios. And Samsungs also have radios, EMF and you can’t bring them close either, sorry but facts are facts
 

mikedop

macrumors 603
Dec 30, 2019
5,749
12,173
Oklahoma
you have a device, they already come with warnings about magnets and radios.
Right, but MagSafe is different. If your phone really has the power to completely stop your pacemaker, I think that deserves a big, hard-to-miss warning either on the box or within the paperwork inside the box. Just to be sure anyone who might be at risk is fully aware.
 

SuperCachetes

macrumors 65816
Nov 28, 2010
1,233
1,080
Away from you
All this because Apple did not want to switch to USB-C for charging, because they would lose huge revenue from accessories.
Source?

Anyway, the whole point of MagSafe is that the connector at the bottom of the phone is irrelevant. So your wild assumption about Apple's motivation wouldn't quite make sense even if it were true.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KeithBN

Ds6778

macrumors 65816
Sep 9, 2016
1,025
3,350
Gotta love the hysteria for what will potentially effect a small percentage of people. I love MagSafe on my 12 Pro Max, the MagSafe duo, wallet and Apple cases work so well together. I look forward to the future of MagSafe across Apples product line.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KeithBN

jazz1

Contributor
Aug 19, 2002
4,414
17,998
Mid-West USA


Since the launch of iPhone 12 models in October, Apple has acknowledged that the devices may cause electromagnetic interference with medical devices like pacemakers and defibrillators, but the company has now shared additional information.

magsafecasedangle.jpg

Apple added the following paragraph to a related support document today:While the support document already mentioned "MagSafe accessories" in the title, Apple has further emphasized that accessories like the MagSafe Charger and MagSafe Duo Charger may also interfere with medical devices:Apple continues to state that while all iPhone 12 models contain more magnets than prior iPhone models, they are "not expected to pose a greater risk of magnetic interference to medical devices than prior iPhone models."

Earlier this month, an article in the Heart Rhythm Journal indicated that iPhone 12 models can "potentially inhibit lifesaving therapy in a patient" due to magnetic interference with implantable medical devices. Three doctors in Michigan tested this interaction by holding an iPhone 12 near a patient's implantable cardioverter defibrillator, which immediately went into a "suspended" state for the duration of the test, according to the article.

"We hereby bring an important public health issue concerning the newer generation iPhone 12 which can potentially inhibit lifesaving therapy in a patient particularly while carrying the phone in upper pockets," the doctors wrote. "Medical device manufacturers and implanting physicians should remain vigilant in making patients aware of this significant interaction of the iPhone 12 and other smart wearables with their cardiac implantable electronic devices."

The article in the Heart Rhythm Journal was first surfaced by Brazilian website MacMagazine.

Apple provides more information in the "Important safety information for iPhone" section of the iPhone User Guide.

Article Link: Apple Elaborates on Potential for iPhone 12 and MagSafe Accessories to Interfere With Implantable Medical Devices
Next season, Chicago Med.....two iPHone chargers on patient chest........beeeeeep, CLEAR!!!!!
 

Moonjumper

macrumors 68030
Jun 20, 2009
2,740
2,908
Lincoln, UK
Someone close to me has a pacemaker. She was warned to use her mobile phone in the opposite ear to the side her pacemaker is. But many people who have a pacemaker are also of an age where remembering such issues is not easy.

To exacerbate that problem with magsafe is an issue for some people who will not read this website or hear from elsewhere. A benefit for many does not out-weight a cause of death for a few. i hope there is some way to detect the presence of a pacemaker or other potential issue, and provide a warning.
 

CJ Dorschel

Cancelled
Dec 14, 2019
407
808
Berlin
I’m very surprised by this information. This is a big concern that Apple should have fully considered before implementing in one of their most popular devices. MagSafe makes more sense with their MacBook line. Most I know who have the iPhone 12 hate MagSafe as it makes it more difficult to remove their iPhone from the charger - myself included with my 12 Pro. I understand that not placing the phone precisely on some wireless chargers may not charge the device but that’s just a matter of owners being more aware. The specific charging coiling system integrated with the magnetic connector creates a stronger signal and pattern that has been proven to interfere with medical implants and owners with pacemakers never had a problem with iPhones held to their head until the 12. Now they have to either use a wired or bluetooth headphones or hold the phone on their right side as pacemakers generally are implanted via the left side of the chest. Keeping in mind, the distance has been proven to impact devices as far as 12-16" and only the iPhone 12 has this issue.

Regulatory bodies should have caught this during development. Personally, I would rather MagSafe be left out of the next iPhone line.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Boyyai and rjp1

CJ Dorschel

Cancelled
Dec 14, 2019
407
808
Berlin
Seriously? You are aware that all magnets, phones, radios,..... also have this issue? And don’t try to get an MRI, it will pull the device out of your chest. But thanks, I was not aware the issue was usb-c, I consider myself having Ben educated now.
And Samsungs also have radios, EMF and you can’t bring them close either, sorry but facts are facts

Apples and oranges. The magnet's are very strong. Read the medical research on this matter or simply scan the AMA's official release. I don't know if USB-C was a factor, that doesn't matter, what does matter is the specific charging coiling system integrated with the magnetic connector creates a stronger signal and pattern that has been proven to interfere with medical implants. As pacemakers aren't too far from holding a phone to ones head this wasn't a problem that anyone created, it was found by users who experienced the disruption.

Let's not get carried away and please be respectful of others. I know we are all tense these days, "Ben". ;)
 
Last edited:

CJ Dorschel

Cancelled
Dec 14, 2019
407
808
Berlin
That’s true. But at the same time, not everyone buying an iPhone 12 is really aware about MagSafe. I could imagine a lot of upgrades come from people just asking the Best Buy employee what the best phone is, then getting that.

In my honest opinion, there needs to be a warning about the magnets and risk of contact with medical devices on the box. Louis Rossmann made a pretty good video on just that, actually. If you have the time, I’d suggest watching it. It’s a great piece.
Spot on. Thank you for this info.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mikedop

JosephAW

macrumors 603
May 14, 2012
5,959
7,913
I see so many women stuffing their iPhone in their bra talking to someone. o_O Be careful.
 

ZZ9pluralZalpha

macrumors regular
May 28, 2014
248
369
Something curious about the iPhone in the article image. The case with MagSafe and the new-style plastic rim around the camera opening implies it’s of the iPhone 12 generation, the three cameras say it’s a Pro, the microphone hole is in the right place for a 12 Pro, but there’s no sign of the LiDAR sensor. Did someone jam one of the case manufacturer dummies in a production case?
 

CJ Dorschel

Cancelled
Dec 14, 2019
407
808
Berlin
Right, but MagSafe is different. If your phone really has the power to completely stop your pacemaker, I think that deserves a big, hard-to-miss warning either on the box or within the paperwork inside the box. Just to be sure anyone who might be at risk is fully aware.
Excellent point. This also interferes with other medical implants. My mum has a spinal cord stimulator implant in her lower back and she cannot use her 12 in her pockets and has to be careful if it's in her purse as it shuts down the implant that regulates the threads. She has spinal stenosis and years of being active she has little cartilage in her vertebrae. She was unaware of this until recently. She noticed she had to increase the strength and didn't know why until her specialist saw her iPhone 12 and informed us.
 

CJ Dorschel

Cancelled
Dec 14, 2019
407
808
Berlin
I think you need to do more research. That is not it at all
Pump the hate brakes. You've been all over people and the disrespect you're showing is uncalled for if not against forum TOS. If someone is misinformed, then kindly inform them. The articles referenced and from others in the comments section have explained the situation including the AMA and other regulatory bodies. If you have information to the contrary then please inform us and Apple as I'm sure we would all benefit greatly and do so with the same respect you would show a stranger on the street. I realize we're all tense during these trying days, don't take it out on others online.
 

mikedop

macrumors 603
Dec 30, 2019
5,749
12,173
Oklahoma
I think you need to do more research. That is not it at all

As stated in both the main article and the video I linked,
an article in the Heart Rhythm Journal indicated that iPhone 12 models can "potentially inhibit lifesaving therapy in a patient" due to magnetic interference with implantable medical devices. Three doctors in Michigan tested this interaction by holding an iPhone 12 near a patient's implantable cardioverter defibrillator, which immediately went into a "suspended" state for the duration of the test, according to the article.
medical devices that enter a "suspended" state which are required for lifesaving therapy sounds pretty bad to me. but sure.
 

TechieGeek

macrumors 6502
Mar 12, 2012
260
561
I reseted my iPhone 12 Mini on my MacBook Air today while FaceTiming my family, and the MacBook Air screen began to flicker :/ took me a moment to realize it may be those pesky magnets.

Seems like it can be dangerous if you don't remember that these magnets are there
 
  • Like
Reactions: Boyyai

vicviper789

macrumors 6502
Jun 5, 2013
357
1,916
They sell lightning to magnetic USB connectors on Amazon for a few bucks. I was skeptical at first and then I tried one. It works just like MagSafe should
 

iBreatheApple

macrumors 68030
Sep 3, 2011
2,948
1,021
Florida
It’s not that serious. These patients are generally well educated. Is there any risk? Yes. Is the risk high enough that Apple has any obligation to do something about it aside from perhaps education more obvious than the fine print? Not in my opinion. These people are at risk from many common/household encounters, not just Apple products. Provide adequate education and that's that.

Edit:ed the second half of my comment but the sentiment is identical. And you can dislike this all you want, but it's just reality. And if any of you had knowledge about pacemakers/defibrillators or even the thought to research something for yourself, you'd learn that a magnet doesn't simply shut off a pacemaker. There's a lot more to it. Including but not limited to you generally have to leave the magnet there for a period of time, and the device either resumes normal functioning or simply resets to a generally safe "default" setting that may not be specific/fine-tuned to the patients exact needs. You guys are commenting like you just go into cardiac arrest and die if the magnet rests directly on their chest for a brief period of time. Couple an alignment of the planets up with extensive patient education and you have a very low risk situation.
 
Last edited:
  • Disagree
Reactions: ctx86 and Boyyai
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.