iPhone 12 and 12 Pro Models in Europe Have Regulatory Symbols Engraved on Side

[Zadigre]

it's not a big deal... most users will get a case.
and if you get a clear case, it will be a lot less visible on sides compared to the back.

 

[IsaacM]

you can barely see them

 

[bobmans]

so people may cancel their order for this...but lack of 120 hz, reduced battery life and no charger/usb c port are not deal-breakers for them?

I wonder what phone they'll get then because literally every phone has those markings in Europe. 🤣

Samsung maybe?

Not even sure why this is worthy for a MacRumors article. All phones, including iPhones, have had these markings since forever.

 

[elppa]

European government in a nutshell. 🤮

European standards are pretty much the de facto global standard in most industries.
If a product meets all necessary European consumer and safety standards then it can be sold pretty much anywhere.
I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing and in most industries they find it quite useful (e.g. automotive).

It is not good having an E-Label if the thing is broken and won’t turn on.
People need to know how to dispose of these devices safely.

 

[i.am.lost]

Anyone defending this design choice clearly hasn’t seen an iPhone 11 Pro in Europe. The markings on the back are so subtle that they’re invisible in most lighting on my Pro Max. Maybe Apple got a rap on the knuckles for making them too nondescript last year?

Especially as I’m left-handed, their placement on the band here will always show when I’m holding the 12 Pro. Not happy at all with this change.

 

[WaxedJacket]

Good on Apple for at least moving it to a discrete spot. Wasn't a fan of the lower center markings before.
In general I'm not a fan of how the EU regulates likes this, but that's a rant for another time.

 

[jimbobb24]

Well, US gets these the ugly antenna cutout, we get regulatory markings. To be honest Apple has usually made these markings so thin and low contrast that you don't really notice them right away.

And the added hardware of useless mmWave...so on the whole EU probably wins this round. UK might be the biggest winner if they have no mmWave and no markings.

 

[bluespark]

Anyone defending this design choice clearly hasn’t seen an iPhone 11 Pro in Europe. The markings on the back are so subtle that they’re invisible in most lighting on my Pro Max. Maybe Apple got a rap on the knuckles for making them too nondescript last year?

Especially as I’m left-handed, their placement on the band here will always show when I’m holding the 12 Pro. Not happy at all with this change.

I agree, and I also think you're right about the reason for this change. Apple had gone wildly far in attempting to make these required markings discrete. My guess is that Apple was quietly directed to change that practice. Still, I wish Europe would adopt the rule we have in the U.S. No one needs to see these markings on their phones.

 

[gaximus]

Previous years it was on the back of the iPhone, looks better on the side to be honest (altho would be better if it weren't there at all but it's required by EU law).

The US gets the ugly antenna, the EU gets the ugly symbols 🤣

At least the antenna serves a purpose.
Those two symbols are useless. Are going to through your phone in the trash and then be like “wait, let me check the side of the phone to see if I throw this in the trash”.

 

[pphheerroonn]

This was likely due to manufacturing optimisations. This way they can use the same glass back for EU and US phones.
The antenna bands are different for the EU and US models, so makes more sense to add unique characteristics there also.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Yep. Clue the complainers in 3...2...

 

[hifimacianer]

Especially as I’m left-handed, their placement on the band here will always show when I’m holding the 12 Pro. Not happy at all with this change.

I‘m also left handed. But I can try as hard as I want - I don’t see the sides of my iPhone when looking at it or holding it in my hand.

 

[Stars&Stripes]

Who cares? 99% will put a case on it and will never see it.

 

[gaximus]

it's not a big deal... most users will get a case.
and if you get a clear case, it will be a lot less visible on sides compared to the back.

”Put a case on it” is such a bad argument for the design of something being bad. That’s like buying a car where the paint on the front chips off if you go faster than 40 and someone being like “just out a bra on it and it’ll be fine”

 

[44267547]

Not even sure why this is worthy for a MacRumors article.

Yet, you’re commenting. Seems the Editorial decisions on what’s ‘worthy’ has Plenty others interested in this thread.

For one, it’s interesting enough to see the differences of how the engravings are included on the sides versus back.

 

[sterumbelow]

Will UK get this too?

It shows on the UK store gallery, so yes.

 

[chucker23n1]

Canceling my order.

Ah yes, the famous “I’m going to cancel my phone order, emigrate to a country that has no such regulations, and buy a phone there” move.

 

[jimmy_uk]

Big whup! If a person in Europe is so vain and OCD that a little laser etched symbol gets their panties all in a wad, then don't buy the latest in phone technology. Do you think anybody, I mean at least one person, might use a thing called a case that hides the symbol? Again, big whup.

From a design company that puts fake speaker holes in their devices for balanced aesthetics......




Sure they had to put the symbols on but I see the sides more than I do the back. Last year's placement was less prominent.

No case life.

 

[Baymowe335]

Yet another example of over regulated nonsense that needs to stop.

 

[dan.jones]

Curiously, I had my iPhone X replaced in February due to a fault, the replacement model that I received had no markings on the back of the phone. All I have is the Apple logo and the word iPhone. Seen some iPhone 11’s that were purchased after without this on there.
I wondered at the time why I never got the symbols, I kinda assumed at the time because of Brexit?

 

[AbSoluTc]

I'm sorry. I didn't catch that. But, I'm not sure if they're telling you the truth.

It's a requirement in the EU. They HAVE to have it.

 

[Psychicbob]

Can’t wait for the big lazer-etched letters a foot high on the drivers door of BMWs and Audis.

 

[logics8]

If you can see the markings you're holding it wrong.

 

[IIGS User]

No one would notice unless their was an article about it. No one curr.

Right now, I can't tell you if my Xr has any markings on it The back of the case is partially clear, but not all of it.

It's done in a way that is as unobtrusive as possible. It's a nothingburger....

 

[Breaking Good]

As the silver model will have the same colour band throughout its make up, rather than a coloured coating, I wonder if it’ll be less noticeable / able to be polished out (without doing too much damage to the band itself that is)?

Why would you bother? It's a smartphone, not some priceless heirloom to be past down through family generations.

My own $0.02, the EU requires these types of markings in an attempt to cut down on counterfeits. Apple probably intentionally moved the markings to the side in order to make it more difficult to counterfeit.