The National Frequency Agency has fined the Korean giant €7,500 for the excessive SAR of its Galaxy Z Flip. A sum neither symbolic nor incentive, which did not push the manufacturer to quickly solve the problem.
The ANFR (National Frequency Agency) measures, among other missions, measure the amount of waves received by the human body through electrical devices that emit radiation. Of course, smartphones are part of this category of gadgets. Each year, the public institution takes several dozen smartphones and measures their SAR, the specific absorption rate. Thus, in 2021 alone, the ANFR pinned 9 OnePlus, Sony and Xiaomi smartphones that emit too many waves
To read – SAR: here is the amount of radiation emitted by the most popular smartphones
It is enough common for a device model to exceed thresholds absorption permitted. Three types of SAR are taken into account: that of the head (when the handset is carried to the ear), that of the trunk (when the device is in a pocket) and those of the limbs (when it is held in hand). The measurement taken in W/kg must not exceed 2 W/kg for the head and the trunk, and 4 W/kg for the limbs. If exceeded, and without significant improvement after a second analysis by an independent laboratory, the offending manufacturer is liable to a fine of €7,500.
Samsung was fined for the Galaxy Z Flip’s SAR and Wiko was issued a warning for the Y82
The amount of the latter apparently did not encourage Samsung to reduce the SAR of the Galaxy Z Flip marketed since 2020. The South Korean brand was sanctioned for having failed to reduce the emissions of the Galaxy Z Flip (first of the name released in 2020 ) within a reasonable time. During a first measurement, the smartphone had a trunk SAR of 3.024 W/kg, a value 50% higher than the authorized issue. It took several software updates for the Korean manufacturer to bring the SAR of its foldable to a lower dose than that authorized.
Note that the Galaxy Z Flip is not the only smartphone to emit too many waves. The ANFR would also have given formal notice to the brand Wiko for the excessive SAR of the Wiko Y82. The SAR member of the latter was measured at 4.01 W/kg, exceeding the authorized limit by 0.01 W/kg. The Marseille manufacturer promptly corrected the situation to bring the SAR back to 2.03 W/kg. He therefore did not have to pay a fine.
