Malcolm Owen
Apple has published a list of its products that could cause enough magnetic interference to impact medical devices, a page stemming from reports about MagSafe's potential to affect pacemakers.
Apple's MagSafe has been the subject of scrutiny in medical circles since its launch, due to the possibility that its magnets could trigger a pacemaker to perform unwanted actions if held close enough. Following those reports, Apple has published an update to its page warning about medical device interference with more information.
The update, published on Friday and spotted by MacRumors, refreshes an existing support page warning about the increased number of magnets in MagSafe-enabled devices, like the iPhone 12. Rather than just being about iPhone 12 models, the page now talks about magnetic interference by Apple products in a more general sense.
The page retains the warning to users that magnets can affect implanted pacemakers and defibrillators, for example, and to keep Apple products a safe distance away from the medical hardware.
The biggest change to the page is that Apple now lists product ranges that "contain magnets," and to keep the products a "safe distance away from your medical device." The list covers the previously-established iPhone 12 models, as well as MagSafe accessories, but it also covers many more product families.
The list of magnet-containing devices include iPad products and accessories, the Apple Watch and accessories, AirPods and charging cases, HomePod, Macs, MacBooks, and some Beats products.
While covering a majority of Apple's main products, the company also states the list is absent of some other products that do contain magnets, but are "unlikely to interfere with medical devices."
The concern over MagSafe started in January, after three Michigan doctors tested its effects on an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, which changed mode when within range of an iPhone.
In May an investigation by the FDA concluded that the risk to patients with pacemakers is low, but advises caution. However in June, the American Heart Foundation said MagSafe poses a "clinically significant" risk to cardiac devices.
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7 Comments
It’s prudent of Apple to make this warning, but iPhones are no different from any other magnetic device and anyone with a pacemaker/defibrillator should be more than aware of the need to keep magnets away from the devices.
So when the class action lawsuits start coming in I guess we’ll find out if Apple took this into consideration when developing the MagSafe system. Did Apple consult with medical experts before releasing the products or did they rely on their own research? Why did Apple wait until the subject was brought up by doctors before issuing the warnings? All questions the lawyers will be asking when they ask for a few billions dollars in damages.
What is the recommended minimum distance? I would guess just a few mm (putting the phone right onto the device)?