Apple issues urgent warning as people told ‘keep iPhones away from medical devices’

Apple has warned that magnets inside the new iPhone could interfere with pacemakers.

The tech giant said the device could also pose a risk to people with defibrillators.

It has urged people to keep the iPhone 12 six inches away from medical devices.

The US giant added the gizmo should be kept 12 inches away if being wirelessly charged to prevent magnetic interference.

The phone uses the company’s “MagSafe” tech to allow wireless chargers and other devices to attach to the back of the mobile.

Apple said: “IPhone contains magnets as well as components and radios that emit electromagnetic fields.

“All MagSafe accessories also contain magnets — and MagSafe Charger and MagSafe Duo Charger contain radios.

“These magnets and electromagnetic fields might interfere with medical devices.”

Meanwhile, Apple was set to unveil its first $100bn quarter last night (Weds).

Experts predicted the US tech giant raked in a record $103.4bn (£75.2bn) during the final three months of 2020.

During the Covid crisis, the business reported strong sales of its iPhones, MacBook computers, iPads, Airpod headphones and smart watches as families spend more time working and studying at home.

The firm was also boosted by unveiling a line-up of new devices including the iPhone 12, the iPad Air, the Homepod mini speaker and subscriptions known as Apple One.

The California-based firm is one of the world’s most valuable companies with a market value of more than $2 trillion.

This year it plans to increase manufacturing by almost 30% to produce as many as 96 million smartphone devices in the first half, according to reports.

The firm filed a patent last year for a “self-healing” screen that would be used in a foldable iPhone.

It would use elastomer, a material that returns to its original form when heated.

Apple’s application suggests it could be used in phones, laptops, tablets, watches and other devices.

It said the design “may have an outermost layer formed from clear glass, transparent plastic, sapphire, or other transparent materials that serve as a protective layer for thin-film transistor circuitry and other display structures”