6 to 12 inches

How far you should keep ipads away from pacemakers

Apple has named which of its products should be kept away from people with medical devices like pacemakers and implanted defibrillators.

The list ( www.snipca. com/38786) includes the iphone 12 range, released last year, despite Apple previously saying that the devices were “not expected to pose a greater risk of magnetic interference to medical devices”.

In June, the American Heart Association published a small study showing that 11 of 14 pacemakers and implantable defibrillators experienced interference when an iphone 12 Pro Max was held within 1.5cm, even when the medical device was still in a sealed package.

Airpods earphones are also on Apple’s list, along with both the Macbook Air and Macbook Pro, and all ipads. Apple said devices should be kept more than six inches (15 centimetres) apart when in normal use, rising to 12 inches (30 centimetres) apart if they’re charging wirelessly.

The risk, Apple said, is that “under certain conditions” the magnets and electromagnetic fields used in the products might interfere with medical devices. It gives the example that “implanted pacemakers and defibrillators might contain sensors that respond to magnets and radios when in close contact”.

It added that you should “consult with your physician and your device manufacturer for specific guidelines”.

Other manufacturers have issued similar advice, including Samsung ( www.snipca. com/38788) and Huawei ( www.snipca.com/38789).