The iPhone 17 has encountered several unintended electromagnetic interference (EMI) issues since its release. These problems have been reported by users across various platforms, including Apple support forums and Reddit, highlighting significant concerns about connectivity, audio interference, and interference with medical devices.
One major area of concern is the iPhone 17's wireless communication and connectivity performance. Users are experiencing intermittent Wi-Fi disconnections and unstable wireless CarPlay connections. These issues commonly occur when unlocking the phone, causing disruptions in features that rely on continuous connectivity such as wireless CarPlay during driving. This is linked to the new N1 wireless chip that Apple introduced in the iPhone 17 series, replacing the Broadcom chipset used in previous models. The N1 chip supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread networking, which were expected to enhance power efficiency and improve performance. However, early reports suggest there may be compatibility issues or firmware instability undermining its performance for some users, leading to brief Wi-Fi drops and connection instability. Not all users experience these issues, indicating the problem might be linked to specific firmware versions or environmental factors. Apple has acknowledged awareness internally, and a minor software update (iOS 26.0.1) was expected to address some connectivity issues, though its effectiveness remained to be seen shortly after launch.
Another EMI-related problem involves unusual noises emanating from the iPhone 17, particularly while charging. Several users of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models report hearing faint static, buzzing, and hissing sounds from the bottom speaker or from the vicinity of the charging port when the phone is plugged in. This phenomenon, often described as similar to coil whine, occurs when the phone is charging and can be more noticeable with certain apps running or at full battery charge. This noise is believed to originate from internal charging circuitry and is transmitted through the phone's speaker casing, creating the illusion that the speaker itself is causing the noise. This issue appears to be unique to the current generation iPhone 17 as it is not reported in the older iPhone 16 series. The persistence of this noise leads users to speculate whether it is a hardware design flaw or a software glitch that might be resolved through software updates or future replacements.
Beyond consumer inconvenience, EMI concerns with iPhone 17 also involve potential health and safety implications related to interference with medical devices. Earlier iPhone models, especially starting from the iPhone 12 with its MagSafe magnetic array, have been noted to emit magnetic fields strong enough to disrupt medical devices such as pacemakers. The magnetic field strength around the MagSafe array reaches up to 50 Gauss, whereas some sensitive medical devices can be affected by fields as low as 10 Gauss. This interference can cause medical devices to malfunction or operate irregularly, posing a significant risk to users reliant on such devices. Although Apple includes warnings advising users to keep a safe distance between the phone and implanted medical devices, new research and user reports highlight that this is still a relevant concern for newer generations, including the iPhone 17. The electromagnetic fields are emitted not only from the MagSafe array but also from components like magnetometers, wireless radios, speakers, and microphones, which collectively contribute to emissions that may interfere with medical equipment when in close proximity.
Efforts to mitigate these medical interference issues are anticipated by modifying hardware or adjusting magnetic field strengths in future iterations. However, the current presence of this EMI effect means users with sensitive medical implants should be vigilant about the distance between their devices and such smartphones.
In addition to medical device interference, there are broader concerns about radio frequency (RF) emissions and electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure from the iPhone 17 series. The new wireless technologies like Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and others integrated into the device potentially increase EMF emissions in comparison to older models. This has prompted manufacturers and third-party product developers to focus on providing protective accessories to reduce EMF exposure for users concerned about these emissions. Protective cases and other mitigation technologies, designed based on scientific research, are increasingly marketed alongside the iPhone 17 line to address these worries.
In summary, the unintended electromagnetic interference issues associated with the iPhone 17 include:
- Wi-Fi and wireless CarPlay connectivity disruptions linked to the new N1 wireless chip and its firmware.
- Audible static and buzzing noises from the charging circuitry, particularly when connected to power, interpreted as EMI-related coil whine.
- Magnetic interference with medical devices such as pacemakers, caused by the strong magnetic fields from the MagSafe array and other electromagnetic components, continuing concerns from prior iPhone models.
- Increased EMF emissions due to advanced wireless technologies, prompting development of protective accessories.