Ulefone Note 16 Pro, Phonegate & the SAR Chess Match
: Why France’s Latest “All‑Clear” Should Make Consumers Think Twice
1. What just happened?
On 11 July 2025 France’s spectrum regulator – ANFR – lifted the February sales‑ban on the Ulefone Note 16 Pro after the manufacturer pushed a firmware update that cut the phone’s limb‑SAR from 4.78 W/kg to 3.01 W/kg (EU limit = 4 W/kg). Less than a week later, the non‑profit watchdog Phonegate Alert blasted the decision, warning that “the danger persists” and calling the reinstatement “a serious breach and a betrayal of consumer trust.”
Phonegate’s engineers uncovered two key problems:
- Active proximity sensors remain enabled during testing. If the lab dummy head/hand does not fully mimic real‑world grip, the sensor may lower transmit power only while the phone is on the test bench – producing artificially low SAR values.
- No “kill‑switch” for lab verification. CETECOM Advanced – the accredited lab hired by ANFR – reports that Ulefone did not supply codes to disable those sensors, contravening France’s 2022 rule that mandates such controls.
2. A quick timeline
| Date | Event | SAR (limb) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Feb 2025 | ANFR orders withdrawal & recall of Ulefone Note 16 Pro and Oukitel WP28 | 4.78 W/kg | Sales banned |
| 11 Jul 2025 | Firmware V16 released; ANFR retests & approves | 3.01 W/kg | Ban lifted (conditional) |
| 17 Jul 2025 | Phonegate issues rebuttal press release | – | Calls for continued withdrawal |
3. Who is Phonegate Alert?
Founded in 2018 by French physician Dr Marc Arazi, Phonegate Alert is the NGO that forced ANFR to publish hundreds of hidden SAR test reports. Their mission: expose discrepancies between laboratory compliance measurements and the way people actually carry their phones (skin‑contact, pockets, bra straps, etc.).
The group’s investigations have already led to 60+ models being withdrawn or patched in France, including devices from Apple, Motorola, Nokia, Xiaomi and lesser‑known brands.
4. This is not an isolated case – recent SAR controversies
| Model | Country action | Measured SAR violation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 12 | France, Sept 2023 | 5.74 W/kg limb | Temporary sales ban; Apple issued OTA update within two weeks |
| DOOGEE X98 | France, Jun 2025 | 6.25 W/kg limb | Permanent ban (no update offered) |
| CrossCall Core S5 | France, Jun 2025 | 4.33 W/kg limb | Update demanded; report still unpublished |
| Oukitel WP28 | France, Feb 2025 | 4.06 W/kg limb | Recall; update pending |
(Note: rumours about an iPhone 11 ban proved unfounded – only the iPhone 12 failed the French test protocol.)
5. Why proximity sensors matter
Modern smartphones throttle their radios when they “sense” your ear or a hard surface nearby. Disabling those sensors for type‑approval testing is therefore critical; otherwise regulators certify a “best‑case” handset that behaves very differently in your pocket.
France made this explicit in 2022: manufacturers must supply lab technicians with documented procedures or hidden codes to force maximum transmit power throughout the test. Phonegate argues that ANFR simply trusted paperwork this time instead of verifying the switches in real time, allowing Ulefone to skate through.
6. Understanding the numbers
| Region | SAR limit (head/trunk) | SAR limit (limb) | Averaging mass |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | 2 W/kg | 4 W/kg | 10 g tissue |
| USA (FCC) | 1.6 W/kg | – | 1 g tissue |
Because the U.S. rule averages absorbed power over a smaller 1‑gram cube, a phone that just meets the EU limit can expose American‑style tissue to ~3× higher peak energy. Phonegate therefore calls the EU standard “structurally lenient.”
7. Implications for consumers & RF Safe readers
- Regulatory clearance ≠ real‑world safety. A firmware tweak that passes the bench test may not control emissions when you stream video with the case pressed against your thigh.
- Always update – then verify. If you own a Note 16 Pro, confirm you’re on System Version SH1_EEA_V16. If not, update manually before continued use.
- Use distance & shielding. RF Safe’s QuantaCase, air‑tube headsets and low‑power settings add physical barriers and limit duty cycle—controls a firmware patch cannot undermine.
- Check independent SAR lists. Phonegate’s database shows which models required recalls or software downgrades; use it before your next handset purchase.
8. What should regulators do next?
- Real‑time sensor auditing. Mandate that accredited labs demonstrate sensor states throughout every test run.
- Random post‑market spot checks. SAR must be verified on retail samples running the latest public firmware—without prior notice.
- Finer‑grained exposure metrics. Follow FCC’s lead: adopt ≤5 mm test distance and 1 g averaging to reflect children’s smaller limbs and heads.
- Transparency penalties. Non‑compliance reports should appear in ANFR’s open DATA portal within 48 hours, not months.
9. Final thoughts
The Ulefone Note 16 Pro saga reminds us that the SAR “game” is dynamic: new software can drop a number on paper, but fundamental design choices (antenna placement, sensor logic) still dictate the watts your body absorbs. Until standards reflect worst‑case reality, vigilant consumers, independent labs and advocates like Phonegate Alert remain the last line of defence.
RF Safe was founded in 1998 on exactly that premise. We will continue to track every firmware patch, every withdrawn handset and every courtroom battle – and to translate the technical alphabet soup into actionable steps you can take today to protect yourself and your family.
Stay tuned, stay updated, and—most importantly—*hold the phone at a distance!*
