We Didn’t Want to Build a Phone Case—The Market Forced Us To.
Why RF Safe Makes a Case at All
We are not a phone‑case company. For 30 years our mission has been consumer safety. Unfortunately, almost every “radiation‑shielding” case we have lab‑tested does the opposite of what it claims—some drive handset emissions 20‑70 % higher by blocking or detuning the antenna.ewg.orgrfsafe.com Until manufacturers follow first‑principles design, someone has to show the right way. That is the sole purpose of QuantaCase™.
The Three Design Sins That Make Most Cases Hazardous
| ⚠️ Common “EMF‑Case” Feature | Why It Backfires |
|---|---|
| Metal plates / magnets on the back | Obstruct the main antenna. The phone compensates by boosting its transmit power—raising SAR to the user and anyone nearby.ewg.orgresearchgate.net |
| Detachable flap or wallet add‑ons | Metal hinge, magnetic latch, and extra thickness create unpredictable reflection patterns and prevent perfect flap alignment, punching holes in the Faraday barrier.rfsafe.comburga.com |
| “Front shield” with a giant speaker cut‑out | A 20 mm hole sits directly over the ear canal, letting peak‑power pulses hit the head unfiltered. |
FTC Warning: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission explicitly cautions that products “claiming to shield you from cell‑phone radiation” can instead increase exposure by making phones work harder.ftc.gov
First Principles for a Safe Case
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Front‑only micro‑mesh shield—redirect energy away from the body without covering the antenna.
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Zero metal plates, loops, or magnets anywhere near the radiators.
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Non‑detachable, ultra‑thin shell keeps the phone’s auto‑power algorithm stable.rfsafe.com
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Shielded speaker aperture—protection is continuous, not swiss‑cheesed.
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Built‑in kickstand & single RFID slot—encourages distance; prevents wallet bulk from prying the flap open.
QuantaCase™: An Open‑Source Blueprint
We publish every layer, material spec, and placement diagram so any brand can copy the geometry—because consumer safety improves only when the entire category gets it right. If tomorrow every competitor cloned these principles, we could stop building cases and go back to research.
| QuantaCase™ Feature | Root Flaw It Fixes |
|---|---|
| Non‑magnetic composite hinge | Eliminates antenna dead‑zone of detachable lids |
| Conductive speaker mesh | Closes the “ear‑canal window” left open by others |
| 1.3 mm total thickness | Thin enough that the phone does not trigger a transmit‑power ramp‑uprfsafe.com |
Verification tip: A $10 multimeter set to Ohms will show < 1 Ω across our front flap, proving the shield is live and continuous.
Independent Evidence That Design Matters
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EWG Antenna Study – Poorly designed cases can push exposure above FCC limits by blocking antennas.ewg.org
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SAR‑vs‑Antenna‑Q Paper – Even small detuning shifts can raise localized SAR dramatically.researchgate.net
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FTC Guidance – Consumers should avoid “passive shield” products unless the entire phone in the case has been tested.ftc.gov
Why “99 % Blocking” Ads Are Junk Science
RF exposure is governed by frequency, power, duty‑cycle, orientation, distance, tissue conductivity, and real‑time handset power control. A single percentage ignores at least five of those six variables and lulls users into dangerous habits.rfsafe.com
Prudent Avoidance—Until Regulators Catch Up
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Keep high‑data tasks off‑body (kickstand or desk).
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Use speaker‑mode or an air‑tube headset.
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Disable 5 G/Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth when idle.
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Hard‑wire or use Li‑Fi indoors for zero‑microwave connectivity.
Call to Action
If you already own a “shielding” case with magnets or a metal plate, recycle it. Demand products—and regulations—that follow first principles. Until then, QuantaCase™ is proof that safe‑by‑design is not only possible but practical.
RF safety should be engineered, not advertised.
—John Coates, RF Safe founder
