How Do Cell Phone Cases Affect Your Radiation Exposure and Your Phone’s Performance?

#1

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has released a new report on the effect cell phone cases have on the amount of radiation your cell phone emits. The study speaks to the concern that cell phone cases can weaken the phone’s signal including wifi & bluetooth and actually increase the users’ radiation exposure as the phone tries harder to communicate.

I experienced it my self (can be seen in my reviews soon) and found noticeable drop in cellular/wifi and bluetooth signals resulting the distortion while using any of BT hands-free. Phone signals are also down by 8 to 12 db.
So if you have complins about BT connectivity try to remove the protective shell/case of your phone.

I used different protective cases including metal protective armour, book cases, TPU, gel, plastic, rubber & silicone etc. The best signals I get is without any protective case and front protective glass.
The 2nd best result was with a case that just covers the sides of the cellphone while the top and bottom of the phone is exposed.
I am attaching the pictures of different cases along with the dBm readings.

IMG_20180603_163203.jpg3456×4608 2.74 MB
it has the 2nd best reception of
IMG_20180603_165850.png1080×356 10.9 KB
-82 dBm

While I am getting

IMG_20180603_165829.png1080×363 10.9 KB
-75 dBm without any protective case / glass protector.

The other cases

IMG_20180603_163027.jpg3456×4608 2.73 MB
shows more lesser readings like
IMG_20180603_165803.png1080×368 10.8 KB
&
IMG_20180603_170030.png1080×328 10.6 KB

The case with the most negative reading is an armour case
IMG_20180603_171426.jpg1734×1035 876 KB
with a reading of -93 dBm
IMG_20180603_165955.png1080×344 10.9 KB

#2

The simple solution is to put your devices in airplane mode. 99% of the time, the call can wait :slight_smile:

2 Likes
#3

Interesting… maybe this is why Apple is rumored to be working on a much more durable smartphone. :laughing:

Link to the report?

1 Like
#4

Additionally, use wired earphones or speakerphone and talking on the phone.

1 Like
#5

Is there any info on what type of cases? I found it hard to believe your TPU ,silicone or plastic case would do that. Seems possible with metal ones though…

3 Likes
#6

Now that I think of it, maybe this is why Anker is discontinuing their Karapax brand :laughing: :cry:

1 Like
#7

What, no more bendgate! Hahahaha

It’s true, since apples death grip, a few years back, I don’t think your standard tpu or silicon case is going to affect the signal that much.

Though, it wouldn’t surprise me if some of the TOUGH CASES (otter box etc) would smother the signal to a certain degree, as they totally encase your handset.

I also think, that the leather cases (flip, bag types, and them bookcase type), plus to a degree belt cases (even like mine, made of fabric) .

1 Like
#8

Agreed. I have done a few studies at work on radiation. Plastics and rubber really dont have an effect on radiation.

Metals like aluminum and brass would reflect radiation back to the screen (not sure why anyone would buy a case made of metal is nuts)

Metals like nickel would absorb radiation (way overpriced so again nuts)

1 Like
#9

No I have tried non metal cases. Even the soft gel case intercept the signals (wifi, network, bluetooth and nfc)
Just try yourself (since you can measure only mobile network signals) go to about phone then network and note the dbm while the protective case mounted on your phone.(plz note -85 dbm is better then -95 dbm. The lesser dbm in minus is better. If you have -98 dbm means you are almost out of signals) then remove the whatever protective case is mounted and see the difference.

#10

I would recomend to go through this article.

#11

I don’t know. I see literary no difference with and without case in dBm values . It’s maybe even better with case to be honest (like -99 dBm with case , -105 <-> -110 without case [values on LTE]).

Also one important thing to notice is that they used iPhone 4 for testing and if I remember correctly iPhones 4 had problems with infamous death grip ( just your hand on the back device would ruin the signal)

Where antennas were located

What phone do you have now? With some phones that have all metal frames people also noticed that they have worse signal then with some all plastic housing phones at the same location.
I’m not saying this research is wrong or anything and I’m glad it helps you with better signal but tbh I’m little skeptical because all the things I said.

2 Likes
#12

I am just going to be frank with you. There may be correlation with non-ionizing radiation to cancer and other illnesses, but that is NOT proof. Causation is proof, not correlation. I live in an extremely high RF area. I sleep directly next to three wireless access points and many high and low frequency long-range wireless infrastructure equipment. Not once have I had any of the alleged symptoms of non-ionizing radiation poisoning, despite the fact that I am in an environment over 15x more radiation filled than the average home.

Until there is solid proof, I will continue on.

2 Likes
#13

I have tested it on Huawei mate 8, Lg Stylo 3 plus and Samsung note 8.
Can’t say about iPhone as it has different technology. But just today I checked with a friend of mine, there is no significant difference with or without the case.

#14

Here my core purpose to explain the signal blockage (wifi, network, and bluetooth) as mostly we blame Anker or other companies for poor b.tooth connectivity while the problem occurs due to signals blockage as we use protective cases.

#16

Speaking of, @AnkerOfficial, can we expect cases for the new iPhones this year to be released under the Anker brand?