iPhone 12 and 12 Pro Models in Europe Have Regulatory Symbols Engraved on Side

Apple's iPhone 12 and 12 Pro have no visible regulatory symbols in the United States, as the U.S. allows this information to be relegated to the Settings app on the devices thanks to the E-Label Act passed in 2014.

europeregulatoryinfo
That's not the case in Europe, where regulatory approvals are required to be visible on the device itself. Apple has in the past put the necessary symbols on the back of the ‌iPhone‌, but this year, the European models have regulatory info laser etched on the bottom right side of the device.


The etching includes the "CE" symbol, which is a marking that means it conforms with the health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area. Most products sold in Europe are required to meet the legal requirements for the CE marking, and are required display it.


Some ‌iPhone‌ buyers in Europe may not be happy with the CE mark engraved on the side of the new devices as it is more visible in some ways than the engraving on the back, but a case will be able to hide it.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

'New' iPhone SE Product Listing Appears on French Website

Wednesday February 12, 2025 6:49 am PST by
As the wait continues for Apple's long-rumored, fourth-generation iPhone SE, French electronics retailer Boulanger has prematurely published a product listing for a "new" model of the iPhone SE. The placeholder page says the device is "coming soon," but it offers no further information, and the price shown is obviously not real. The listing was spotted by a reader of the French technology...
apple launch feb 2025 alt

What to Expect From the 'Apple Launch' Next Week

Thursday February 13, 2025 11:48 am PST by
Apple has yet to announce any new devices this year, but that could change starting next week. Apple CEO Tim Cook today said to "get ready" for a "launch" on Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," said Cook, in a social media post. The post includes an #AppleLaunch hashtag, along with a short video featuring an animated Apple logo inside of a circle....
apple launch feb 2025

Tim Cook Teases an 'Apple Launch' Next Wednesday

Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag. The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle. Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Coming Next Week With These New Features for Your iPhone

Friday February 14, 2025 6:18 am PST by
The first iOS 18.4 beta for iPhones should be just around the corner, and the update is expected to include many new features and changes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the iOS 18.4 beta to be released by next week. Below, we outline what to expect from iOS 18.4 so far. Apple Intelligence for Siri Siri is expected to get several enhancements powered by Apple Intelligence on iOS...
iPhone 17 Pro Render Front Page Tech

iPhone 17 Pro With All-New Camera Bar Design Allegedly Revealed

Thursday February 13, 2025 5:49 pm PST by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro will feature three rear cameras arranged in a familiar triangular layout, but the cameras will be housed in an all-new rectangular camera bar with rounded corners, according to YouTube channel Front Page Tech. iPhone 17 Pro camera design render created by Asher for Front Page Tech In a video uploaded today, Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser said the camera ...
M4 Mac mini Apple Video

Apple's Refurbished Mac Mini Pricing Has a Problem

Thursday February 13, 2025 6:20 am PST by
Apple this week began selling refurbished Mac mini models with the M4 chip for the first time, but this has led to a pricing conundrum. In the United States, Apple is offering a refurbished Mac mini with the base M4 chip, 256GB of storage, 16GB of RAM, and Gigabit Ethernet for $509, down from $599 new. This is the standard 15% discount that Apple offers on refurbished Macs. The issue is...
M4 mini Glowing Blue

Apple Begins Selling Refurbished M4 Macs

Wednesday February 12, 2025 11:35 am PST by
Apple today added MacBook Pro and Mac mini models with M4 series chips to its certified refurbished store in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland for the first time since the computers were introduced in October 2024. Some refurbished MacBook Pro models with M4 chips are also available in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and select other European countries. ...
iPhone 16 Apple Store

iPhone 17 in New Sizes This Year: What to Know

Thursday February 13, 2025 2:45 am PST by
Last year, Apple tweaked iPhone 16 Pro screen sizes to make them bigger than 2023's iPhone 15 Pro models, and this year we are also expecting a change in the size of the displays in the iPhone 17 lineup. Here's what we know. Standard iPhone 17 Apple could introduce a new display size for the standard iPhone 17 model in 2025. The iPhone 17 could measure in at 6.3 inches, up from 6.1 inches,...
Apple Ad on X

Apple Resumes Advertising on X

Wednesday February 12, 2025 2:18 pm PST by
Apple this month started advertising on X for the first time in more than a year. The company had stopped advertising on the social media platform in November 2023 following controversial remarks made by its owner Elon Musk. For example, the @Apple account is running an ad promoting Safari's privacy features. The ad was spotted by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. The @AppleTV account has a...

Top Rated Comments

mikhaelj Avatar
57 months ago

That's part of Europe, no?
Its complicated. lets stick to fun stuff on here :)
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
44267547 Avatar
57 months ago
It looks better on the sides than it would on the back. (I mean, who really looks at the edges on an iPhone.) I think it’s a cleaner look on the side than it is on the back of the phone itself, Then again, the majority use cases anyway, so it’s not covered as is.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
icanhazmac Avatar
57 months ago

I wonder if Apple was forced to do it?
Did you bother to read the article?

That's not the case in Europe, where regulatory approvals are required to be visible on the device itself.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SnakeEater1993 Avatar
57 months ago
so people may cancel their order for this...but lack of 120 hz, reduced battery life and no charger/usb c port are not deal-breakers for them?
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GeoStructural Avatar
57 months ago
Ewww, WTF Europe. I usually support EU regulations in terms of fairness and their push for USB C, but this is not something I can tolerate. All this information can be readily consulted in the Settings app and documentation that comes in the box, I don't need to see it printed on my device.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chucker23n1 Avatar
57 months ago

Canceling my order.
Ah yes, the famous “I’m going to cancel my phone order, emigrate to a country that has no such regulations, and buy a phone there” move.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)