Do Apple AirPods emit EMF radiation? The short answer is yes.

Here is a quote from the director at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health, Joel Moskowitzis:

“‘We can’t say with certainty that these devices are dangerous but judging by the research carried out on similar radiation types, there’s a good reason to think this is going to be problematic in the long term.”

Apple AirPods™ or Apple AirPods Pro™ may look like sleek, simple wireless earbuds. However, they are quite complex. In order for them to work, they have to essentially function as mini computers. This incredible breakdown from iFixit shows you just how much goes into one tiny earbud. While they are an incredible invention, the reality is that in order to work and communicate with your device Apple AirPods™ do in fact emit small amounts of Electric and Magnetic Field (EMF) radiation.

EMF waves are undetectable areas of energy that can also be referred to as radiation. There are two types of EMF exposure: non-ionizing (a lower level) and ionizing (a higher level). Apple AirPods™, along with power lines, microwaves, cell phones, and WiFi routers, use non-ionizing radiation. While non-ionizing radiation is considered “safer” than ionizing, the lowered risk does not mean there is zero risk.

Plus, with Apple AirPods™ you are putting yourself at increased risk because the device is going directly in your ear, putting it in direct contact with your skin and close to your brain. Your AirPods™ emit EMFs whenever they are on – not just when you’re actively listening to music. Unless they are switched off completely, your wireless earbuds are sending out and receiving signals that are exposing you to low levels of radiation. The problem is that many people who use Bluetooth technology don’t know about this.

It’s become such an issue that a group of over 250 scientists drafted an appeal to the World Health Organization asking them to re-evaluate their guidelines on EMF exposure limits. Why? Because currently, tech companies don’t have to report EMF risks unless the radiation hits certain levels.

In order for Apple AirPods™ to connect and stream sound via Bluetooth, they have to emit radiofrequency radiation. That radiation is usually around 2.4 GHz per pod. Again, the issue isn’t necessarily high levels of EMF waves, it’s that you’re putting this powerful device inside your ear canal. Microwaves also emit radiation, but you are typically standing at least a couple of feet away. With Bluetooth earbuds, you are literally inserting the radiation into your body. Have you or a friend ever noticed that you get headaches when you have your wireless earbuds in for long periods of time? This is a potential side effect of the radiation being so close to your brain.

Plus, the more you are doing with your phone and AirPods™, the more you will be exposed to radiation. Searching for WiFi, making phone calls, FaceTiming, and other activities will increase cellular transmissions and therefore increase the radiation. Because phones are larger, they emit more radiation than tiny AirPods™ do. However, because your phone is just touching the surface of your skin (we highly recommend using speakerphones when you can to lessen your exposure), you aren’t actually exposing yourself to that much radiation when making a call without AirPods™. The same goes for a WiFi router that sits in some random corner of your house. You would never rest your head on a WiFi router, so, therefore, your exposure is far less with a device like that.