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Using Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) as the comparable measure of cellphone radio-frequency exposure, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has the highest listed head SAR in a cited 28-model U.S. snapshot (1.26 W/kg). The Samsung Galaxy A15 5G has the lowest head SAR (0.56 W/kg). Body-position results reverse the picture: the Galaxy S24 Ultra is lowest at 0.62 W/kg, while five listed iPhones tie for highest at 1.19 W/kg. These are maximum-power compliance values, not readings of typical daily exposure or proof that one compliant phone is medically safe and another is dangerous.
What does “cellphone emissions” mean in this comparison?
Here, “emissions” means radio-frequency (RF) energy absorbed by the body from a cellphone, represented by Specific Absorption Rate. SAR is expressed in watts per kilogram (W/kg) and describes the rate at which tissue absorbs RF energy. It is not a measure of battery consumption, total environmental pollution, or a diagnosis of health risk.
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Which cellphone has the highest and lowest head SAR?
In the cited 28-model U.S. snapshot of selected iPhone, Galaxy and Pixel models released from 2020 through 2024, the Galaxy S24 Ultra has the highest listed head SAR at 1.26 W/kg. The Galaxy A15 5G has the lowest listed head SAR at 0.56 W/kg.
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| Position and measure | Highest listed result | Lowest listed result |
|---|---|---|
| Head SAR | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra — 1.26 W/kg | Samsung Galaxy A15 5G — 0.56 W/kg |
| Body SAR | 1.19 W/kg tie: iPhone SE (3rd generation), iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra — 0.62 W/kg |
The source for these figures is RADIHALT Research’s 2026 “Phone SAR Database — FCC Values for 28 Phones.” It is a selected snapshot, not a live ranking of every phone sold today. A different regional variant, test revision or catalog can produce a different order.
Why do head and body SAR rankings differ?
Head and body tests represent different use positions and spacing assumptions, so a handset can rank high in one column and low in the other. The Galaxy S24 Ultra illustrates this clearly: it is highest for head SAR in this sample but lowest for body SAR.
Head SAR
Head SAR approximates a phone used close to the side of the head during a call. In this dataset, values range from 0.56 W/kg for the Galaxy A15 5G to 1.26 W/kg for the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Body SAR
Body SAR applies to positions such as a phone carried against the torso or used with the device near the body. The highest listed body value is 1.19 W/kg, shared by five iPhone models. The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 0.62 W/kg is the lowest body value in the same 28-phone set.
Do not combine the two columns into one score. If a phone will spend most of its time in a pocket, compare body SAR; if you frequently hold it to your ear, compare head SAR. The test position should always accompany the number.
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How does the FCC SAR limit work?
For public exposure from cellphones in the United States, the Federal Communications Commission limit is 1.6 W/kg averaged over 1 gram of tissue. The FCC adopted this limit in 1999. Certification testing uses maximum power, so a phone that passes the test is not transmitting at that level continuously in ordinary use.
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- Unit: watts per kilogram (W/kg).
- U.S. averaging: 1 gram of tissue.
- Test condition: maximum-power compliance operation.
- Regulatory meaning: a pass indicates compliance with the defined exposure limit; it does not rank health outcomes among compliant models.
Other jurisdictions may use a different averaging method. A commonly cited comparison is 2 W/kg averaged over 10 grams of tissue. Because the tissue mass and calculation differ, a U.S. 1-gram value should not be treated as directly interchangeable with a 10-gram result.
Are the highest-SAR phones unsafe?
No health conclusion follows from placing one compliant model above another in a SAR table. The National Cancer Institute says cellphone RF is nonionizing energy and that evidence to date suggests cellphone use does not cause brain or other cancers in humans. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration states that “The weight of scientific evidence has not linked cell phone radio frequency radiation with any health problems.”
A lower certified SAR can be a reasonable exposure-minimization preference, but it is not a guarantee of lower real-world exposure in every situation. Distance, signal strength, call duration, body position and network behavior can outweigh the difference between two laboratory maximums. Conversely, a phone near the top of the legal range is not established as dangerous merely because its certified number is higher.
What does the 28-phone snapshot actually cover?
The comparison includes selected iPhone, Galaxy and Pixel models released between 2020 and 2024. It does not include every storage configuration, carrier edition, unlocked edition or phone sold globally. Model names can conceal different radio hardware and antennas, so the exact model identifier and country variant matter.
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Manufacturer examples to cross-check
Google’s Pixel 9 regulatory guide lists U.S.-limit values of 0.87 W/kg head and 0.99 W/kg body for Pixel 9; 1.13 W/kg head and 0.99 W/kg body for Pixel 9 Pro; and 0.92 W/kg head and 0.99 W/kg body for Pixel 9 Pro XL. Apple’s regulatory page for model group A3473/A3716/A3717 reports 1.19 W/kg for both head and body under the U.S. one-gram limit.
These manufacturer figures demonstrate why a current buyer should verify the relevant regulatory record instead of assuming that a family name covers every variant. They are examples of official disclosures, not replacements for checking the model you intend to purchase.
How can I verify a phone’s exact SAR value?
Use the regulatory documentation for the precise model and market. A listing for “the same phone” can refer to another country’s radio configuration or a different model code.
- Find the model number in the phone’s regulatory label, settings page or original packaging.
- Open the manufacturer’s regulatory or compliance page for that model and country.
- Record head SAR and body SAR separately, including the averaging standard (for example, U.S. 1 gram).
- Cross-check the model in the FCC database when a U.S. purchase decision depends on the value.
- Check the publication or test date and note whether the result covers the exact carrier or regional variant.
If a retailer lists only one SAR number, treat the specification as incomplete until you know whether it is the head or body result and which standard was used. “Lowest radiation” claims without a model code, test position and averaging method are not reliable comparisons.
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Does a lower SAR phone reduce everyday exposure?
It can reduce the certified maximum for the tested position, but everyday exposure is controlled by more than the label. Phones generally increase transmitting power when the signal to the base station is weak, and they can operate at much lower power when reception is good. The physical separation between you and the handset is often the most immediate variable.
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Practical steps that reduce exposure
- Shorten calls: Less time with the handset transmitting next to your head means less cumulative exposure.
- Use speaker mode or a headset: Moving the phone away from your head increases distance.
- Avoid weak-signal calls: A phone may raise transmission power while it searches for or maintains a distant base station.
- Keep the phone off your body when practical: A bag or nearby surface provides more separation than a tight pocket.
The NCI reports that Bluetooth headsets and earbuds typically transmit at power levels 10 to 400 times lower than cellphones. That comparison describes transmitter power, not a promise of a particular health outcome, and it does not change the phone’s certified SAR value.
How should I compare phones beyond a single SAR number?
Use a small checklist rather than sorting an unqualified list from lowest to highest.
| Comparison factor | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Test position | Head, body or both | A handset’s ranking can reverse between positions. |
| Averaging standard | U.S. 1 gram versus another region’s 10 grams | Different methods are not directly equivalent. |
| Exact hardware | Model number and country or carrier variant | Radio components and approvals can differ within a product family. |
| Source and date | Manufacturer or FCC record; test date | Catalog snapshots become incomplete as new models and revisions appear. |
| Use pattern | Call duration, distance and signal conditions | Real exposure is not fixed at the laboratory maximum. |
For a model-specific lower head-SAR option within this limited comparison, the Galaxy A15 5G is the relevant example. That statement should not be generalized to every regional version or to body SAR, where the ordering is different.
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- They are maxima: Certification uses a defined worst-case power setting rather than your average daily behavior.
- They are position-specific: Head and body values answer different questions.
- They are model-specific: A name shared across countries or carriers may represent different approved hardware.
- They are snapshot-dependent: The 28-model list does not establish the lowest or highest value across the entire current market.
- They are not a health ranking: SAR does not establish that one compliant phone causes illness or that another prevents it.
SAR also does not describe total RF emissions from every wireless function in every situation, nor does it measure battery energy use. For a buying decision, treat it as one standardized compliance specification alongside the exact model, region and intended use.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should I remember when choosing a lower-SAR phone?
Start with the position that matches how you use the phone, then verify the exact regional model in an official regulatory record. In the cited U.S. sample, the Galaxy A15 5G is lowest for head SAR and the Galaxy S24 Ultra is lowest for body SAR, while the same S24 Ultra is highest for head SAR. That reversal is the reason a single “most or least radiation” label is misleading.
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If reducing personal RF exposure is your priority, combine a documented SAR value with shorter calls, speaker mode or a hands-free headset, and more distance from the handset. These behavioral changes affect exposure regardless of which compliant model you select.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 5G automatically mean a phone has higher SAR?
No broad conclusion can be drawn from the cited 28-model list about 5G versus earlier network generations. SAR depends on the specific radio design, test position, regional approval and operating condition, so compare the exact model’s certified head and body values.
Can I compare a U.S. SAR number with a European SAR number?
Only with substantial caution. U.S. certification averages exposure over 1 gram of tissue at a 1.6 W/kg limit, while some countries use 10-gram averaging and a 2 W/kg limit; the different methods do not create a simple one-to-one ranking.
Where can I find SAR for a phone that is not in this list?
Check the manufacturer’s regulatory guide or compliance page using the full model number, then confirm the record in the relevant government database. Make sure the document identifies your country variant and states whether the value is for head or body use.
Does SAR tell me how much battery power a phone uses?
No. SAR describes RF energy absorbed by tissue under a defined test, while battery drain depends on radios, screen use, applications, signal conditions and other hardware. A lower SAR value is not evidence of longer battery life.
Are wired earphones better than Bluetooth for reducing phone RF exposure?
Both hands-free approaches can increase distance between the phone and your head. The NCI reports that Bluetooth headsets and earbuds typically transmit at power levels 10 to 400 times lower than cellphones; wired earphones remove the headset’s own radio transmission altogether, but neither changes the handset’s certified SAR.
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