RF Safe

Apple iPhone 11 vs Apple iPhone 8: SAR comparison

Both list the same head sar, cellular only (us): 1.14 W/kg. Reported SAR values in W/kg; lower is shaded green and higher red within each row, for comparison only.

Open in interactive SAR CompareApple iPhone 11 detailsApple iPhone 8 details

Side-by-side SAR values

Apple iPhone 11 vs Apple iPhone 8 reported SAR and specs
MeasurementApple iPhone 11Apple iPhone 8
Head SAR, cellular only (US)1.14 W/kg1.14 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)1.14 W/kg1.08 W/kg
Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.41 W/kg1.51 W/kg
Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.52 W/kg1.56 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US)1.17 W/kg1.08 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.52 W/kg1.56 W/kg
Head SAR (EU, 10 g)n/a1.17 W/kg
Display: TypeLiquid Retina IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colorsRetina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)
Display: Size6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~79.0% screen-to-body ratio)4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution828 x 1792 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)
Display: ProtectionScratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coatingIon-strengthened glass
Hardware: Operating SystemiOS 13iOS 11, up to iOS 16.3
Hardware: ChipsetApple A13 Bionic (7 nm+)Apple A11 Bionic (10 nm)
Hardware: CPUN/AHexa-core (2x Monsoon + 4x Mistral)
Hardware: GPUN/AApple GPU (three-core graphics)
Battery: ChargingFast battery charging 18W: 50% in 30 min USB Power Delivery 2.0 Qi wireless charging15W wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min (advertised) Wireless (Qi)
Battery: Type—Li-Ion 1821 mAh, non-removable (6.96 Wh)
Battery: Battery Test—Endurance rating 66h
Design: TypeBarBar
Design: Dimensions150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in)
Design: Weight194 g (6.84 oz)148 g (5.22 oz)
Design: ColorsBlack, Green, Yellow, Purple, Red, WhiteSilver, Space Gray, Gold, Red

Colors make differences within the same measurement easy to see. They do not label a phone safe or unsafe. US values use 1 g of tissue and the 1.6 W/kg limit; EU values use 10 g and 2 W/kg, so don't mix them. What SAR tells you.

Questions and answers

Which has lower head SAR, the Apple iPhone 11 or the Apple iPhone 8?

Both list the same head sar, cellular only (us): 1.14 W/kg. Values are reported maximums from FCC filings as listed in the RF Safe dataset, in W/kg averaged over 1 gram of tissue.

Which has lower body SAR, the Apple iPhone 11 or the Apple iPhone 8?

The Apple iPhone 8 lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 1.08 W/kg vs 1.14 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 11 (5% lower). Values are reported maximums from FCC filings as listed in the RF Safe dataset, in W/kg averaged over 1 gram of tissue.

Which has lower hotspot SAR (Wi-Fi + cellular), the Apple iPhone 11 or the Apple iPhone 8?

The Apple iPhone 11 lists the lower hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.52 W/kg vs 1.56 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 8 (3% lower). Values are reported maximums from FCC filings as listed in the RF Safe dataset, in W/kg averaged over 1 gram of tissue.

What is the highest reported SAR value for each phone?

Across the six US measurements, the Apple iPhone 11's highest listed value is 1.52 W/kg and the Apple iPhone 8's is 1.56 W/kg. The FCC limit for the head and body is 1.6 W/kg averaged over 1 gram. Wi-Fi + cellular values are simultaneous-transmission sums and are evaluated differently, so read each row on its own.

Does a lower SAR mean a phone is safer?

No. SAR is a lab compliance measurement taken at maximum power. Everyday exposure depends on signal strength, distance from the body and which radios are active. Use SAR to compare phones, not as a health score.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the RF Safe SAR dataset, compiled from FCC equipment authorization filings (FCC ID BCG-E3309A and BCG-E3159A). Nothing on this page is estimated.

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