RF Safe

Apple iPhone 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S9: SAR comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S9 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.35 W/kg vs 1.14 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 11 (69% lower). 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 detailsSamsung Galaxy S9 details

Side-by-side SAR values

Apple iPhone 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S9 reported SAR and specs
MeasurementApple iPhone 11Samsung Galaxy S9
Head SAR, cellular only (US)1.14 W/kg0.35 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)1.14 W/kg0.96 W/kg
Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.41 W/kg1.25 W/kg
Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.52 W/kg1.59 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US)1.17 W/kgn/a
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.52 W/kg0.95 W/kg
Head SAR (EU, 10 g)n/a0.32 W/kg
Body SAR (EU, 10 g)n/a1.27 W/kg
Display: TypeLiquid Retina IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colorsSuper AMOLED, HDR10
Display: Size6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~79.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.2 inches, 98.3 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution828 x 1792 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)1440 x 2960 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~529 ppi density)
Display: ProtectionScratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coatingCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Hardware: Operating SystemiOS 13Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, One UI 2.5
Hardware: ChipsetApple A13 Bionic (7 nm+)Exynos 9810 (10 nm) - EMEAQualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) - USA/LATAM, China
Hardware: CPUN/AOcta-core (4x2.7 GHz Mongoose M3 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEAOcta-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) - USA/LATAM, China
Hardware: GPUN/AMali-G72 MP18 - EMEAAdreno 630 - USA/LATAM, China
Battery: ChargingFast battery charging 18W: 50% in 30 min USB Power Delivery 2.0 Qi wireless charging15W wired, QC2 Wireless (Qi/PMA) (market dependent)
Battery: Type—Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable (13.48 Wh)
Battery: Battery Test—Endurance rating 86h
Design: TypeBarBar
Design: Dimensions150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)158.1 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm (6.22 x 2.91 x 0.33 in)
Design: Weight194 g (6.84 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
Design: ColorsBlack, Green, Yellow, Purple, Red, WhiteMidnight Black, Coral Blue, Titanium Gray, Lilac Purple, Burgundy Red, Sunrise Gold, Ice Blue, Polaris Blue

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 Samsung Galaxy S9?

The Samsung Galaxy S9 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.35 W/kg vs 1.14 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 11 (69% 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 body SAR, the Apple iPhone 11 or the Samsung Galaxy S9?

The Samsung Galaxy S9 lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 0.96 W/kg vs 1.14 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 11 (16% 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 Samsung Galaxy S9?

The Samsung Galaxy S9 lists the lower hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 0.95 W/kg vs 1.52 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 11 (38% 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 Samsung Galaxy S9's is 1.59 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 A3LSMG960U). Nothing on this page is estimated.

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