Apple iPhone 13 Mini vs Apple iPhone 12 Mini: SAR comparison

The Apple iPhone 12 Mini lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 1.16 W/kg vs 1.19 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 13 Mini (3% lower). Reported SAR values in W/kg; lower is shaded green and higher red within each row, for comparison only.

Side-by-side SAR values

Apple iPhone 13 Mini vs Apple iPhone 12 Mini reported SAR and specs
MeasurementApple iPhone 13 MiniApple iPhone 12 Mini
Head SAR, cellular only (US)1.19 W/kg1.16 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)1.14 W/kg1.09 W/kg
Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.33 W/kg1.37 W/kg
Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.43 W/kg1.51 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US)1.14 W/kg1.15 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.46 W/kg1.59 W/kg
Head SAR (EU, 10 g)0.97 W/kg0.99 W/kg
Body SAR (EU, 10 g)0.98 W/kg0.99 W/kg
Display: TypeSuper Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 625 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Display: Size5.4 inches, 71.9 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)5.4 inches, 71.9 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~476 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~476 ppi density)
Display: ProtectionScratch-resistant ceramic glass, oleophobic coatingScratch-resistant ceramic glass, oleophobic coating
Hardware: Operating SystemiOS 15iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 15
Hardware: ChipsetApple A15 Bionic (5 nm)Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm)
Hardware: CPUHexa-core (2x3.22 GHz Avalanche + 4xX.X GHz Blizzard)Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm)
Hardware: GPUApple GPU (4-core graphics)Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
Battery: TypeLi-Ion 2438 mAh, non-removable (9.34 Wh)Li-Ion 2227 mAh, non-removable (8.57 Wh)
Battery: ChargingFast charging 20W, 50% in 30 min (advertised) USB Power Delivery 2.0 MagSafe wireless charging 15W Qi magnetic fast wireless charging 7.5WFast charging 20W, 50% in 30 min (advertised) USB Power Delivery 2.0 MagSafe wireless charging 15W Qi magnetic fast wireless charging 7.5W
Battery: Battery Test—Endurance rating 69h
Design: TypeBarBar
Design: Dimensions131.5 x 64.2 x 7.7 mm (5.18 x 2.53 x 0.30 in)131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm (5.18 x 2.53 x 0.29 in)
Design: Weight141 g (4.97 oz)135 g (4.76 oz)
Design: ColorsStarlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, RedBlack, White, Red, Green, Blue, Purple

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 13 Mini or the Apple iPhone 12 Mini?

The Apple iPhone 12 Mini lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 1.16 W/kg vs 1.19 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 13 Mini (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.

Which has lower body SAR, the Apple iPhone 13 Mini or the Apple iPhone 12 Mini?

The Apple iPhone 12 Mini lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 1.09 W/kg vs 1.14 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 13 Mini (4% 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 13 Mini or the Apple iPhone 12 Mini?

The Apple iPhone 13 Mini lists the lower hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.46 W/kg vs 1.59 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 12 Mini (8% 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 13 Mini's highest listed value is 1.46 W/kg and the Apple iPhone 12 Mini'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-E3994A and BCG-E3539A). Nothing on this page is estimated.

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