Apple iPhone 14 vs Samsung Galaxy S21: SAR comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S21 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.74 W/kg vs 1.15 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 14 (36% lower). Reported SAR values in W/kg; lower is shaded green and higher red within each row, for comparison only.

Open in interactive SAR Compare Apple iPhone 14 details Samsung Galaxy S21 details

Side-by-side SAR values

Apple iPhone 14 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 reported SAR and specs
Measurement	Apple iPhone 14	Samsung Galaxy S21
Head SAR, cellular only (US)	1.15 W/kg	0.74 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)	1.16 W/kg	1.08 W/kg
Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.40 W/kg	1.45 W/kg
Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.51 W/kg	1.54 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US)	1.16 W/kg	1.11 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.16 W/kg	1.58 W/kg
Head SAR (EU, 10 g)	0.98 W/kg	0.46 W/kg
Body SAR (EU, 10 g)	0.98 W/kg	1.51 W/kg
Display: Type	Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)	Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
Display: Size	6.1 inches, 90.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio)	6.2 inches, 94.1 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution	1170 x 2532 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~421 ppi density)
Display: Protection	Scratch-resistant ceramic glass, oleophobic coating	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Hardware: Operating System	iOS 16, upgradable to iOS 16.0.2	Android 11, One UI 3.1
Hardware: Chipset	Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)	Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China
Hardware: CPU	Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)	Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - InternationalOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 680 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 680 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 680) - USA/China
Hardware: GPU	Apple GPU (5-core graphics)	Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China
Battery: Type	Li-Ion 3279 mAh, non-removable (12.68 Wh)	Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable
Battery: Charging	Fast charging, 50% in 30 min (advertised) USB Power Delivery 2.0 MagSafe fast wireless charging 15W Qi wireless charging 7.5W	Fast charging 25W USB Power Delivery 3.0 Fast Qi/PMA wireless charging 15W Reverse wireless charging 4.5W
Battery: Battery Test	—	Endurance rating 93h
Design: Type	Bar	Bar
Design: Dimensions	146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm (5.78 x 2.81 x 0.31 in)	151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm (5.97 x 2.80 x 0.31 in)
Design: Weight	172 g (6.07 oz)	169 g (Sub6), 171 g (mmWave) (5.96 oz)
Design: Colors	Midnight, Purple, Starlight, Blue, Red	Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink

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 14 or the Samsung Galaxy S21?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.74 W/kg vs 1.15 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 14 (36% 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 14 or the Samsung Galaxy S21?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 1.08 W/kg vs 1.16 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 14 (7% 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 14 or the Samsung Galaxy S21?

The Apple iPhone 14 lists the lower hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.16 W/kg vs 1.58 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S21 (27% 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 14's highest listed value is 1.51 W/kg and the Samsung Galaxy S21's is 1.58 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-E8138A and A3LSMG991U). Nothing on this page is estimated.

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