Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: SAR comparison

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 1.07 W/kg vs 1.18 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (9% 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 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra reported SAR and specs
MeasurementApple iPhone 15 Pro MaxSamsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Head SAR, cellular only (US)1.07 W/kg1.18 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)1.11 W/kg0.98 W/kg
Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.43 W/kg1.55 W/kg
Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.48 W/kg1.51 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US)1.11 W/kg1.22 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.48 W/kg1.58 W/kg
Head SAR (EU, 10 g)n/a1.05 W/kg
Body SAR (EU, 10 g)n/a1.58 W/kg
Display: TypeLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1750 nits (peak)
Display: Size6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~90.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels (~500 ppi density)
Display: ProtectionCeramic Shield glassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Hardware: Operating SystemiOS 17, upgradable to iOS 17.5.1, planned upgrade to iOS 18Android 12, One UI 4.1
Hardware: ChipsetApple A17 Pro (3 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - EuropeQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - ROW
Hardware: CPUHexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz)Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - EuropeOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.40 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.70 GHz Cortex-A510) - ROW
Hardware: GPUApple GPU (6-core graphics)Xclipse 920 - EuropeAdreno 730 - ROW
Battery: TypeLi-Ion 4441 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 5000 mAh, non-removable
Battery: ChargingWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wiredFast charging 45W USB Power Delivery 3.0 Fast Qi/PMA wireless charging 15W Reverse wireless charging 4.5W
Battery: Battery Test—Endurance rating 108h
Design: TypeBarBar
Design: Dimensions159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 in)163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
Design: Weight221 g (7.80 oz)228 g / 229 g (mmWave) (8.04 oz)
Design: ColorsBlack Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural TitaniumPhantom Black, White, Burgundy, Green, Graphite, Red, Sky 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 15 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 1.07 W/kg vs 1.18 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (9% 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 15 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra?

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 0.98 W/kg vs 1.11 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (12% 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 15 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max lists the lower hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.48 W/kg vs 1.58 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (6% 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 15 Pro Max's highest listed value is 1.48 W/kg and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra'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-E8440A and A3LSMS908U). Nothing on this page is estimated.

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