Apple iPhone 15 vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: SAR comparison

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 1.07 W/kg vs 1.12 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 15 (4% lower). Reported SAR values in W/kg; lower is shaded green and higher red within each row, for comparison only.

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Side-by-side SAR values

Apple iPhone 15 vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max reported SAR and specs
Measurement	Apple iPhone 15	Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Head SAR, cellular only (US)	1.12 W/kg	1.07 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)	1.09 W/kg	1.11 W/kg
Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.50 W/kg	1.43 W/kg
Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.44 W/kg	1.48 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US)	1.14 W/kg	1.11 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.49 W/kg	1.48 W/kg
Display: Type	Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 2000 nits (peak)	LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
Display: Size	6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~86.4% screen-to-body ratio)	6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution	1179 x 2556 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~461 ppi density)	1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Display: Protection	Ceramic Shield glass	Ceramic Shield glass
Hardware: Operating System	iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 17.5.1, planned upgrade to iOS 18	iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 17.5.1, planned upgrade to iOS 18
Hardware: Chipset	Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm)	Apple A17 Pro (3 nm)
Hardware: CPU	Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth)	Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz)
Hardware: GPU	Apple GPU (5-core graphics)	Apple GPU (6-core graphics)
Battery: Type	Li-Ion 3349 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 4441 mAh, non-removable
Battery: Charging	Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wired	Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wired
Design: Type	Bar	Bar
Design: Dimensions	147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm (5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 in)	159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 in)
Design: Weight	171 g (6.03 oz)	221 g (7.80 oz)
Design: Colors	Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink	Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium

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 or the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 1.07 W/kg vs 1.12 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 15 (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 body SAR, the Apple iPhone 15 or the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 15 lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 1.09 W/kg vs 1.11 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (2% 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 or the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max lists the lower hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.48 W/kg vs 1.49 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 15 (1% 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's highest listed value is 1.50 W/kg and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max's is 1.48 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-E8427A and BCG-E8440A). Nothing on this page is estimated.

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