Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone 17: SAR comparison

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 1.13 W/kg vs 1.19 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 17 (5% 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 16 Plus details Apple iPhone 17 details

Side-by-side SAR values

Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone 17 reported SAR and specs
Measurement	Apple iPhone 16 Plus	Apple iPhone 17
Head SAR, cellular only (US)	1.13 W/kg	1.19 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)	1.16 W/kg	1.16 W/kg
Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.35 W/kg	1.53 W/kg
Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.55 W/kg	1.54 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US)	1.16 W/kg	1.19 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.55 W/kg	1.54 W/kg
Display: Type	Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)	LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, 1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)
Display: Size	6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio)	6.3 inches, 96.4 cm2 (~90.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution	1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)	1206 x 2622 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Display: Protection	Ceramic Shield glass (2024 gen)	Ceramic Shield 2, Mohs level 5
Hardware: Operating System	iOS 18	iOS 26
Hardware: Chipset	Apple A18 (3 nm)	Apple A19 (3 nm)
Hardware: CPU	Hexa-core	Hexa-core (2x4.26 GHz + 4xX.X GHz)
Hardware: GPU	Apple GPU (5-core graphics)	Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
Battery: Type	Li-Ion, non-removable	Li-Ion 3692 mAh
Battery: Charging	Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min (advertised) 25W wireless (MagSafe), 15W wireless (China only) 15W wireless (Qi2) 4.5W reverse wired	Wired, PD3.2, AVS, 50% in 20 min 25W wireless MagSafe/Qi2, 50% in 30 min (15W - China) 4.5W reverse wired
Design: Type	Bar	Bar
Design: Dimensions	160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm (6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 in)	149.6 x 71.5 x 8 mm (5.89 x 2.81 x 0.31 in)
Design: Weight	199 g (7.02 oz)	177 g (6.24 oz)
Design: Colors	Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine	Black, White, Mist Blue, Sage, Lavender

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 16 Plus or the Apple iPhone 17?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 1.13 W/kg vs 1.19 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 17 (5% 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 16 Plus or the Apple iPhone 17?

Both list the same body sar, cellular only (us): 1.16 W/kg. 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 16 Plus or the Apple iPhone 17?

The Apple iPhone 17 lists the lower hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.54 W/kg vs 1.55 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 16 Plus (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 16 Plus's highest listed value is 1.55 W/kg and the Apple iPhone 17's is 1.54 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-E8692A and BCG-E8947A). Nothing on this page is estimated.

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