Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: SAR comparison

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 1.01 W/kg vs 1.13 W/kg for the Google Pixel 9 Pro (11% 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 16 Pro Max vs Google Pixel 9 Pro reported SAR and specs
Measurement	Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max	Google Pixel 9 Pro
Head SAR, cellular only (US)	1.01 W/kg	1.13 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)	1.15 W/kg	0.99 W/kg
Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.41 W/kg	1.59 W/kg
Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.55 W/kg	1.59 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US)	1.15 W/kg	0.85 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.55 W/kg	1.59 W/kg
Display: Type	LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)	LTPO* OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2000 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)
Display: Size	6.9 inches, 115.6 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio)	6.3 inches, 96.3 cm2 (~87.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution	1320 x 2868 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)	1280 x 2856 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~495 ppi density)
Display: Protection	Ceramic Shield glass (2024 gen)	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Hardware: Operating System	iOS 18	Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades
Hardware: Chipset	Apple A18 Pro (3 nm)	Google Tensor G4 (4 nm)
Hardware: CPU	Hexa-core (2x4.04 GHz + 4x2.X GHz)	Octa-core (1x3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.92 GHz Cortex-A520)
Hardware: GPU	Apple GPU (6-core graphics)	Mali-G715 MC7
Battery: Type	Li-Ion, non-removable	Li-Ion 4700 mAh, non-removable
Battery: Charging	Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min (advertised) 25W wireless (MagSafe), 15W wireless (China only) 15W wireless (Qi2) 4.5W reverse wired	27W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 55% in 30 min (advertised) 21W wireless (w/ Pixel Stand) 12W wireless (w/ Qi compatible charger) Reverse wireless
Design: Type	Bar	Bar
Design: Dimensions	163 x 77.6 x 8.3 mm (6.42 x 3.06 x 0.33 in)	152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm (6.02 x 2.83 x 0.33 in)
Design: Weight	227 g (8.01 oz)	199 g (7.02 oz)
Design: Colors	Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium	Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian

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 Pro Max or the Google Pixel 9 Pro?

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 1.01 W/kg vs 1.13 W/kg for the Google Pixel 9 Pro (11% 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 Pro Max or the Google Pixel 9 Pro?

The Google Pixel 9 Pro lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 0.99 W/kg vs 1.15 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (14% 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 16 Pro Max or the Google Pixel 9 Pro?

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max lists the lower hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.55 W/kg vs 1.59 W/kg for the Google Pixel 9 Pro (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.

What is the highest reported SAR value for each phone?

Across the six US measurements, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's highest listed value is 1.55 W/kg and the Google Pixel 9 Pro'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-E8684A and A4RGEC77). Nothing on this page is estimated.

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