Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy A03s: SAR comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A03s lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.79 W/kg vs 1.01 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (22% 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
| Measurement | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy A03s |
|---|---|---|
| Head SAR, cellular only (US) | 1.01 W/kg | 0.79 W/kg |
| Body SAR, cellular only (US) | 1.15 W/kg | 1.13 W/kg |
| Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US) | 1.41 W/kg | 0.83 W/kg |
| Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US) | 1.55 W/kg | 1.13 W/kg |
| Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US) | 1.15 W/kg | 0.91 W/kg |
| Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US) | 1.55 W/kg | 1.53 W/kg |
| Head SAR (EU, 10 g) | n/a | 0.36 W/kg |
| Body SAR (EU, 10 g) | n/a | 1.09 W/kg |
| Display: Type | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) | PLS LCD |
| Display: Size | 6.9 inches, 115.6 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display: Resolution | 1320 x 2868 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Display: Protection | Ceramic Shield glass (2024 gen) | — |
| Hardware: Operating System | iOS 18 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 Core |
| Hardware: Chipset | Apple A18 Pro (3 nm) | MediaTek MT6765 Helio P35 (12nm) |
| Hardware: CPU | Hexa-core (2x4.04 GHz + 4x2.X GHz) | Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Hardware: GPU | Apple GPU (6-core graphics) | PowerVR GE8320 |
| Battery: Type | Li-Ion, non-removable | Li-Po 5000 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 | 15W wired |
| Battery: Battery Test | — | Endurance rating 122h |
| Design: Type | Bar | Bar |
| Design: Dimensions | 163 x 77.6 x 8.3 mm (6.42 x 3.06 x 0.33 in) | 164.2 x 75.9 x 9.1 mm (6.46 x 2.99 x 0.36 in) |
| Design: Weight | 227 g (8.01 oz) | 196 g (6.91 oz) |
| Design: Colors | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium | Black, Blue, White |
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 Samsung Galaxy A03s?
The Samsung Galaxy A03s lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.79 W/kg vs 1.01 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (22% 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 Samsung Galaxy A03s?
The Samsung Galaxy A03s lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 1.13 W/kg vs 1.15 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 16 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 16 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy A03s?
The Samsung Galaxy A03s lists the lower hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.53 W/kg vs 1.55 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (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 Pro Max's highest listed value is 1.55 W/kg and the Samsung Galaxy A03s's is 1.53 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 ZCASMA037U). Nothing on this page is estimated.