Apple iPhone 16 vs Apple iPhone 15: SAR comparison

The Apple iPhone 16 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 1.08 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.

Open in interactive SAR Compare Apple iPhone 16 details Apple iPhone 15 details

Side-by-side SAR values

Apple iPhone 16 vs Apple iPhone 15 reported SAR and specs
Measurement	Apple iPhone 16	Apple iPhone 15
Head SAR, cellular only (US)	1.08 W/kg	1.12 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)	1.17 W/kg	1.09 W/kg
Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.49 W/kg	1.50 W/kg
Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.54 W/kg	1.44 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US)	1.17 W/kg	1.14 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.54 W/kg	1.49 W/kg
Display: Type	Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)	Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 2000 nits (peak)
Display: Size	6.1 inches, 91.7 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio)	6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~86.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution	1179 x 2556 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)	1179 x 2556 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~461 ppi density)
Display: Protection	Ceramic Shield glass (2024 gen)	Ceramic Shield glass
Hardware: Operating System	iOS 18	iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 17.5.1, planned upgrade to iOS 18
Hardware: Chipset	Apple A18 (3 nm)	Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm)
Hardware: CPU	Hexa-core	Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth)
Hardware: GPU	Apple GPU (5-core graphics)	Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
Battery: Type	Li-Ion, non-removable	Li-Ion 3349 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	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)	147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm (5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 in)
Design: Weight	170 g (6.00 oz)	171 g (6.03 oz)
Design: Colors	Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine	Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink

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 or the Apple iPhone 15?

The Apple iPhone 16 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 1.08 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 16 or the Apple iPhone 15?

The Apple iPhone 15 lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 1.09 W/kg vs 1.17 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 16 (7% 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 or the Apple iPhone 15?

The Apple iPhone 15 lists the lower hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.49 W/kg vs 1.54 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 16 (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's highest listed value is 1.54 W/kg and the Apple iPhone 15's is 1.50 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-E8688A and BCG-E8427A). Nothing on this page is estimated.

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