Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Google Pixel 9 Pro Xl: SAR comparison
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Xl lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.92 W/kg vs 1.19 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (23% 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 17 Pro Max | Google Pixel 9 Pro Xl |
|---|---|---|
| Head SAR, cellular only (US) | 1.19 W/kg | 0.92 W/kg |
| Body SAR, cellular only (US) | 1.19 W/kg | 0.99 W/kg |
| Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US) | 1.58 W/kg | 1.59 W/kg |
| Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US) | 1.59 W/kg | 1.59 W/kg |
| Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US) | 1.19 W/kg | 0.84 W/kg |
| Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US) | 1.59 W/kg | 1.59 W/kg |
| Display: Type | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) | LTPO* OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2000 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) |
| Display: Size | 6.9 inches, 115.6 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 109.7 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display: Resolution | 1320 x 2868 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) | 1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~486 ppi density) |
| Display: Protection | Ceramic Shield 2, Mohs level 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Hardware: Operating System | iOS 26 | Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades |
| Hardware: Chipset | Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) | Google Tensor G4 (4 nm) |
| Hardware: CPU | Hexa-core (2x4.26 GHz + 4xX.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 4832 mAh - Nano SIM modelLi-Ion 5088 mAh - eSIM only model | Li-Ion 5060 mAh, non-removable |
| Battery: Charging | Wired, PD3.2, AVS, 50% in 20 min 25W wireless MagSafe/Qi2, 50% in 30 min (15W - China) 4.5W reverse wired | 37W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 70% in 30 min (advertised) 23W wireless (w/ Pixel Stand) 12W wireless (w/ Qi compatible charger) Reverse wireless |
| Design: Type | Bar | Bar |
| Design: Dimensions | 163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in) | 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) |
| Design: Weight | 233 g (8.22 oz) | 221 g (7.80 oz) |
| Design: Colors | Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue | 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 17 Pro Max or the Google Pixel 9 Pro Xl?
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Xl lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.92 W/kg vs 1.19 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (23% 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 17 Pro Max or the Google Pixel 9 Pro Xl?
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Xl lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 0.99 W/kg vs 1.19 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (17% 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 17 Pro Max or the Google Pixel 9 Pro Xl?
Both list the same hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.59 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.
What is the highest reported SAR value for each phone?
Across the six US measurements, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max's highest listed value is 1.59 W/kg and the Google Pixel 9 Pro Xl'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-E8950A and A4RGZC4K). Nothing on this page is estimated.
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