Google Pixel 5 vs Apple iPhone 12: SAR comparison

The Google Pixel 5 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 1.16 W/kg vs 1.17 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 12 (1% 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

Google Pixel 5 vs Apple iPhone 12 reported SAR and specs
Measurement	Google Pixel 5	Apple iPhone 12
Head SAR, cellular only (US)	1.16 W/kg	1.17 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)	1.18 W/kg	1.19 W/kg
Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	0.98 W/kg	1.38 W/kg
Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.49 W/kg	1.55 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US)	0.98 W/kg	1.19 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.58 W/kg	1.55 W/kg
Head SAR (EU, 10 g)	n/a	0.99 W/kg
Body SAR (EU, 10 g)	n/a	0.99 W/kg
Display: Type	OLED, 90Hz, HDR10+	Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, 625 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)
Display: Size	6.0 inches, 87.6 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.1 inches, 90.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~432 ppi density)	1170 x 2532 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Display: Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 6	Scratch-resistant ceramic glass, oleophobic coating
Hardware: Operating System	Android 11	iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 14.2
Hardware: Chipset	Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)	Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm)
Hardware: CPU	Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)	Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm)
Hardware: GPU	Adreno 620	Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
Battery: Type	Li-Po 4080 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 2815 mAh, non-removable (10.78 Wh)
Battery: Battery Test	Endurance rating 95h	Endurance rating 84h
Battery: Charging	USB Power Delivery 2.0 Fast charging 18W Wireless charging 12W Reverse charging 5W	Fast charging 20W, 50% in 30 min (advertised) USB Power Delivery 2.0 Qi magnetic fast wireless charging 15W
Design: Type	Bar	Bar
Design: Dimensions	144.7 x 70.4 x 8 mm (5.70 x 2.77 x 0.31 in)	146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm (5.78 x 2.81 x 0.29 in)
Design: Weight	151 g (5.33 oz)	164 g (5.78 oz)
Design: Colors	Just Black, Sorta Sage	Black, White, Red, Green, Blue

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 Google Pixel 5 or the Apple iPhone 12?

The Google Pixel 5 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 1.16 W/kg vs 1.17 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 12 (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.

Which has lower body SAR, the Google Pixel 5 or the Apple iPhone 12?

The Google Pixel 5 lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 1.18 W/kg vs 1.19 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 12 (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.

Which has lower hotspot SAR (Wi-Fi + cellular), the Google Pixel 5 or the Apple iPhone 12?

The Apple iPhone 12 lists the lower hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.55 W/kg vs 1.58 W/kg for the Google Pixel 5 (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.

What is the highest reported SAR value for each phone?

Across the six US measurements, the Google Pixel 5's highest listed value is 1.58 W/kg and the Apple iPhone 12's is 1.55 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 A4RGD1YQ and BCG-E3542A). Nothing on this page is estimated.

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