Google Pixel 5 vs Google Pixel 2: SAR comparison

The Google Pixel 2 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.92 W/kg vs 1.16 W/kg for the Google Pixel 5 (21% 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 Google Pixel 2 reported SAR and specs
Measurement	Google Pixel 5	Google Pixel 2
Head SAR, cellular only (US)	1.16 W/kg	0.92 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)	1.18 W/kg	0.74 W/kg
Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	0.98 W/kg	1.00 W/kg
Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.49 W/kg	1.04 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US)	0.98 W/kg	1.14 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.58 W/kg	1.14 W/kg
Display: Type	OLED, 90Hz, HDR10+	AMOLED
Display: Size	6.0 inches, 87.6 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio)	5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~67.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~432 ppi density)	1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density)
Display: Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 6	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Hardware: Operating System	Android 11	Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 11
Hardware: Chipset	Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)	Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm)
Hardware: CPU	Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)	Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo)
Hardware: GPU	Adreno 620	Adreno 540
Battery: Type	Li-Po 4080 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 2700 mAh, non-removable
Battery: Battery Test	Endurance rating 95h	Endurance rating 75h
Battery: Charging	USB Power Delivery 2.0 Fast charging 18W Wireless charging 12W Reverse charging 5W	10.5W wired (capped), PD2.0
Design: Type	Bar	Bar
Design: Dimensions	144.7 x 70.4 x 8 mm (5.70 x 2.77 x 0.31 in)	145.7 x 69.7 x 7.8 mm (5.74 x 2.74 x 0.31 in)
Design: Weight	151 g (5.33 oz)	143 g (5.04 oz)
Design: Colors	Just Black, Sorta Sage	Kinda Blue, Just Black, Clearly 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 Google Pixel 5 or the Google Pixel 2?

The Google Pixel 2 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.92 W/kg vs 1.16 W/kg for the Google Pixel 5 (21% 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 Google Pixel 2?

The Google Pixel 2 lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 0.74 W/kg vs 1.18 W/kg for the Google Pixel 5 (37% 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 Google Pixel 2?

The Google Pixel 2 lists the lower hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.14 W/kg vs 1.58 W/kg for the Google Pixel 5 (28% 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 Google Pixel 2's is 1.14 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 NM8G011A). Nothing on this page is estimated.

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