Google Pixel 9 Pro Xl vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: SAR comparison
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Xl lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.92 W/kg vs 1.07 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (14% 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 | Google Pixel 9 Pro Xl | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Head SAR, cellular only (US) | 0.92 W/kg | 1.07 W/kg |
| Body SAR, cellular only (US) | 0.99 W/kg | 1.11 W/kg |
| Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US) | 1.59 W/kg | 1.43 W/kg |
| Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US) | 1.59 W/kg | 1.48 W/kg |
| Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US) | 0.84 W/kg | 1.11 W/kg |
| Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US) | 1.59 W/kg | 1.48 W/kg |
| Display: Type | LTPO* OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2000 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) |
| Display: Size | 6.8 inches, 109.7 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display: Resolution | 1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~486 ppi density) | 1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Display: Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Ceramic Shield glass |
| Hardware: Operating System | Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades | iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 17.5.1, planned upgrade to iOS 18 |
| Hardware: Chipset | Google Tensor G4 (4 nm) | Apple A17 Pro (3 nm) |
| Hardware: CPU | Octa-core (1x3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.92 GHz Cortex-A520) | Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) |
| Hardware: GPU | Mali-G715 MC7 | Apple GPU (6-core graphics) |
| Battery: Type | Li-Ion 5060 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4441 mAh, non-removable |
| Battery: Charging | 37W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 70% in 30 min (advertised) 23W wireless (w/ Pixel Stand) 12W wireless (w/ Qi compatible charger) Reverse wireless | 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 | 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) |
| Design: Weight | 221 g (7.80 oz) | 221 g (7.80 oz) |
| Design: Colors | Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium |
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 9 Pro Xl or the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Xl lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.92 W/kg vs 1.07 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (14% 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 9 Pro Xl or the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Xl lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 0.99 W/kg vs 1.11 W/kg for the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (11% 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 9 Pro Xl or the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max lists the lower hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.48 W/kg vs 1.59 W/kg for the Google Pixel 9 Pro Xl (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.
What is the highest reported SAR value for each phone?
Across the six US measurements, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Xl's highest listed value is 1.59 W/kg and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max's is 1.48 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 A4RGZC4K and BCG-E8440A). Nothing on this page is estimated.
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