Google Pixel 9 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: SAR comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S23 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.75 W/kg vs 0.87 W/kg for the Google Pixel 9 (14% 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 Google Pixel 9 details Samsung Galaxy S23 details

Side-by-side SAR values

Google Pixel 9 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 reported SAR and specs
Measurement	Google Pixel 9	Samsung Galaxy S23
Head SAR, cellular only (US)	0.87 W/kg	0.75 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)	0.99 W/kg	0.70 W/kg
Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.59 W/kg	1.58 W/kg
Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.59 W/kg	1.35 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US)	0.85 W/kg	1.09 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.59 W/kg	1.36 W/kg
Display: Type	OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (HBM), 2700 nits (peak)	Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
Display: Size	6.3 inches, 94.7 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio)	6.1 inches, 90.1 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution	1080 x 2424 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~422 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~425 ppi density)
Display: Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Hardware: Operating System	Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades	Android 13, One UI 5.1
Hardware: Chipset	Google Tensor G4 (4 nm)	Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
Hardware: CPU	Octa-core (1x3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.92 GHz Cortex-A520)	Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
Hardware: GPU	Mali-G715 MC7	Adreno 740
Battery: Type	Li-Ion 4700 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 3900 mAh, non-removable
Battery: Charging	27W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 55% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (w/ Pixel Stand) 12W wireless (w/ Qi compatible charger) Reverse wireless	25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (Qi/PMA) 4.5W reverse wireless
Battery: Battery Test	—	Endurance rating 101h
Design: Type	Bar	Bar
Design: Dimensions	152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm (6.02 x 2.83 x 0.33 in)	146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm (5.76 x 2.79 x 0.30 in)
Design: Weight	198 g (6.98 oz)	168 g (5.93 oz)
Design: Colors	Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, Peony	Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Lime

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 or the Samsung Galaxy S23?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.75 W/kg vs 0.87 W/kg for the Google Pixel 9 (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 or the Samsung Galaxy S23?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 0.70 W/kg vs 0.99 W/kg for the Google Pixel 9 (29% 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 or the Samsung Galaxy S23?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 lists the lower hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.36 W/kg vs 1.59 W/kg for the Google Pixel 9 (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.

What is the highest reported SAR value for each phone?

Across the six US measurements, the Google Pixel 9's highest listed value is 1.59 W/kg and the Samsung Galaxy S23's is 1.58 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 A4RGUR25 and A3LSMS911B). Nothing on this page is estimated.

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