Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Google Pixel 5: SAR comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S21 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.74 W/kg vs 1.16 W/kg for the Google Pixel 5 (36% 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

Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Google Pixel 5 reported SAR and specs
Measurement	Samsung Galaxy S21	Google Pixel 5
Head SAR, cellular only (US)	0.74 W/kg	1.16 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)	1.08 W/kg	1.18 W/kg
Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.45 W/kg	0.98 W/kg
Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.54 W/kg	1.49 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US)	1.11 W/kg	0.98 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.58 W/kg	1.58 W/kg
Head SAR (EU, 10 g)	0.46 W/kg	n/a
Body SAR (EU, 10 g)	1.51 W/kg	n/a
Display: Type	Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)	OLED, 90Hz, HDR10+
Display: Size	6.2 inches, 94.1 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio)	6.0 inches, 87.6 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~421 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~432 ppi density)
Display: Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus	Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Hardware: Operating System	Android 11, One UI 3.1	Android 11
Hardware: Chipset	Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China	Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)
Hardware: CPU	Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - InternationalOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 680 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 680 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 680) - USA/China	Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)
Hardware: GPU	Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China	Adreno 620
Battery: Type	Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable	Li-Po 4080 mAh, non-removable
Battery: Battery Test	Endurance rating 93h	Endurance rating 95h
Battery: Charging	Fast charging 25W USB Power Delivery 3.0 Fast Qi/PMA wireless charging 15W Reverse wireless charging 4.5W	USB Power Delivery 2.0 Fast charging 18W Wireless charging 12W Reverse charging 5W
Design: Type	Bar	Bar
Design: Dimensions	151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm (5.97 x 2.80 x 0.31 in)	144.7 x 70.4 x 8 mm (5.70 x 2.77 x 0.31 in)
Design: Weight	169 g (Sub6), 171 g (mmWave) (5.96 oz)	151 g (5.33 oz)
Design: Colors	Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink	Just Black, Sorta Sage

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 Samsung Galaxy S21 or the Google Pixel 5?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.74 W/kg vs 1.16 W/kg for the Google Pixel 5 (36% 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 Samsung Galaxy S21 or the Google Pixel 5?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 1.08 W/kg vs 1.18 W/kg for the Google Pixel 5 (8% 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 Samsung Galaxy S21 or the Google Pixel 5?

Both list the same hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.58 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 Samsung Galaxy S21's highest listed value is 1.58 W/kg and the Google Pixel 5'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 A3LSMG991U and A4RGD1YQ). Nothing on this page is estimated.

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