Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy S10 5G: SAR comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.30 W/kg vs 0.74 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S21 (59% 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 Samsung Galaxy S21 details Samsung Galaxy S10 5G details

Side-by-side SAR values

Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy S10 5G reported SAR and specs
Measurement	Samsung Galaxy S21	Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
Head SAR, cellular only (US)	0.74 W/kg	0.30 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)	1.08 W/kg	1.11 W/kg
Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.45 W/kg	1.17 W/kg
Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.54 W/kg	1.51 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US)	1.11 W/kg	0.38 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.58 W/kg	1.59 W/kg
Head SAR (EU, 10 g)	0.46 W/kg	0.26 W/kg
Body SAR (EU, 10 g)	1.51 W/kg	1.55 W/kg
Display: Type	Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)	Dynamic AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Display: Size	6.2 inches, 94.1 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio)	6.7 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~421 ppi density)	1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~502 ppi density)
Display: Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus	Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Hardware: Operating System	Android 11, One UI 3.1	Android 9.0 (Pie); One UI
Hardware: Chipset	Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China	Exynos 9820 Octa (8 nm) - EMEAQualcomm SDM855 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/LATAM, China
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 (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M4 & 2x2.31 GHz Cortex-A75 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEAOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.41 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) - USA/LATAM, China
Hardware: GPU	Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China	Mali-G76 MP12 - EMEA Adreno 640 - USA/LATAM, China
Battery: Type	Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable	—
Battery: Battery Test	Endurance rating 93h	—
Battery: Charging	Fast charging 25W USB Power Delivery 3.0 Fast Qi/PMA wireless charging 15W Reverse wireless charging 4.5W	Fast battery charging 25W (USB Power Delivery 3.0) Fast wireless charging 15W Power bank/Reverse wireless charging 9W
Design: Type	Bar	Bar
Design: Dimensions	151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm (5.97 x 2.80 x 0.31 in)	162.6 x 77.1 x 7.9 mm (6.40 x 3.04 x 0.31 in)
Design: Weight	169 g (Sub6), 171 g (mmWave) (5.96 oz)	198 g (6.98 oz)
Design: Colors	Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink	Prism 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 Samsung Galaxy S21 or the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G?

The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.30 W/kg vs 0.74 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S21 (59% 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 Samsung Galaxy S10 5G?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 1.08 W/kg vs 1.11 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G (3% 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 Samsung Galaxy S10 5G?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 lists the lower hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.58 W/kg vs 1.59 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G (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.

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 Samsung Galaxy S10 5G's is 1.59 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 A3LSMG977U). Nothing on this page is estimated.

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