Samsung Galaxy S22 vs Samsung Galaxy S21: SAR comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S21 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.74 W/kg vs 1.03 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S22 (28% 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

Samsung Galaxy S22 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 reported SAR and specs
MeasurementSamsung Galaxy S22Samsung Galaxy S21
Head SAR, cellular only (US)1.03 W/kg0.74 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)1.15 W/kg1.08 W/kg
Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.55 W/kg1.45 W/kg
Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.57 W/kg1.54 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US)1.25 W/kg1.11 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)1.59 W/kg1.58 W/kg
Head SAR (EU, 10 g)1.21 W/kg0.46 W/kg
Body SAR (EU, 10 g)1.59 W/kg1.51 W/kg
Display: TypeDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
Display: Size6.1 inches, 90.1 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.2 inches, 94.1 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~425 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~421 ppi density)
Display: ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus+Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Hardware: Operating SystemAndroid 12, One UI 4.1Android 11, One UI 3.1
Hardware: ChipsetExynos 2200 (4 nm) - EuropeQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - ROWExynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China
Hardware: CPUOcta-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - EuropeOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.40 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.70 GHz Cortex-A510) - ROWOcta-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
Hardware: GPUXclipse 920 - EuropeAdreno 730 - ROWMali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China
Battery: TypeLi-Ion 3700 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable
Battery: ChargingFast charging 25W USB Power Delivery 3.0 Fast Qi/PMA wireless charging 15W Reverse wireless charging 4.5WFast charging 25W USB Power Delivery 3.0 Fast Qi/PMA wireless charging 15W Reverse wireless charging 4.5W
Battery: Battery Test—Endurance rating 93h
Design: TypeBarBar
Design: Dimensions146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm (5.75 x 2.78 x 0.30 in)151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm (5.97 x 2.80 x 0.31 in)
Design: Weight167 g / 168 g (mmWave) (5.89 oz)169 g (Sub6), 171 g (mmWave) (5.96 oz)
Design: ColorsPhantom Black, White, Pink Gold, Green, Graphite, Sky Blue, Violet, CreamPhantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink

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 S22 or the Samsung Galaxy S21?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.74 W/kg vs 1.03 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S22 (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.

Which has lower body SAR, the Samsung Galaxy S22 or the Samsung Galaxy S21?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 1.08 W/kg vs 1.15 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S22 (6% 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 S22 or the Samsung Galaxy S21?

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 S22 (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 S22's highest listed value is 1.59 W/kg and the Samsung Galaxy S21'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 A3LSMS901U and A3LSMG991U). Nothing on this page is estimated.

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