Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Google Pixel 8: SAR comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S23 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.75 W/kg vs 1.05 W/kg for the Google Pixel 8 (29% 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 S23 details Google Pixel 8 details

Side-by-side SAR values

Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Google Pixel 8 reported SAR and specs
Measurement	Samsung Galaxy S23	Google Pixel 8
Head SAR, cellular only (US)	0.75 W/kg	1.05 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)	0.70 W/kg	0.99 W/kg
Head SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.58 W/kg	1.59 W/kg
Body SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.35 W/kg	1.59 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, cellular only (US)	1.09 W/kg	0.85 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.36 W/kg	1.59 W/kg
Display: Type	Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)	OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1400 nits (HBM), 2000 nits (peak)
Display: Size	6.1 inches, 90.1 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio)	6.2 inches, 91.1 cm2 (~85.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~425 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~428 ppi density)
Display: Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Hardware: Operating System	Android 13, One UI 5.1	Android 14
Hardware: Chipset	Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)	Google Tensor G3 (4 nm)
Hardware: CPU	Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)	Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510)
Hardware: GPU	Adreno 740	Immortalis-G715s MC10
Battery: Type	Li-Ion 3900 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 4575 mAh, non-removable
Battery: Battery Test	Endurance rating 101h	—
Battery: Charging	25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (Qi/PMA) 4.5W reverse wireless	27W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min (advertised) 18W wireless Reverse wireless
Design: Type	Bar	Bar
Design: Dimensions	146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm (5.76 x 2.79 x 0.30 in)	150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9 mm (5.93 x 2.79 x 0.35 in)
Design: Weight	168 g (5.93 oz)	187 g (6.60 oz)
Design: Colors	Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Lime	Obsidian, Hazel, Rose, Mint

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 S23 or the Google Pixel 8?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.75 W/kg vs 1.05 W/kg for the Google Pixel 8 (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 body SAR, the Samsung Galaxy S23 or the Google Pixel 8?

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 8 (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 Samsung Galaxy S23 or the Google Pixel 8?

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 8 (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 Samsung Galaxy S23's highest listed value is 1.58 W/kg and the Google Pixel 8'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 A3LSMS911B and A4RGKWS6). Nothing on this page is estimated.

More comparisons

All phone-vs-phone pages · SAR rankings · Research library

Compare any two phones

First phoneSecond phone

Opens a ready-made comparison page when there is one, otherwise the interactive SAR Compare app.