Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: SAR comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S23 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.75 W/kg vs 0.98 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (23% 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 S23 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra reported SAR and specs
Measurement	Samsung Galaxy S23	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Head SAR, cellular only (US)	0.75 W/kg	0.98 W/kg
Body SAR, cellular only (US)	0.70 W/kg	1.10 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	1.20 W/kg
Hotspot SAR, Wi-Fi + cellular (US)	1.36 W/kg	1.54 W/kg
Display: Type	Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)	Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
Display: Size	6.1 inches, 90.1 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio)	6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Display: Resolution	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~425 ppi density)	1440 x 3088 pixels (~500 ppi density)
Display: Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Hardware: Operating System	Android 13, One UI 5.1	Android 13, One UI 5.1
Hardware: Chipset	Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)	Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (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)	Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
Hardware: GPU	Adreno 740	Adreno 740
Battery: Type	Li-Ion 3900 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 5000 mAh, non-removable
Battery: Battery Test	Endurance rating 101h	Endurance rating 126h
Battery: Charging	25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (Qi/PMA) 4.5W reverse wireless	45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (Qi/PMA) 4.5W 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)	163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
Design: Weight	168 g (5.93 oz)	234 g (8.25 oz)
Design: Colors	Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Lime	Phantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition

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 Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 lists the lower head sar, cellular only (us): 0.75 W/kg vs 0.98 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (23% 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 Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 lists the lower body sar, cellular only (us): 0.70 W/kg vs 1.10 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (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 hotspot SAR (Wi-Fi + cellular), the Samsung Galaxy S23 or the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 lists the lower hotspot sar, wi-fi + cellular (us): 1.36 W/kg vs 1.54 W/kg for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (12% 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 Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra'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 A3LSMS918B). Nothing on this page is estimated.

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