All smartphones emit electromagnetic waves to function. The Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) allows you to evaluate the amount of waves emitted: here we explain in detail what it consists of. You will also find our SAR ranking of the different smartphones in 2023.
He Specific absorption rate (or SAR) is an indicator to assess the amount of waves emitted by our smartphones and connected objects. If most scientists agree that these are not harmful to health, some doubts remain.
If you are looking to reduce your exposure to electromagnetic waves, we have listed the smartphones according to their SAR so that you can guide your choice according to this criteria. You will find additional information about SAR after our classifications.
Ranking of the best smartphones according to their SAR
if you read regularly frandroidYou probably know that we regularly update our selection of the best smartphones. Here you will find the SAR list of the best known and most popular smartphones. All figures come from data reported by manufacturers.
It should be noted that the latter are not always honest: the ANFR occasionally points out manufacturers who do not respect the values given. They then have the option of upgrading their smartphone or removing it from the market. For the curious, the authority periodically publishes the results of its DAS checks. Interesting facts, although controlled models are rarely the most popular.
| Model | DAS weight W/kg | DAS-trunk W/kg | Member DAS W/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| xiaomi mi 11 | 0.555 | 0.982 | 1986 |
| Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+ | 0.573 | 1,399 | 3.08 |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G | 0.596 | 0.956 | 1,995 |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | 0.597 | 0.994 | 1,972 |
| Xiaomi bit F3 | 0.599 | 0.843 | 1,950 |
| Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra | 0.714 | 1.58 | 2.56 |
| Honor Magic 4 Pro | 0.74 | 1.25 | 2.97 |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 5G | 0.885 | 1,597 | 2.87 |
| OnePlus North 2 | 0.94 | 1,200 | 2.61 |
| Apple iPhone SE 5G (2022) | 0.98 | 0.99 | 2.97 |
| Apple iPhone 13 | 0.98 | 0.99 | 2.99 |
| iPhone 14 and 14 Pro | 0.98 | 0.98 | 2.98 |
| Oppo Find X5 Pro | 0.989 | 1,272 | 2,715 |
| Google Pixel 7 Pro | 0.98 | 1.38 | 2.99 |
| Google Pixel 7 | 0.99 | 1.40 | 3.0 |
| Google Pixel 6a | 0.99 | 1.31 | 2.99 |
| Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | 0.99 | 0.98 | 2.97 |
| Phone Nothing (1) | 0.99 | 1,476 | 2,982 |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 | 1,151 | 1,198 | 2.75 |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Foldable 4 | 1.3 | 1.51 | 2.83 |
| Samsung Galaxy A23 5G | 1,492 | 1,251 | 2.84 |
| Asus Zenfone 9 | 1,558 | 1,293 | 3,591 |
For this ranking, we mainly highlight head SAR measurements, and it is Xiaomi who stands out, taking our podium. Among the bad students, we highlight Apple and Google, whose flagships they are far enough away that produce the most waves.
Understanding DAS
What is SARS?
Electromagnetic fields are everywhere: visible light, X-rays, but also the waves emitted by our smartphones, repeater antennas, or even power lines. They propagate in the form of a wave, defined by its frequency. The higher it is, the more energy it has.
For smartphones, health authorities have set standards for SAR (Specific Absorption Rate), expressed in watts per kilogram. This index indicates the amount of electromagnetic energy absorbed by the body when using a wireless device. It helps to better understand the specificities of the human body, especially at head level (when the phone is placed near the ear).
Where it gets tricky is that this index is calculated differently in regions around the world. If we compare data, therefore, we must base ourselves on the figures reported in a given geographic area. In the case of France, the standard of the European Union prevails. The figure indicated corresponds to the maximum emissions emitted by the terminalin practice they are very often significantly lower.
Within the European Union, the SAR limit is 2 watts per kilogram (W/kg) (average refers to 10 grams of tissue), in the United States, the FCC requires commercially available phones to have a SAR level of less than 1.6 watts per kilogram (W/kg) (per 1 gram of tissue ).
Obviously, the calculation of the SAR remains a complex operation, the absorption is different depending on the morphologies and the parts of the body to which it is directed.
Where and how is the SAR measured?
At the time of writing, SAR is measured at three points using fluid-filled phantoms that mimic human tissue, particularly in their heating capabilities. Since July 2020, manufacturers are required to provide three SAR values.
One for the head (simulating a call) that must not exceed 2 W/kg, one for the trunk (simulating a smartphone in a jacket) that has a maximum of 2 W/kg and finally one for the extremities that it intends to reproduce. a smartphone in your hand or in your pants pocket. The latter should not exceed 4 W/kg.
During laboratory tests, SARs are estimated with a phone transmitting at its maximum average power for the full 6 minutes of the test. You should still be aware that the values measured in this context do not fully reflect our current uses: for example, a smartphone only transmits about half the time during a call and rarely at full power.
What is the maximum SAR for a smartphone in France?
In France, there are regulations that are not identical to those found in the European recommendations. Currently, the maximum acceptable SAR levels are as follows:
- SAR head = 2W/kg.
- DAS trunk = 2W/kg
- DAS Member = 4W/kg
Obviously, these figures are only a limit and no health study has really indicated an acceptable maximum rate. If you can, reduce your screen time as much as possible and avoid constant contact with your device.
What precautions should you take for your health?
Is it dangerous for health?
We must distinguish between two types of radiation: ionizing and non-ionizing. The first are found at very high frequencies, these are X-rays (mainly used in medicine), but also gamma rays (during a nuclear explosion, these waves are emitted by a radioactive product). This radiation is said to be ionizing because it is energetic enough to tear electrons from atoms, which has proven cancer-causing effects. It can even lead to death in the short term during a very large exposure, such as in nuclear disasters. No need to cancel your next radio though, of course it’s all about quantity. At current doses, there is no danger.
The waves that our phones emit are much less energetic, they are not ionizing. The frequencies used for mobile telephony are in France between 700 MHz and 2.6 GHz, very far from X-rays whose frequency is around 30 petahertz (ie 30 million GHz). Therefore, it is impossible for the DNA to be affected. If you are interested in the subject, we recommend that you read issue 13 of Canard PC Hardware, with its tab dedicated to waves. This is a reference article on the subject.
What are public health agencies saying about the health risk today? That in the current state of knowledge, there is no definitive proof of the harmfulness of cell phones. However, if thousands of validated studies show no carcinogenic effect, some pose a potential risk of certain brain tumors, inviting further studies.
In summary: the scientific consensus tends to demonstrate the absence of a carcinogenic effect, but certain doubts remain in particular cases.
How to limit your exposure to waves?
Since some doubts remain, as a matter of principle, the WHO recommends “take practical steps to reduce exposure, such as using hands-free kits or texting”, instead of spending hours with the phone glued to your ear. Also avoid sleeping near your smartphone, or constantly leaving it in the pocket of your jeans, near your genitals. For pregnant women, it is also necessary to be careful, since fetuses are more sensitive. Finally, it should be added that the mesh of the repeater antennas, much larger these days, allows us to reduce the power that our smartphones emit.
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