To find your phone’s SAR value, identify its exact model number and open the manufacturer’s RF exposure information for that model and region. Keep the measurement conditions alongside the number. A published maximum SAR value is not a reading of your exposure right now.
Two pages can report different numbers for what looks like the same phone. Before deciding that one is wrong, check the model variant, head or body position, and whether the value is averaged over 1 gram or 10 grams of tissue. Those details belong to the result.
Start with the model number
A product name gets you close. The model number helps you select the right document.
On an iPhone, open Settings → General → About. Tap the number beside Model Number to reveal the model identifier. Apple explains the distinction between that identifier and the part number in its model-number guide.
For another phone, find the model identifier in its device information or original documentation. Copy it exactly, including letters and suffixes. If a support page asks you to choose a country, use the market relevant to your device.
Choose the right source
| Phone | Where to start | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Apple RF exposure information | Match the model identifier and regional information |
| Samsung Galaxy | Samsung’s SAR search | Select the country and search the exact model |
| Google Pixel | The model’s official Safety & Regulatory guide | Look for the RF exposure section and the matching hardware variant |
| Other brands | The manufacturer’s support site or supplied safety manual | Search the model identifier with “SAR” or “RF exposure” |
For example, Google’s Pixel 7a guide directs owners to Settings → About phone → Regulatory labels for applicable SAR information. Treat that as a documented example, rather than a universal Android menu path.
If a page is difficult to use on your phone, try the manufacturer’s support search in a browser. Ask support for the RF exposure document for your exact model if you still cannot locate it. Finding no result is not evidence that a phone has no RF emissions.
Copy the result with its conditions
Use this checklist before saving a number:
- Exact device model and regional variant.
- Head, body or other stated measurement position.
- SAR value in watts per kilogram, written as W/kg.
- Averaging mass: 1g or 10g.
- Separation distance, when specified.
- Source link and the date you checked it.
This makes the result useful later. A screenshot that contains only a large number can leave out the information needed to interpret it.
A real example of why labels matter
In Google's current Pixel 7a section for jurisdictions using a 10g averaging basis, the listed maximum values are 0.99 W/kg at the head with no separation and 1.30 W/kg at the body with 5 mm separation. This is a 10g example, not a U.S. 1g result. It illustrates why the averaging basis and separation distance need to stay with the numbers. Google's regulatory guide, Radio frequency exposure.
If the regional information displayed on a support page differs from the record for your exact model, use the device's regulatory labels or ask the manufacturer for the matching document.
The useful question is: “Which documented configuration am I looking at?” A lower entry alone does not answer whether one way of using a phone is safer.
What SAR tells you
Specific Absorption Rate describes RF energy absorption per unit mass under defined conditions. Reported maximum values serve regulatory assessment; they do not track an individual’s daily use. The FCC has specifically explained why a single maximum SAR value is insufficient for comparing likely exposure between phone models. FCC explanation, paragraphs 12–13.
Avoid building a “safest phones” ranking by mixing head and body values, or 1g and 10g results. Even a carefully matched list describes test results, not a medical outcome.
Turn the information into a practical choice
If your goal is hands-free calling, start with the way you use your phone. Do you need a microphone for work calls? A connector that fits your device? A headset you can use without charging?
Our wired, Bluetooth and air-tube buying guide compares those choices. You do not need to interpret a SAR chart to check whether a headset’s connection and controls suit your routine.
Questions that come up while searching
Why do two websites show different SAR values?
They may be referring to different variants or test configurations. Compare the full labels with the manufacturer’s document before assuming either number describes your phone.
Is a smaller number automatically better?
It may be a lower value in a particular test. It is not, by itself, a ranking of everyday exposure or health risk.
Can I check SAR without using a dialer code?
Yes. The manufacturer’s documentation is the starting point in this guide. Use the model number to find and retain the relevant record.
Does a SAR result tell me whether an accessory works?
Only if the evidence actually evaluates that accessory and the claim being made. A phone’s own SAR document does not establish the performance of a separately sold headset or case.
To measure the fields around you directly, see our EMF meters and detectors.
