Lowest Radiation Cell Phones 2026: SAR Comparisons

If you are looking for the lowest radiation cell phone, start with the exact model number. A phone name alone is not enough: manufacturers sell regional variants, and a head SAR result is different from a body SAR result.

Among the US smartphones compared here, the Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL tie at 0.99 W/kg for reported head SAR. That is a result for this selection of phones, not a claim that they are the lowest of every phone sold. Their body results and test distances differ.

The tables below link each model to its manufacturer’s documentation. SAR is a laboratory compliance measurement, not a health-risk score or a prediction of the exposure you will receive during a call.

Manufacturer records checked October 7, 2026. This guide compares published specifications; it does not report independent laboratory testing. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Low SAR phones to compare in 2026

This comparison covers selected US variants of Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy and Apple iPhone models. All figures are in watts per kilogram (W/kg), using the US 1 gram averaging framework. Read the body test distance and testing notes as well as the number. Rows are grouped by manufacturer, not ranked by safety.

Phone	US model	Head SAR (1 g, W/kg)	Body SAR (1 g, W/kg)	Body test distance	Testing context	Manufacturer source
Pixel 11	GPQQ7	1.13	1.18	5 mm	US 1 g; head: no separation	Google safety guide
Pixel 11 Pro	G7SWN	0.99	1.06	5 mm	US 1 g; head: no separation	Google safety guide
Pixel 11 Pro XL	GBC0H	0.99	1.12	5 mm	US 1 g; head: no separation	Google safety guide
Pixel 10	GLBW0	1.18	0.99	10 mm	US 1 g; head: no separation	Google safety guide
Pixel 10 Pro	G4QUR	0.99	0.99	10 mm	US 1 g; head: no separation	Google safety guide
Pixel 10 Pro XL	GUL82	0.99	0.99	10 mm	US 1 g; head: no separation	Google safety guide
Galaxy S26	SM-S942U1	1.19	1.20	5 mm	US FCC; simultaneous: 1.58 W/kg	Samsung SAR
Galaxy S26+	SM-S947U1	1.15	1.17	5 mm	US FCC; simultaneous: 1.59 W/kg	Samsung SAR
Galaxy S26 Ultra	SM-S948U1	1.09	1.19	5 mm	US FCC; simultaneous: 1.59 W/kg	Samsung SAR
iPhone 18 Pro	A3472	1.20	1.20	5 mm	1 g values; hotspot tested at 10 mm	Apple SAR
iPhone 18 Pro Max	A3473	1.19	1.19	5 mm	1 g values; hotspot tested at 10 mm	Apple SAR
iPhone 17e	A3575	1.20	1.20	5 mm	1 g values; hotspot tested at 10 mm	Apple SAR
iPhone 16 Pro Max	A3084	1.01	1.15	5 mm	1 g values; hotspot tested at 10 mm	Apple SAR

A 0.99 W/kg body result tested at 10 mm is not directly interchangeable with a result tested at 5 mm. Likewise, a simultaneous-transmission result should not be substituted for a head-only result. Use the linked source to check the full conditions before comparing two models.

What a SAR rating tells you

SAR stands for specific absorption rate: the rate at which radiofrequency energy is absorbed by tissue, expressed in W/kg. Compliance testing uses specified positions, distances and transmit conditions. The illustration below shows a phone positioned beside a test head; it is not a measurement of an individual reader’s exposure.

US localized SAR limits use 1.6 W/kg averaged over 1 gram of tissue. Apple also publishes results for the 2.0 W/kg limit averaged over 10 grams. Those are different averaging methods, not two ways to write the same measurement. Do not convert one to the other by multiplying or dividing by ten.

The FCC explains in paragraph 234 why one maximum SAR value cannot reliably rank phones by their overall exposure during use. Signal conditions, the phone’s power control, position and active radios all matter.

The FDA’s review of cell-phone radiofrequency research says the weight of scientific evidence has not linked cell-phone RF radiation with health problems. A lower published SAR number is not evidence that a particular phone prevents illness.

Which iPhone has the lowest SAR in this comparison?

Of the 12 US iPhone variants below, the iPhone 16 Pro Max A3084 has the lowest reported 1 g head result, at 1.01 W/kg. Its body result is 1.15 W/kg. This is a comparison within this table, not a claim about every iPhone ever made.

Apple lists head testing without separation and torso testing at 5 mm for these records; hotspot testing is at 10 mm. Keep the 1 g and 10 g columns separate. The model links let you check which regional identifiers Apple groups together.

iPhone	US model	Head (1 g, W/kg)	Body (1 g, W/kg)	Head (10 g, W/kg)	Body (10 g, W/kg)	Manufacturer source
iPhone 18 Pro	A3472	1.20	1.20	1.49	1.49	Apple SAR
iPhone 18 Pro Max	A3473	1.19	1.19	1.49	1.49	Apple SAR
iPhone 17e	A3575	1.20	1.20	1.49	1.49	Apple SAR
iPhone 17	A3258	1.19	1.19	1.49	1.49	Apple SAR
iPhone 17 Pro	A3256	1.19	1.19	1.49	1.49	Apple SAR
iPhone 17 Pro Max	A3257	1.19	1.19	1.49	1.49	Apple SAR
iPhone Air	A3260	1.19	1.19	1.49	1.49	Apple SAR
iPhone 16e	A3212	1.19	1.20	1.48	1.49	Apple SAR
iPhone 16 Pro Max	A3084	1.01	1.15	1.22	1.45	Apple SAR
iPhone 16 Pro	A3083	1.09	1.19	1.24	1.48	Apple SAR
iPhone 16 Plus	A3082	1.13	1.16	1.24	1.33	Apple SAR
iPhone 16	A3081	1.08	1.17	1.24	1.41	Apple SAR

For example, the iPhone 16 Pro Max record reports 1.01 W/kg for the 1 g head method and 1.22 W/kg for the 10 g head method. Both belong to the same record. Neither should be silently swapped into a table using the other method.

Samsung Galaxy SAR: compare the exact US model

For the three Galaxy S26 US unlocked variants in the first table, the S26 Ultra SM-S948U1 has the lowest reported head figure, 1.09 W/kg. The S26+ SM-S947U1 has the lowest body-worn figure of those three, 1.17 W/kg. The smaller S26 SM-S942U1 reports 1.19 head and 1.20 body.

Samsung’s US records also report simultaneous transmission: 1.58 W/kg for the S26 and 1.59 W/kg for the S26+ and Ultra. These are separate entries. Body-worn testing uses 0.5 cm, or 5 mm, separation. A value for an international B-series variant does not establish the value for a US U1 variant.

Google Pixel SAR: head and body results differ

Google’s Pixel 10 safety guide reports 0.99 W/kg head and body for the US Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL. The standard Pixel 10 reports 1.18 head and 0.99 body. Body testing for that guide uses 10 mm separation.

The Pixel 11 safety guide uses 5 mm body separation. Its Pro and Pro XL share a 0.99 W/kg head result, but their body results are 1.06 and 1.12 respectively. The standard Pixel 11 reports 1.13 head and 1.18 body. Regional identifiers were checked against Google’s hardware specifications.

Why Mudita Pure’s 0.06 figure needs context

Mudita Pure is often mentioned in low SAR lists because of a 0.06 W/kg head figure. Mudita’s own SAR documentation identifies that as the European 10 g cellular head result. It also reports 0.62 W/kg for the European cellular body test.

The US 1 g cellular results are 0.07 W/kg head and 1.13 W/kg body. With cellular and Bluetooth transmitting together, Mudita reports 0.14 head and 1.17 body for the US method; its corresponding European results are 0.09 and 0.63. Quoting only 0.06 hides the position, averaging method and radio conditions.

The Mudita Pure product page showed it as sold out when checked. It is a minimalist phone with an E Ink screen, calls and texts, rather than an equivalent replacement for a current Android phone or iPhone. Verify stock, carrier acceptance and the features you need before considering a used unit. I would not make it the default buying recommendation based on one head figure.

How to check the SAR of your own phone

1. Find the model identifier on the phone, packaging or manufacturer documentation. For an iPhone, use Apple’s model identification guide; the A-number matters more than the marketing name.
2. Open the manufacturer’s RF exposure or safety record for that exact regional identifier. For the Pixels covered here, Google directs readers to Settings → About phone → Regulatory labels.
3. Record head and body results separately, along with 1 g or 10 g averaging, body separation and any simultaneous-radio figures.
4. Check the carrier’s compatibility requirements and the manufacturer’s current software-support information before buying an older phone. A low historical SAR value is only one piece of a buying decision.

A dial code is not a dependable universal lookup method. If it does not open a regulatory page on your phone, use the model identifier and the official documentation instead of assuming the number is unavailable.

Does 5G automatically mean a higher SAR?

No single SAR value follows from the label “5G.” Google’s US specifications for the Pixels above list both sub-6 GHz and millimeter-wave bands. Different bands, radios and operating conditions require their own compliance assessment. Compare the exact phone’s published record rather than treating 5G as a higher or lower exposure category.

Practical ways to keep a phone farther away

If you prefer to keep the handset away from your head, Apple and Google’s linked safety guides describe speakerphone or a headset as options. Follow the carrying distance and accessory instructions for your exact model. These are manufacturer usage instructions, not a promise of a health benefit.

Do not assume that a shielding case, sticker or chip makes a phone safer. Apple and Google caution that metal-containing accessories can affect RF performance or compliance. Check the accessory’s model fit and test conditions before relying on a percentage-reduction claim.

Can an EMF meter verify a phone’s SAR?

No. A consumer meter such as the GQ EMF-390 measures external fields within its specified coverage. It does not measure energy absorbed by tissue, reproduce a laboratory SAR test or certify a phone as safe.

If your goal is to investigate fields around equipment at home, the EMF meter comparison guide explains field types, frequency ranges and instrument limitations. Readings depend on distance, orientation and what the device is doing. A handheld reading is not a phone health ranking.

If those measurement capabilities fit your project, you can check the GQ EMF-390 on Amazon. Buying a meter is not necessary to look up a phone’s published SAR; the manufacturer sources in this guide are free.

Before buying a low SAR phone

Choose a phone that works on your carrier, receives the support you need and has the features you will actually use. Then compare the exact regional model’s head and body data under the same averaging framework. Keep the source and test conditions beside the figure. That makes the comparison useful without turning a laboratory maximum into a health claim.