{
  "id": "questions:what-is-sar-and-does-a-low-sar-phone-matter",
  "collection": "questions",
  "slug": "what-is-sar-and-does-a-low-sar-phone-matter",
  "name": "Does a low-SAR phone matter?",
  "summary": "SAR is a worst-case compliance figure; usage habits change real exposure far more than choosing between compliant models. U.S. 1 g and ICNIRP 10 g values are not comparable.",
  "status": "verified",
  "lastVerified": "2026-08-12",
  "data": {
    "question": "What is SAR, and should I choose a phone with a lower SAR value?",
    "answer": "SAR is the RF power absorbed per kilogram of tissue, measured in a phantom with the phone transmitting at maximum power — a worst-case compliance figure, not a description of normal use. Every phone legally sold is already below its limit (1.6 W/kg over 1 g in the U.S., 2 W/kg over 10 g under ICNIRP, and the two numbers are not comparable), so differences between compliant models are small relative to the difference made by how you use the phone. Using speakerphone or wired earphones, and calling where signal is strong, reduces actual absorbed energy far more than picking a model with a lower rated SAR.",
    "cluster": "devices",
    "aliases": [
      "low SAR phone",
      "what does SAR mean",
      "phone SAR safe"
    ],
    "related": [
      "emitters:smartphone",
      "protocols:sar-lookup",
      "glossary:sar"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "fcc-2-1093",
      "title": "47 CFR § 2.1093 — Radiofrequency radiation exposure evaluation: portable devices",
      "publisher": "U.S. Government Publishing Office (eCFR)",
      "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/section-2.1093",
      "kind": "regulation",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-12"
    },
    {
      "id": "icnirp-2020",
      "title": "Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (100 kHz to 300 GHz)",
      "publisher": "International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection",
      "url": "https://www.icnirp.org/en/publications/article/rf-guidelines-2020.html",
      "year": 2020,
      "kind": "guideline",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-12"
    },
    {
      "id": "fcc-eas",
      "title": "Equipment Authorization Search (FCC ID lookup, includes SAR test reports)",
      "publisher": "Federal Communications Commission",
      "url": "https://www.fcc.gov/oet/ea/fccid",
      "kind": "government",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-12"
    }
  ],
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