ALERT: Beware of dangerous levels of smartphone radiation

Motorola Edge, OnePlus, Google Pixel top list of smartphones emitting harmful radiation beyond safe limits. The phones are ranked based on their Specific Absorption Ratios (SAR),which shows how quickly the body absorbs radio frequency energy. Radiation, also known as radio frequency (RF) energy, can be one of the major causes of cancer.

Every smartphone emits low levels of non-ionizing radiation when it is being used, although at varied levels. The human body absorbs the radio frequency energy which is emitted from the mobile phones.

Breakdown & Key metrics

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), there is currently no consistent evidence that non-ionizing radiation increases cancer risk in humans. The only consistently recognized biological effect of radiofrequency radiation in humans is heating. Hence, the only visible effect noticeable is the heating of the body part in contact with the smartphone.

Smartphones emit harmful radiation, but when it goes beyond safe limits, it becomes extremely dangerous. According to data by the General Federal Office for Rations, the Motorola Edge emits the most radiation with a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of 1.79 watts of radiation per kilogram. This is significantly higher than most other models.

ZTE’s Axon 11 5G has the second highest SAR with 1.59 watts of radiation per kilogram, followed closely by the OnePlus 6T in third with 1.55 watts of radiation per kilogram. Comparing the SARs of these three smartphones, the Motorola Edge puts clear daylight between itself and the other two.

Sony Mobile company has a couple of smartphones in the top eight entries with the Xperia XA2 Plus coming in fourth with 1.41 watts of radiation per kilogram and the Xperia XZ1 Compact coming in at number eight with 1.36 watts of radiation. In the expanded list of top 15 smartphones with the highest radiation emitted, Sony’s XZ Premium comes last with 1.21 watts of radiation.

Google also has two of the highest radiation-emitting phones available to the public with its Pixel 3 XL getting the number five spot with 1.39 watts of radiation and Pixel 4a following closely in sixth place on this list with 1.37 watts of radiation. The Google 3a XL also emits a similar amount of radiation to the Pixel 3 XL and Google’s Pixel 3 with 1.33 watts of radiation technically means Google actually has four phones in the top 10 list.

Finally, Oppo‘s Reno 5G emits a relatively high amount of radiation when compared to other phones. Although it is not as high as the ZTE or Motorola phones, its radiation is still higher than the Xperia XZ1.

Takeaway

Smartphone brands have put in consistent efforts to make sure their products do not emit high radiation that can be harmful to people. Many countries have set Specific Absorption Ratios (SAR) level that every smartphone should meet. 

For this reason, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has set a SAR limit of 1.6 watts per kilogram for public exposure from smartphones.