Every day we are surrounded by different types of electromagnetic radiation that can negatively impact our health. Even mobile phones, which we use on a daily basis, emit electromagnetic radiation because they operate using radiofrequency in order to make and receive calls. However, its excessive use can be very dangerous for your health and can even cause brain cancer due to the radiation, which can be confirmed by the World Health Organization.
Although the effects can’t be determined in a short period of time, after a long time, it can be very dangerous. For this reason, we conducted thorough research and in this article, we will let you know how to check SAR value and what actions you need to take to measure it and protect yourself.
What You Need to Know About SAR Value
Before we talk about the methods that you can implement to measure SAR value from your phone, you need to be familiar with the term itself. SAR or specific absorption rate is a measure at which the human body absorbs radio frequency and energy from a mobile phone or any type of wireless device.
According to the Federal Communication Commission, there are exposure limits that manufacturers need to adhere to when they sell their mobile devices. So, if you are wondering how much SAR value is safe, the maximum level of exposure is 1.6w/kg in the US, while in Europe, the recommended limit is 2.0w/kg. However, it is important to mention that these limits are based on an adult body, but studies have shown that such signals can be absorbed much faster by women and children.
Another significant thing to know is that the SAR value decreases as the distance between the phone and the user increases. In other words, if you are using your phone for texting or just scrolling on the internet, the exposure is less than when you are talking on the phone, and the device is next to your head. Moreover, if you use your phone in areas with better reception, the exposure also decreases.
How is SAR Value Calculated?
Now that you know what SAR value is, you are probably wondering how it is measured. SAR value is measured on a mass of body tissue or a body in a specific position. In other words, it is estimated by keeping the device at various distances from both the head and the body.
This is also done under different network conditions to estimate the highest risk and the safe limits. As mentioned, the standard SAR value in the US is 1.6w/kg on a tissue sample of 1 gram, so you need to make sure that your device value is below or at least equal to the standard level.
How to Check SAR Value Properly
There are several ways you can determine the SAR value of your phone and determine whether the exposure is high, and safety measures need to be taken.
Look for Information in the User Guide
One way that you can look for information is by checking your mobile phone’s user guide. In the user guide, you can find plenty of information about your phone and its characteristics, but you can also check the SAR value.
If you don’t have one or you have lost it, you needn’t worry, as you can easily find a digital copy by searching the brand and the model of your phone. This is one of the easiest ways to examine SAR value. However, plenty of manufacturers don’t provide online user guides, so this option might not be possible for everyone.
Check the Manufacturer’s Page
Similarly, you can search on the manufacturer’s website and check for the SAR ratings on their page. This is also useful to determine which manufacturer is reliable as they are obligated to provide SAR ratings for the products they sell. In order to do this, you need to google the brand’s name and the model of your phone following SAR rating or other related words.
Search on the FCC Website
You can also check for SAR value lists on many online sources, where they gather such information about various types of mobile devices. However, you need to be careful and check whether the source you are reading from is reliable. What is more, you can visit the FCC’s website and find the entire list of phone manufacturers and find much helpful information, including RF radiation details.
To do so, first, you need to figure out the FCC ID of your phone, which is usually located on the backside of your phone in small writing, or under the battery for older models. Once you find it, you need to enter the code in the search section and press search. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the newest models might not be included on the list.
Look for Other Reliable Sources
If you want to discover more about the SAR value of your phone, you can just Google the manufacturer and the model of your phone and check what the sources say. Some sites even provide searchable charts with a list of SAR ratings for nearly all types of phones available on the market.
The way you can check the value is by finding the manufacturer and the model of your phone. In case you are not familiar with your phone’s model, you can also look into the user guide or simply head to the settings and look for the ‘About phone’ section. However, you need to be careful about reading different information online, as not all of them might be correct.
Dial USSD Number
Another way you can determine whether the SAR value of your phone is within the approved limits is to dial the USSD number. This is also the easiest way and the most convenient, as it works internationally, no matter the country you live in. To do so, you need to open the dialing screen and type #07#, and call. Once you do that, the phone will then redirect you to the setting screen when you can find the information that you are looking for.
Keep in mind that the screen with the SAR rating might be different depending on the phone. Still, by doing so, you will be able to determine your phone’s SAR rating much more quickly and easily, which is very convenient.
Look at the Phone Settings
This is another quick and straightforward method that more tech-savvy individuals can implement. Aside from technical specifications, you can search for safety information or SAR rating to determine whether SAR exposure from your phone is safe for you or can be harmful to your health.
If you are not very familiar with your phone or you are having difficulties finding the value, you can still try the other methods. iPhone users can do this by going to phone settings, selecting general and legal, and the information will be under RF exposure.
What SAR Value Is Considered Safe?
Usually, when we use the phone, we are calling someone and talking on the phone, or we keep it in our pocket and near us. For that reason, various studies are testing the RF absorption by using models of human heads and bodies and liquids that imitate the characteristics of the absorption into the human tissue.
With this in mind, putting the phone next to your ear and talking for more than 15 minutes is not safe, and for that reason, it is recommended to distance your mobile from both your head and body as much as possible. Manufacturers recommend using the mobile phone at least one centimeter from your ear when talking.
Moreover, you need to distance your body from your phone at least 30-40 meters when you are using it as phones operate at frequencies from 450 MHz to 6GHz with the highest powers of 0.1 to 2 watts.
As mentioned, the limit for exposure is 1.6w/kg, so if your device produces much more RF radiation than the limit, you should consider safety measures.
Which Smartphone Has the Lowest SAR Value?
Now that you know more about the safe limit and how to check SAR value, you are probably looking for a smartphone that has the lowest rate. The first position is the Verykool Vortex RS90 with only a 0.18 SAR rating, which is really impressive. On the list of safer phones with lower ratings, you can also find Samsung, one of the most popular brands. The Samsung Galaxy Note has a 0.19 SAR rating, while their Samsung Galaxy Note 2 model has 0.99.
Some other SAR ratings from popular brands include LG G3 with 0.99, iPhone 6 plus with 0.01, HTC One M8 with 1.29, and Kyocera DuraXT Sprint SAR value: 0.32, etc. Unfortunately, the more advanced the smartphones are, the more their SAR ratings increase, so this is also something to consider when you are looking to buy a new phone.
Tips for Reducing Phone Radiation Exposure
As we determined, mobile phone radiation can be harmful if the device is used regularly. Now, we know that everyone uses their phone daily, so let’s take a look at some ways you can protect your health or at least reduce exposure.
Use Your Phone as Less as Possible
Although it is challenging to do this as many people are using mobile phones to scroll on social media, talk with friends and relatives, to work, and numerous other reasons, it is recommended to use the phone as little as possible. This is because EMF is cumulative, so every time you put your phone away for a while, you save your health.
Buy a Protective Case
If putting your phone away doesn’t work for you, you can also buy a protective case. This is useful as it will not only protect your phone from crashing but also will reduce phone radiation exposure. Even better, you can look for EMF protection phone cases on the internet and find the one you like the most.
Don’t Put the Phone on Your Body
Even if you are not using it, you shouldn’t put your phone on your body. Many people put their phones in their pockets when they are not using them. Instead, you can put your phone in your purse or backpack, as the distance will limit the exposure much more than when the device is close to your body.
Wait for the Call to Start
It is known that smartphones imitate more radiation when they are trying to connect with other devices. Therefore, we recommend while calling, you need to wait for the call to show before you put your phone on your ear. In the same manner, when you receive a phone call, it is better to wait at least 1 to 2 seconds before answering your phone and putting it on your ear.
Other Tips to Protect Yourself from Phone Radiation
- Avoid talking on your mobile phone for more than 30 minutes.
- When not using it, put your phone on airplane mode.
- Use earphones when you are calling someone and talking on the phone.
- Don’t put your smartphone next to you while you are sleeping.
- Talk on your phone using a speakerphone.
- Avoid using the phone when you put it to charge or when the battery is low.
- Avoid using your phone in the car if possible.
- Instead of calling, try texting if possible as the distance lowers the exposure.
Final Thoughts
We hope that this article will inform you with all the details you need to know about SAR value and how you can measure it. If you are concerned about your phone radio waves negatively impacting your health, you can check the SAR value and implement some of the tips that we mentioned to limit exposure.
Even though this matter is often overlooked, it should be taken very seriously as devices which we use every day can slowly impact your health and increase the risk of health issues, serious diseases, and other uncomfortable symptoms.
