Mobile Phones are now integral part of our lives. We simply can’t imagine our life without them now. According to comScore’s 2017 survey, an average adult spend around 2hours and 50min on smartphones per day. That is 19 hours weekly, 84 hours monthly.
I know what you are thinking, that’s a lot of time we are spending on our smartphones. And before you think of deciding to cut down the smartphone usage, let me tell you that there is nothing wrong in it. A smartphone is a necessity these days which helps us in doing a lot of tasks on the move.
So whenever buying a new phone we normally asks about the display size, camera, processor, storage etc. But amoung all these questions about specs do we enquire about SAR value? Do you know it is actually the most important spec that we simply ignores. Most of us even don’t know what it is? and why it is so important?
What us SAR Value?
SAR stands for Specific Absorption Rate which is a measure of amount of radio frequency energy absorbed by the body while using a mobile phone.
SAR is usually averaged either over the whole body, or over a small sample volume (typically 1 g or 10 g of tissue). The value cited is then the maximum level measured in the body part studied over the stated volume or mass.
Federal communication commission (FCC) has adopted a safe limit for exposure to RF energy that is 1.6 watt/kg. Any smartphone below this limit is safe to use.
The lower the SAR value, the better.
The maximum value limit allowed in India is 1.6 W/Kg,
SAR value of some popular models:-
- iPhone 16 – 1.08 w/kg
- iPhone 16 plus – 1.01 w/kg
- Samsung S24 Ultra – 1.23 w/kg
- Google Pixel 9 – 1.6 w/kg
- OnePlus 12 – 1.6 w/kg
You can get SAR value of your phone by going
Android Phone
Settings –> About Phone –> Regulatory labels
iPhone
Settings –> General –> Legal & Regulatory –> RF Exposure
Check whether it is below threshold limit or not. And if it is not within limit you should change your phone otherwise it will certainly harm your health. Studies in Finland and Sweden claims that RF radiation can cause cancer and tumors in brain tissues.
SAR Value is not Constant
These SAR Values are calculated when the phone is in its finest condition, this value may vary as per the usage of the device, the older a device gets its SAR value keeps on surging. While having long conversation over a smartphone with higher SAR value may result in uneasiness, headaches and feeling nauseated. Ignoring these signs of discomfort may lead to harsh consequences.
Be Safe Take Precautions
Cell phone industry is becoming another cigarette industry, which kept on claiming that smoking is not harmful and now there are millions of people around the world who have suffered from smoking. In fact, cell phone/tower radiation is worse than smoking; as one cannot see it, smell it, and hear it, and its effect on health is noted after a long period of exposure
It does not mean that we have to stop using cell phones, one can take following precautions to reduce the effect of radiation by using few tips while using phone such as
- Limit the use of cell phones as much as possible.
- Talk for short duration, if possible, use SMS.
- Use cell phone with lower SAR value.
- Use speakerphone or wired hands free or Bluetooth, but keep cell phone at a distance of at least 12” (one foot) from your body
- Use land-line phone when available.
- Do not keep cell phones in your hand/pocket for long.
- At home/office, keep phone away from you.
- Don’t use your phone in low network area as in that area the level of radiation increase because phone constantly keep searching for network.
- Switch off your phone while sleeping and don’t keep it under or near your pillow.
- When u call/dial, don’t put phone near ear, till the time other person haven’t picked up the call. When connecting tower, the power is high. In android there is a setting to vibrate when call connects/lifted.
Hope you liked the information. Please do share it with your friends and family members to keep them aware. Do comment in case you have any specific query or feedback.
