A German study indicates that some smartphones on the market may have higher radiation levels than others. Here are the 20 worst.
![Top 20 smartphones that emit the most radiation](local/cache-gd2/a2/b291064fef58935292675486e80f59.jpg?1725752730)
When you buy a phone, you are usually attracted by what the device can offer you: internal memory, photographic capacity, cost, latest features, and so on. It is difficult - both on a personal and commercial level - to set the goal of how much a smartphone can or cannot emit radiation. Well, like any other antenna device, even common cell phones for personal use continuously expose us to radio frequency radiation (RFR).
A completely normal eventuality for the functioning of the telephone itself (how could we call or surf the internet, otherwise?), as long as a threshold limit for human health is respected and not only that. Given that every smartphone, by law, must comply with the barrier imposed to be produced and sold, are we really sure that cell phones are all the same in this sense?
In Germany, the Federal Institute for Radiation Protection - Bundesamt fuer Strahlenschutz (BfS) - constantly investigates the radiation emitted by the main devices in use in our homes, such as, above all, mobile phones. Here, then, which are the most dangerous devices in terms of radiomagnetic emissions on the market, with the data updated directly by the prestigious German body.
Cell phones and radiation, a necessary premise
Before analyzing the cell phones that record the highest radiation emissions, it is important to understand what cell phone radiation is and how it can impact human health. It must be said, therefore, that mobile communication inevitably uses high-frequency electromagnetic fields and to talk on the cell phone, for example, one comes into contact (in the true sense of the word) with high emissions, considering that the telephone is brought closer to your ear as much as possible. But even when it is in your pocket or bag, your smartphone still emits radiation that can impact the human body, especially within a certain distance.
And how can this radiation be calculated? In science, different effective analyses yield measurements in SAR, or "Specific Absorption Rate," which indicates the amount of energy from the emissions absorbed by the body. The unit of measurement is expressed in watts per kilogram (W/kg), and the maximum threshold for smartphones is 2 W/kg, as established by the International Commission for the Protection of Non-Ionizing Radiation (ICNIRP) back in 1998.
All this is to obviously avoid negative health effects, although numerous studies have been done over the years which have essentially confirmed that radiofrequency waves are not basic carriers of tumors or specific pathologies.
But phones, from this point of view, are not all the same. Suffice it to say that, in 2023, Apple had to withdraw the iPhone 12 from the French market due to too much radiation emitted. Or, again, we can cite a study from the University of Geneva which states there may be a correlation between [prolonged use of the smartphone - especially among young people - and male fertility— >https://www.unige.ch/medias/en/2023/le-telephone-portable-nuirait-la-qualite-du-sperme], precisely based on the radio magnetic emissions of the devices themselves.
In short, it is a delicate issue, especially considering that it is a rapidly expanding market, not only technologically but also in terms of quantity. This highlights the importance of having clear guidelines and being familiar with your devices. However, this information is often placed at the end of the user manual. However, the BfS, the German Federal Institute for Radiation Protection, comes to the rescue. The organization has made available, free of charge and online, years and years of data and tests performed on thousands of smartphones regarding radiation emissions, thanks to a search engine where you can find your smartphone model.
Let’s see together, therefore, which smartphones are the most dangerous in terms of emissions, trying to create a picture of the models in production and in common use.
The ranking of cell phones with the most radiation
As we have seen, the maximum limit of 2 W/Kg of SAR must be respected by all brands in order to put their smartphones on sale on the market. And this is precisely the data that interests us, in particular:
- SAR on ear: the emission value measured when the phone is in contact with the ear during a call;
- SAR on the body: the emission value measured when the phone is at a distance of 50 cm from the body.
Both SAR values are identifying: the higher this measurement, the greater the radiomagnetic waves emitted.
Our explanatory table shows the main high radiation models, the "close relatives" belonging to the same brand and any indications on current production or not. The ranking reported is drawn up in alphabetical order.
Phone | SAR value (on the ear) | SAR value (on the body) | Other high radiation models (same brand) | In production |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alcatel IDOL 5 | 1.59 | 1.75 | 1SE, 3L, PIXI 3 | No |
Allview P7 Pro | 1.82 | N.A. | X4 Soul, X4 Soul Lite, X4 Soul Mini | Yes |
Asus ROG Phone 6 | 1.54 | 1.59 | ROG Phone 6 Pro, ROG Phone 6D Ultimate | Yes |
Asus ROG Phone 7 | 1.46 | 1.58 | ROG Phone 7 Ultimate | Yes |
Asus Zenfone 10 | 1.58 | 1.42 | - | Yes |
Doro 5516 | 1.03 | 1.74 | - | Yes |
Honor 8 | 1.50 | 1.69 | - | No |
HTC U12 Life | 1.48 | 1.60 | - | Yes |
Lenovo B Smartphone | 1.56 | 1.71 | Single SIM, Dual SIM | No |
Microsoft / Nokia Lumia 630 | 1.51 | 1.52 | Dual SIM | No |
Motorola Edge | 1.79 | 1.68 | - | Yes |
Nokia 6300 | 1.09 | 1.77 | Nokia 5310 | Yes |
OnePlus 6T | 1.55 | 1.27 | OnePlus 5T, OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition | Yes |
Samsung Galaxy A30s Dual SIM | 1.05 | 1.54 | - | Yes |
Samsung Galaxy S22 | 1.21 | 1.59 | Galaxy S22 Ultra | Yes |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 | 1.30 | 1.51 | - | Yes |
Telekom T Phone Pro | 1.76 | 1.87 | - | Yes |
Wiko Jerry3 | 1.61 | 1.15 | - | Yes |
Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G | 1.56 | 1.56 | - | No |
ZTE Axon 11 5G | 1.59 | N.A. | - | Yes |
The presence of important brands immediately catches the eye. Samsung, for example, positions itself with some models from the Galaxy series, the most loved and sold. We also find Asus, a leading brand especially in the field of PCs and tablets, as well as Honor and Xiaomi, which usually represent very attractive alternatives to the big names (such as Samsung and Apple) in the Italian market.
The same goes for Motorola, which with the Edge series has made inroads with a large audience but which records decidedly high levels of emissions, both to the ear and at a certain distance from the body. Data in hand, it is the second smartphone with the highest emissions after the Telekom T Phone Pro, which however is not very common (indeed, almost impossible to find) in our country.
However, it should be noted that every mobile phone in the ranking respects the limits imposed by the law regarding radiation and, therefore, the use of these smartphones does not a priori constitute a risk to our health. We also remind you that BfS data is continuously updated and may vary based on new tests and new smartphone releases on the world market.
Original article published on Money.it Italy 2024-07-24 07:50:00. Original title: Questi 20 telefoni sono pericolosi causa radiazioni. La classifica